1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to money making Conversations. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 2: It's to show that she is the secrets of success 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 2: experience firsthand by marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: will know he's giving me advice on many occasions. And 5 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 2: in case you didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: he'll be interviewing celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision make 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 2: because it's what he likes to do. It's what he 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 2: likes to share. Now it's time to hear from my man, 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: Rashan McDonald. Money making Conversations. Here we come. 10 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: I'm fired up. I'm ready to go. I'm fired up. 11 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 1: I'm ready to go. Fired up. Food. Everybody knows I'm 12 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: a foodie. If you go to my Facebook page, you 13 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: will see food. You will see a lot of food 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: I get. I'll be in the airport. People to stop, Rashana. 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: Can you stop posting food on your Facebook page? Can 16 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: you stop posting food on your Integram? They'll call me cakemn, 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: They'll call me the baker. They asked me for food 18 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: and be serious. I'll be sitting on the plane and 19 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: I said, can you bring me a pie? Can you 20 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: pull a pile to your overhand. Can you can you 21 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: do something for your short well? I got somebody that's 22 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:05,839 Speaker 1: what she does for a living. I just baked for fun. 23 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: Pretty Little Tacos is a Creole Mexican street taco concept 24 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: founded by Mikayla Merrick and May of twenty twenty, an 25 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: industry veteran mark launched in Triton Yards in May of 26 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty. May of twenty twenty COVID. COVID didn't stop her, 27 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 1: did not stop her. Pandemic virus was raging all around 28 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: and she was following to her dreams. Pretty Little Tacos offers 29 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: vegan alternatives as well as dessert tacos. You know, I 30 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: want to ask about that dessert tacos including peach cobbler 31 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: and strawberry short cake. She is on the show to 32 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: tell us her story from food trucks to the restaurant 33 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: and now back to the streets. Please work with the 34 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: money Making Conversations Master Class. Mikayla Merrick, How you doing. 35 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 3: I'm doing well? How were you good? 36 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 4: Good? 37 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: Good good? Pretty Little Tacos? How did you come up 38 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: with that name? 39 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 3: Well? Part opening up my company? I had like a 40 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 3: cooking show with one of my friends. And we were 41 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: called pretty little cooks pretty low the same time. Yeah, 42 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 3: so we had like a little it wasn't really a podcast. 43 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 3: We didn't get a chance to really do go like 44 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 3: maybe three or four episodes. But I really just like 45 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 3: the ring that I had to it. So eventually when 46 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 3: I started my business, I just, you know, transmit that. 47 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: Over pretty little taco. And it's a catchy term and 48 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: it's an original term because your Google it pops up. 49 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: So the whole concept of of we got the tile 50 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: pretty little tacos. But why tacos? 51 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 3: Well, I love tacos. I've never really been able to 52 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: pass them. 53 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: Now, let me ask you it for a youear started. 54 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: Is it meal or flour? I'm a flower I'm a 55 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: flower person. So are you meal or flour? 56 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 3: I like flour, but I do like both. It just 57 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: depends on the type of tacos. You know, some tacos 58 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 3: require flower towards you and trump. I feel like taste 59 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 3: better with corns. So I am a taco freak, like 60 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 3: I love tacos. Everywhere I go. If I see a 61 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 3: taco truck, I'm gonna stop. I'm gonna try it. When 62 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 3: I go to La I hunt down the street corn vendors. 63 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 3: You know, I just love it. You know, I've always 64 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: loved it. So me and my family, like we always 65 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 3: we cooked. That's what we do. You know. One of 66 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 3: our favorite things to eat is tacos. So my brother 67 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 3: is a chef. We you know, we come up with 68 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 3: all types of unique tacos and we eat them at home. 69 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 3: So when the pandemics happened. 70 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: So you say your brother's a chef, so he's he's 71 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: a person who went to school and became a trained chef. 72 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: I'm assuming when you say that. 73 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: Correct, right? 74 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 5: Right? 75 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,959 Speaker 1: Did you do the same? Did you do the same? 76 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: I didn't, Okay, but you didn't. And and you own 77 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: a business and food. How did you pull it? How 78 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: did you pull it? 79 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 3: Well? I think it was just perfect timing. Really, there 80 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 3: was like a time frame where in the beginning of 81 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 3: the pandemic where everybody was on tall and my brain 82 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 3: was moving and I was like, you know, I told 83 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 3: my mom, I said, Mama, have this idea, and she 84 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 3: was like, okay, she believed in it. And the next 85 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 3: morning she woke me up and was like, let's go 86 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 3: get a food. I was like what, and she was like, 87 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 3: let's go do it. 88 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: And I was like, okay you no, no, no, go 89 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: get a job, girl. No, let's go get a food truck. 90 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 3: So you've only had a job, and I was always 91 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 3: very like hard working. I've been like number one in 92 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: customer service. Wherever I've been, I've been in the like well, 93 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 3: I've worked in like bar services areas. I've worked in clubs, 94 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 3: I worked in restaurants. I've worked a little bit of everywhere. 95 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: So you're a person, You're a people person naturally. 96 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I know what the people want. I mean, 97 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 3: you know, I think I do well. 98 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 1: You're successful. We're going to talk about that in a minute. 99 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: But let me let me get back to your mom. 100 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: So your your dad's a chef, you said, and your 101 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: brother's a chef, right your mom? 102 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 3: My mom is a flight is in the Southwest. 103 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: Okay? Cool? And then you, like I said, was you 104 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 1: did a lot of different jobs. Did you go to college? 105 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 3: Did you I did go to college. I went to 106 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 3: I went to I went to Georgia Perimeter. And when 107 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 3: the pandemic started, I was in school my dental hygiene. 108 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 3: And the funny thing is that my dad always told me, 109 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 3: like you need to go back to school and go 110 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 3: back to school. So I went back to school, and 111 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 3: then the pandemic happened, and then I started this business. 112 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:10,679 Speaker 3: And my dad was like, oh, you don't need school, 113 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: focus on the business. So if I stopped going to school, 114 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 3: so I could focus on pretty little talkhods so pretty. 115 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,840 Speaker 1: So your funny is your family's funny. Go to get 116 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,080 Speaker 1: your get you get. I'll stop taking to make them tacos, girl, 117 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: make them tacos girl. Mama, look at the food truck. 118 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: Looks at the food truck. So I love that that 119 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: was a whole family. Their whole family is entrepreneurial oriented, 120 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: and they wouldn't allow you to like sit back and go, 121 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 1: you know, like some people will if this goal is 122 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: not working, some people sit back and sulk. I'll feel 123 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: sorry for themselves or or just say this is not 124 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 1: going to happen. Oh woe is me. That doesn't seem 125 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: like your family, And it doesn't seem like that's you either. 126 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 3: Oh No, I'm very resilient. I don't take no for 127 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 3: an answer. I literally I've learned as I've gone. I've 128 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 3: listened to my customers. I try to apply to every 129 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 3: single customer the same way, you know, genuine to their 130 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 3: circumstances or their experience, and I learned from it and 131 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 3: that's just the best way that I can You know, 132 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 3: I could tell anybody. You have to be resilient. You 133 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 3: can't give up. You have to keep going, like at 134 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: the end of the day, Like as you go, you 135 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 3: start to have people that depend on you, not only 136 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 3: your employees, but your customers. Like they don't want they 137 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 3: don't want to see you not succeed. They want you 138 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 3: to be the best that you can be. So you 139 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 3: have to just keep going. You can't give up. 140 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: Okay, I'm talking to the owner of Pretty Little Tacos 141 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: is based in Atlanta, and I'm sure, how in a 142 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: location do you have in Atlanta right now? 143 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 3: We have technically we have three. So we have the 144 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 3: one that is in Politan Road, located in Colony Square, 145 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 3: which is like it's really I love that location because 146 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 3: it's very diverse. You never really know who's going to 147 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 3: walk in there, so I love that space. Our next 148 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 3: location that we have is a new spot that we 149 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 3: have in Union City. It's situated more like us to 150 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 3: go delivery pick up like service only the DP gas station. 151 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 3: So I have this whole idea that I want to 152 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 3: get pretty little tacos in every gas station in Atlanta. 153 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 3: So this is my starting point. And then i also 154 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 3: have a larger restaurant that I'm working on on Moreland Avenue. 155 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 3: I'm about ninety days out at that at the most, 156 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,239 Speaker 3: I do I get my liquor license, hopefully in July. 157 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: So you know, I'm really excited about that. 158 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: It does get some tacos, that's what that's the goal. 159 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 3: Now, yeah, I'm excited about that. I think that I 160 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 3: will be able to actually give my customers, you know, 161 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 3: an experience, and that's very important to me. 162 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: Okay, and so will you come back on this show 163 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: that when it opens? Can we do that? Can you? 164 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: Let's talk about it all how it all started, because 165 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: you know, I know in college, I was made. I 166 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: was in my dorm room. I was I was. I 167 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: was making pizzas, selling pizzas out my dorm room. I 168 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: had a little medium pizza. All they served, had my 169 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: little crust already pre made, turned and converted a walk 170 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: into a into an oven. And I would have two 171 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: pizzas I would serve. You know, it was pepperoni and 172 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: it was hamburger. And I had my ragou sauce. That 173 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: was so. I was an entrepreneur back then, but I 174 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: didn't take it to the next level. You took an 175 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: idea of tacos. You put a nice catchy name to it, 176 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,679 Speaker 1: pretty little Tacos. How did you knew this was working 177 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: in the height of the pandemic. 178 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 3: Well, I didn't know it would work, and I think 179 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 3: that that was the reason why I was able to 180 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,559 Speaker 3: do it. I really didn't have a choice. I didn't 181 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 3: get any assistance or any help. Women and everything, you know, 182 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 3: shut down. So for me it was like survival. So 183 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 3: when I was able to take out the fear and 184 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 3: just know that I had to do it, it made 185 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 3: it easier for me. I didn't really have a choice. 186 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 3: And you know, going into it, my expectations were very low. 187 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 3: I just expected to pay my bills and you know, 188 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,840 Speaker 3: and very quickly, like I was, I got there. I 189 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 3: was a little afraid because I had done so much research. 190 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 3: I did so much research that it scared me and 191 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:52,720 Speaker 3: it told me that I wouldn't be able to afford 192 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 3: to hire anybody. So I was like, Okay, I have 193 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 3: to do everything myself. So at the beginning, I was 194 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 3: cooking everything, I was loading it up, and I was 195 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 3: putting on the truck and I was selling everything. My 196 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 3: mom was helping me, my brother was helping me, and 197 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: you know, we were making things work. But what I 198 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 3: started to realize, you know, that people really liked it, 199 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 3: was when I got to Triting Yards. And once I 200 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 3: got there, I started to have like really long lines, 201 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 3: like crazy lines, and it was just very humbling, you know, 202 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 3: and it took a lot of time. 203 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: How many how many varieties of tacos that you have then, 204 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 1: because now you have a big menu. We're going to 205 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: get to the menu in the next break, But how 206 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:32,479 Speaker 1: many variations of tacos that you have at the start? 207 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 3: At the beginning, I only had chicken steak and oxtails. 208 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: Chicken steak and ox tail lying around the box. 209 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 3: Yes, the street corn, that's it. 210 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: And now now street tacos are smaller, correct, if I'm 211 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 1: not mistaken, they're smaller versus other tacos. Now do you 212 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: do you still do just street tacos or do you 213 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: do the other version of tacos at your current locations? 214 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 3: I pretty much always have used the full sized taco. 215 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 3: I don't believe in sping the meat that the tacos 216 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 3: are pretty feeling like for me, I probably could eat 217 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 3: three and then I'm four, So I put a lot 218 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 3: of meat on them. You know, I make sure that 219 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 3: we're not stingy. You know that's my biggest You got 220 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:24,400 Speaker 3: your you. 221 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: I'm a fan already because I hate people. I never understand. 222 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: I go into restaurants, people be you know, they be 223 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: counting the meat they putting on your plate. It's this 224 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:33,600 Speaker 1: one restaurant I go, I'm not gonna name the name, 225 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,079 Speaker 1: and I can they just count the amount of meat 226 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: they put on a plate. I'm going, like, really, come 227 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 1: about to put some meat on that? And I come back. 228 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: But now you're already frustrating me because I'm down two, 229 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: I'm counting why you're counting. 230 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 3: And you're still hungry. 231 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 1: I'm still hungry. So now there were a lot of 232 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: roadblocks and licensing and because with the kitchens you were using. 233 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: Can you run us through that before we go to 234 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: the break that some of the frustration because we're all 235 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 1: dreamers and when you dream, the reality is is not 236 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 1: as comfortable or as easy as the dream makes it 237 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: out to be. What were some of the roadblocks you 238 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 1: got before you really start seeing your life shine. 239 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 3: Well, the biggest thing was obviously I started it with 240 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 3: you know, a little to no money, so it was 241 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 3: literally like I was reinvesting every day, you know, and 242 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 3: eventually I started to get to the point to work. 243 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 3: It made sense. But the biggest thing that I had 244 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 3: a problem with was like, obviously I started during the 245 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 3: pandemic and all the government was shut down. I couldn't 246 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 3: call the Health Department and say, hey, you know, am 247 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 3: I doing this right? You know, I don't want like 248 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: I did call, but I couldn't get I couldn't get through. 249 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 3: So I emailed and that ended up saving me. So 250 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 3: when they did open back up, they did see that 251 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 3: I had been reaching out to them. So I wasn't 252 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 3: like in trouble or anything. But I found out that 253 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 3: there were so many things that I had been misinformed about, 254 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 3: and the number one thing was commissary kitchens. Commisary kitchens. 255 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 3: There are some good commentary kitchens, don't get me wrong, 256 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 3: but a lot of them. If you don't know what 257 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 3: you're looking for, they will scam you. You will be 258 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,959 Speaker 3: paying for a permit that they don't have the qualifications 259 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 3: to get you. And so that happened to me twice. 260 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 3: I lost a lot of money thinking that, you know, 261 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 3: I was doing the right thing, not you know, while 262 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 3: the health department was closed, and when they opened they 263 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 3: informed me, oh, well, you know, these people don't even 264 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 3: have a permit for you to get your food truck permanent. 265 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,520 Speaker 3: So once I found that out, it was like, okay, 266 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 3: back to square one. And then it ended up making 267 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 3: me park my truck, you know, and then ultimately because 268 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 3: it was parked, someone did fill my first food truck. 269 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 3: But I have since got a new food truck and 270 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 3: so that's why now you know, we're getting back outside. 271 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 3: But that was the biggest thing for me. It's kind 272 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 3: of not really knowing the ins and outs, and a 273 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 3: lot of people, a lot of gatekeeping people weren't really 274 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 3: helpful to people, the other people in the food truck parks. 275 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 3: So I had to figure it out on my own. 276 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: Okay, I wanted to slow it down a little bit 277 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 1: because some things you said, I don't know, and I 278 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: think that a lot of people they hear you said 279 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: permit like permit licensee A commisary kitchen. What are commissary kitchens? 280 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: What is that? 281 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 3: Well, you need a commissary kitchen because you can't cook 282 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 3: your you can't cook your food out of your house. 283 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 3: You need to be able to have a space where 284 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 3: you have the designated area to where you can cook, 285 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 3: store and prepare your food, and then also be able 286 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 3: to pull your food truck in, clean your food truck 287 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 3: out properly according to the health you know, department standards, 288 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 3: and you have to have a base it's like your 289 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 3: base of operations. Like you can't just have your food 290 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: truck part in front of your house, like, you have 291 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: to have a base of operations. And so that's what 292 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 3: that is supposed to serve as. But a lot of 293 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 3: people get it confused if there's another there's like a 294 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 3: a permit that's for caterers, right, So a lot of 295 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 3: these these commisary kitchens they go through the Department of Agriculture, 296 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 3: you know, as opposed to the Department of Health. So 297 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 3: they're not even the right type of you know, permit. 298 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 3: So once you get in there, they don't tell you that. 299 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 3: They just take your money, you know, and then once 300 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,719 Speaker 3: you go down to the health for me, they're like, 301 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 3: we don't you know, you can't use that. So that's 302 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: the you know, that's what I mean when I say 303 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 3: that cool. 304 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: I'm talking to the owner of Pretty Little Tacos. This 305 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: is a Creole Mexican street taco concept founded by the 306 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: person I'm talking to, michaeleab Merrick in May of twenty twenty. 307 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: The COVID didn't mean nothing to Hu. She jumped out 308 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: there and did her thing, and she is telling her 309 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: story on Money Making Conversations Master collect If you want 310 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 1: to talk to her, please call at four zero four 311 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: eight eight zero nine two five five four zero four 312 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 1: eight eight zero nine two five five. We were right 313 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: back to continuous conversation because we want to say the 314 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: next step. And she's in her third year. She's doing 315 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: the thing. But more important, I want you guys to 316 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: hear that you can make it happen too, but you 317 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: gotta do it the right way. You gotta follow the rules, 318 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 1: and you got to listen to her story. We were 319 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: right back with more Pretty Little Tacos. 320 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 6: We'll be right back with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass 321 00:14:55,280 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 6: with Rushawn McDonald. You are now tuned into the Money 322 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 6: Making Conversations Minute of Inspiration with Rashawn McDonald. 323 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 7: Michelle Williams is a Grammy Award winning recording artists and actress. 324 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 7: She rose to start him as a member of the 325 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 7: Omega group Destiny's Child in her new book Checking In 326 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 7: How Getting Real about Depression save my life and can 327 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 7: save yours. This book will help you see the science 328 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 7: to overcome depression, to. 329 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 6: Go into counseling. 330 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 4: I really want to help people in entertainment and sports 331 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:28,920 Speaker 4: because I don't feel like we have to live these 332 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 4: lives with dysfunction or not identifying hurts that trigger certain 333 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 4: behaviors and responses. Because just because I was hurt in 334 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 4: my childhood does not give me the right to go 335 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 4: hurting people as an adult. And then I really feel 336 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 4: like we can go on to be more whole and 337 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 4: have great quality relationships. 338 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: Michelle Williams full interview. 339 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 7: It's available at Moneymaking Conversation dot com. Keep winning. 340 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 6: Now, let's return to money Making coveras Masterclass with Rashawn McDonald. 341 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Money Making Conversations Master Class. I'm talking 342 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: to the owner, creator, CEO, president, do it all a 343 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: pretty Little Tacos. We have a caller on the call, Sarah. 344 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: How are you doing? Sarah, Welcome to the show. You're 345 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 1: speaking to Rashon McDonald and michaelam Merrick what is your question. 346 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 8: Well, it's more of a comment. I just want to say, like, 347 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 8: you're honestly a huge, huge inspiration to somebody like me. 348 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 3: I'm not in the food. 349 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 8: Industry, but I am a new business owner and just 350 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 8: to hear your story, how like you didn't give up 351 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 8: and you had all these obstacles and still have a 352 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 8: successful business. I definitely went there the one downtown Colony 353 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 8: Square and it was an amazing experience. So I just 354 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 8: wanted to say, like, you're a huge, huge inspiration and 355 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 8: I'm so proud of you, and just keep going. I 356 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 8: guess firing up there so much. 357 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 3: Sarah. 358 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: Well, Sarah, thank you for ma in their phone call. 359 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: And I want to turn my question back to you. 360 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: This is not this is normal for you. You are an inspiration. 361 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: Your story. I wanted to tell you a story because 362 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: you know, you know, I tried to do my homework 363 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:13,960 Speaker 1: and I knew first of all the fact that you 364 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: opened your business in the middle of COVID. That was like, 365 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 1: because I know you was a you know, a separation. 366 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: You could get close to each other, you had business, 367 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: had the hours they had to operate, and there's so 368 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 1: many rules that were in place and then you I 369 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 1: didn't know the fact that you really couldn't get your 370 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: your licenses because basically nobody was in offices and when 371 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: they when they got back, they had to do catch up. 372 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: And then you was out there trying to go to 373 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: these little commissary kitchens and they were just abusing the 374 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: relationship because they know you didn't know. But all that 375 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: was it your parents, which is your brother, who kept 376 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:49,239 Speaker 1: you focused, who kept saying, don't give up, don't give up, 377 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: you can do it. This is your dream. Keep your 378 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: prayers strong. What was it? 379 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 3: My daughter's channing. She's seven now, but you know when 380 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 3: I started the business, she was four. She always been 381 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 3: very proud of me. You know, every school she goes to, 382 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 3: she brags about me so much, like I'm always doing 383 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 3: events at her schools or you know, catering her friend's 384 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,439 Speaker 3: birthday parties because she's my biggest fan. So that is 385 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 3: that's my biggest insoration. That's what keeps me going. I 386 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 3: just want her to have a head start. I want 387 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,119 Speaker 3: her to understand that, you know, she can she can 388 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 3: do anything she wants to like, and I'm going to 389 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 3: show her how. So that's you know, I do that 390 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 3: and then also for my family, like I like, my 391 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 3: dad had a restaurant in the past, but you know 392 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 3: he didn't really, it didn't last. So for him and 393 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 3: for everybody in my family, like, they're really proud of me. 394 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 3: So that pushes me and keeps me. 395 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:43,640 Speaker 1: Going, Wow, you know, now what are what are there? 396 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: What are their specialties? Okay? Because you say, your father's 397 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,920 Speaker 1: a chef and your brother's a chef, and then you've 398 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: opened this very popular creole mexicanan street taco concept. Whereould 399 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:54,840 Speaker 1: where were these skills trained in? 400 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 3: Well? My dad like, well, we're creole. So my dad, 401 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 3: he's he's a creole. He's that's Creole cuisine. His favorite 402 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 3: dish line is a seafood pot pie. It's really good, 403 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 3: crop fish, crab, shrimp, really good. So I really like that. 404 00:19:12,359 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 3: My brother, he's a little bit he can do it all. 405 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:19,479 Speaker 3: He's very well rounded. He can do anything when it 406 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 3: comes to food. He's like one of my biggest inspirations. 407 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 3: He's very smart. He knows his stuff. You know a 408 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 3: lot of the things that I've learned along the way 409 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 3: are just from listening to him or being around him. 410 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 3: You know, I've learned a lot of things and he 411 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 3: doesn't even realize it. So you know, I listen to 412 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 3: absorb and I pay attention to him. He's very well 413 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 3: around it. He does caterings. He was probably one of 414 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 3: the first Instagram celebrity chefs. He's cooked for everybody. He's 415 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 3: done a lot of things. He fas a lot to 416 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 3: be proud of. 417 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:52,120 Speaker 1: And hey, who's your brother? Now you tell me some information. 418 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: I need to know your brother. Who is your brother? 419 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 3: My brother's name is chef Mike Ballely, My little brother. 420 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: Out there on Instagram, out there just blowing up doing 421 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: his own thing too. So you know, so you got 422 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: like a social media celebrity chef brother, and then you 423 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: got a creole Mexican street taco concept that is blowing 424 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: up all over the city. And then you want to 425 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: put it in every every gas station around the country. Really, 426 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,359 Speaker 1: that's what you want to do. You know, now, what 427 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:23,880 Speaker 1: what what starts to elevating that dream? Like you said, 428 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:27,239 Speaker 1: because it's all about food quality. You know what they 429 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,719 Speaker 1: get over here, they get over there. How do you 430 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: maintain that. 431 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 3: I have all my prep in one space, I have 432 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 3: everything cooked in one kitchen by the same prep team, 433 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 3: and I just divvy it out. That's the easiest way 434 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 3: for me to do it. I am going to for 435 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 3: some copacking option soon, which will be like, you know, 436 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 3: I send my recipe to a company and they make it, 437 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 3: you know, in mass production, they send it back to me. 438 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 3: But for right now, I like to keep the fresh 439 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,239 Speaker 3: and authentic. I like to keep you know, keep it 440 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 3: where it feels like someone put a lot of love 441 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:03,399 Speaker 3: into it. So I haven't really you know, wanted to 442 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 3: pass it over just shit. But for now that's what 443 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 3: I do. I have the same prep ladies that I've 444 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 3: always started with, and yeah, they know the recipes and 445 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 3: they do they do pretty good. 446 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: Okay, cool, so do that you know like they like, now, 447 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: are your recipes like secret recipes? You know? With they 448 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 1: you know, they have to sign n DA's and all 449 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: this stuff. 450 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, yes, yes, everyone has to sign NDAs. I 451 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,080 Speaker 3: just actually updated everybody's NDA last week. 452 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 1: So yes, they go in their kitchen, they can't go 453 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 1: around there trying to make their own little street tacos. 454 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,000 Speaker 3: Even the cashiers. Everybody has to sign an NDA. 455 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: There you go. Everybody listen to this now because. 456 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 3: I keep it equal opportunity, you know, And don't get 457 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 3: me wrong. I do have a lot of people that 458 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 3: work with me that want to have their own companies, 459 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:51,280 Speaker 3: and like, you know, that's why I'm here, you know, 460 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 3: on this journey together. I mean, I feel like they're 461 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 3: learning if they're paying attention to me and they're learning so. 462 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,679 Speaker 1: Well, you know that's important because I want to I 463 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: want people to hear this, like Shareer heard you, Sharah 464 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: is seeing you. Because there's business and there is relationships 465 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: in business superseded relationship. Business superseded love. Business supersedes family 466 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: because it's business. And I've been there. No, I've hired 467 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: my family and kept it emotional. And guess what I 468 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 1: lost because I forgot the power and the rules of business. 469 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: And it's important. So if you got to get people 470 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: this side of the NBA, sign it otherwise you will 471 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 1: pay a price for that later on. Am I right? 472 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 3: You have to make sure you protect yourself always. It 473 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,680 Speaker 3: also keeps it honest and you know, keeps the integrity. Hi, 474 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 3: No one is, you know, trying to steal anything from you. 475 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:47,120 Speaker 3: So it works out. 476 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: Now, what makes food truck business so competitive and so cutthroat? 477 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 3: There's so many new food truck owners like your. 478 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: Voice, your voice dropping so many there. 479 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 3: Theory, if you do research right, like you'll see like 480 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: there's I don't know the exact numbers, but I'm pretty 481 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 3: sure there's like been an influx of like food trucks 482 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 3: that came in after the pandemic during the pandemic, So 483 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:17,199 Speaker 3: it's very competitive. When I was at Triton Yards, I 484 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:20,360 Speaker 3: had a standing spot, so it was like no other 485 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 3: taco people really wanted to come into the parking lot 486 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 3: when we were there, you know, And I didn't have 487 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 3: a problem with them coming, you know, welcome. I like 488 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 3: to I'll go try and I like tacos, but it 489 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 3: was just kind of like they really didn't want to 490 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 3: be there. But it's very competitive. I but I thrive 491 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 3: off of that. You know. I like to study and 492 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 3: see the best of the best, and you know, I 493 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 3: just level up every time. So you know, it doesn't 494 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:44,199 Speaker 3: it doesn't intimidate me. 495 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: You know, I feel like I'm talking to the Tupac 496 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: of tacos here. Keep your head up, keep your head up. 497 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 1: You're coming over here. Messing with my tacos. Gonna be 498 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 1: a problem. I love talking to you. I loved I 499 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 1: loved I love them, your family, your moms or flight attendant. 500 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: She's out there told let's go get a food truck. 501 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 1: She's inspiration. Your daughter is so proud of you. She 502 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,159 Speaker 1: talks about you that gives you inspiration, that let you 503 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: know that you're making the difference. You're inspiring future entrepreneur 504 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: and your daughter. She's seeing that you don't have to 505 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,199 Speaker 1: do an eight to five, that you can believe in 506 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: your own dreams. She's also saying that you don't have 507 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: to go to college to be successful, which is what 508 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: this new generation is telling us. And we're starting to 509 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: see there are different rules. Allow those different rules to happen. 510 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 1: But Pretty Little Tacos is your brand, is your baby. Again, 511 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 1: before we wrap up, tell everybody in Atlanta, Georgia and 512 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: around the country, because everybody listening to that they gonna 513 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 1: nobody Pretty Little Tacos now how they can find your 514 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: locations in the city of Atlanta. 515 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 3: You can follow us on Instagram at pretty Little Tacos 516 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 3: atl You can also go to our website at www 517 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 3: dot Prettylttle Tacos dot com and that will have all 518 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 3: of our social media handles on there. You can send 519 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 3: us an email, do a catering inquiry, whatever you would 520 00:24:57,600 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 3: like to do. Our location is in Quality Square and 521 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 3: Politan Road Food Hall, and then we also have one 522 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 3: on forty three fifty Jones Borrow Road in Union City. 523 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 3: It's located inside of the gas station Morelands. I will 524 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 3: announce that opening day very soon. 525 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 1: Ninety days, right, and you're coming back, right, Mikayl. 526 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll be back, and then it's available to be 527 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,199 Speaker 3: booked if you have an event that you want us 528 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 3: to pull up to. Any festivals. We are looking for 529 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 3: you guys. We really want to get our trucks back 530 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 3: outside and we're ready to go, you know, fully staffed, 531 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 3: fully loaded, and ready to go. 532 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: Well, I want to thank you for taking the time 533 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: pretty little Tacos, and I am a text ma nex nut. 534 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm telling you so so the fact that you have 535 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:42,639 Speaker 1: a business out there that's thriving. I can't you know, 536 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,160 Speaker 1: I'm on NPR, so I just can't say I'm gonna 537 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: come by, but let me know that thank you for 538 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: giving me the location. I guess I could say that again. 539 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation master Class. 540 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,719 Speaker 1: You are an inspiration. You are very unique in what 541 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: you're doing. I say that because of the fact that 542 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,880 Speaker 1: you're following your dreams and a lot of people don't 543 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: and don't think they're passing our dreams every day and 544 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 1: you're doing it. Thank you for coming on Money Making 545 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 1: Conversations Master Class. 546 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. I have a 547 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 3: good day. 548 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: Bye bye. Well she's so busy, so professional. Thank you, y, 549 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 1: thank you for coming on my show. I want to 550 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: thank you guys for listening to my show again. I'd 551 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: be back next week as I am every week with 552 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:18,199 Speaker 1: a new set of people who are going to make 553 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: a difference in your life. Talk to you soon. Money 554 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: Making Conversation Master Class Roushawn McDonald, I'm out. 555 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 6: Thank you for joining us for this edition of Money 556 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 6: Making Conversations Masterclass. Money Making Conversations Masterclass with through Shan 557 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 6: McDonald is produced by thirty eight fifteen Media Inc. 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Your HBCU prepared you 575 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 5: success and now we want everyone to read about your 576 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 5: black excellence. More information is available at HBCU college day 577 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 5: dot com. You can click my HBCU story to share 578 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 5: your story.