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R.A.M Foundation Scholarship Rebuilding African Minds is all about the re-education of our community towards economic development and prosperity.
An End To Personal Struggles Is In Sight The R.A.M Foundation realizes that our community continues to suffer largely due to poor choices, social ills such as mass incarceration and homelessness along with the inability to get unstuck from the political games played in the greater society. It would seem that many in the community have become a permanent under-class; a life-long victim class that may never realize its fullest potential unless we use our gifts to intervene.
Being A Part Of The Solution The R.A.M Foundation wants to disrupt the trends of poverty in our communities by offering opportunities to those who have found themselves recently released from incarceration or presently residing in a transitional center (half-way house). Upon release from the system, it is often difficult to become acclimated and productive because of how you are perceived by society. Something as simple as a job flipping burgers can become an impossibility. You’ve done your time. You have shown you can be trusted. You deserve an opportunity to prove yourself. But you gotta be hungry!
There Is No Free Lunch. You Gotta Earn It. If you have ever dreamed of becoming an Entrepreneur and taking charge of your own life upon re-entry into the greater society, we would love to get to know you. We are offering Entrepreneurial Scholarships to a select few individuals who can demonstrate their hunger for success and their thirst for changing their lives. It takes effort on your part. We aren’t going to give you a job. We are giving you an opportunity to take your life back and to create a new life for yourself and your family.
Apply Yourself We hope you are as excited as we are about meeting you. Surrounding yourself with good vibes and good people is only the beginning. Learning new things and pushing yourself beyond the limits of your own mind. If you feel that you qualify or know someone who does, visit our website www.RAMTechnologyPartners.com for more information and to apply. www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com 3
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RESTAURANT MOGUL CHEF JOSEPH “JJ” JOHNSON CHEF
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oseph Johnson was born in 1984 in Long Island, New York, but spent his youth in the Poconos, where at the age of seven was inspired to become a Chef.
Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would Partner with Media Mogul Richard Parsons and famed Restaurateur Alexander Smalls on an award winning culinary adventure. But unlike any other country in the world, these dreams can come true in America. It all started when JJ saw a commercial for The Culinary Institute of America, and told his mother that he wanted to become a Chef. But, it was only after watching his Puerto Rican grandmother serve up butternut squash soup and other ethnic dishes that he knew he had to. Joseph “JJ” Johnson is the James Beard-nominated Executive Chef at The Cecil and Minton’s. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Johnson went on to hone his skills in some of New York’s most esteemed kitchens including Centro Vinoteca, Jane, and Tribeca Grill. Constantly in search of new flavors, Chef Johnson spent a month cooking in Ghana at the country’s leading boutique hotel, Villa Monticello, studying West African cuisine and exploring the country’s exotic markets. In 2013, Chef Johnson helped open The Cecil with Parsons and Smalls. Soon after, he joined the kitchen of its sister restaurant Minton’s, the revived jazz supper club located next door. Chef Johnson was nominated for a James Beard Foundation award for Rising Star Chef, and he recognized by Star Chefs with the Rising Star Community Chef award (both in 2015). He was
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named on the “20 under 40” list of extraordinary philanthropists by the Observer (2016). After graduating from The Culinary Institute of America, Johnson spent time in Ghana studying West African cuisine. In 2011, Johnson competed and won Bravo’s Rocco’s Dinner Party cooking competition, quickly catching the eye of restaurateur Alexander Smalls. Smalls invited Johnson to breakfast to introduce the concept of Afro-Asian cooking to him. A year later, Johnson joined Smalls on a 16-day trip to Ghana, where they prepared a series of American-themed dinners. Upon their return, Smalls and Johnson developed 36 different menus that would ultimately be narrowed down to one AfroAsian inspired menu for The Cecil in 2013. Since its opening, the restaurant has garnered several awards including “Best New Restaurant in America (Esquire). Johnson himself was ranked among Forbes’ 30 under 30 in the Food & Wine category (2014), Zagat’s 30 Under 30 (2014) and Eater’s Young Guns (2014). The Cecil Restaurant in Harlem is an exotic mix of Afro-Asian. Diners can expect big bold flavors and spice. When asked about the menu, Chef JJ says his favorite dish is … “Everything! The whole menu. It’s interesting, because every dish that’s on the menu has been really thought out. Even like, tofu. I’ve got tofu pot stickers. We use the tofu in the same form we make gnocchi so instead of potato it’s tofu, because tofu’s a binder. And we put pink peppercorns in it.” This was excellent news to the Publisher of Black Business Moguls Magazine who happens to be vegan. I don’t suppose she will take me with her on her exclusive visit next time?? Cynthia Sankofa-Key is a Freelance Writer living and breathing the air in New York City.
Airline Mogul disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and participate in economic life as Entrepreneurs, Sibongile saw an opportunity to fulfill her aviation dreams. However, having no prior experience in the sector, nor the capital to purchase an aircraft, this posed an initial challenge, but not one that would deter Sibongile from realizing her dreams. To raise the capital needed to start her aviation business, Sibongile approached her family to lend her the money and with this small family loan from her mother and aunt, she was able to start her business by brokering contracts between aviation services and those with air-transport needs. Sibongile’s first taste of success in the Aviation sector came as a result of the winning of a tender issued by the South African government for Aviation firms to bid on a contract for cargo transport. Her company, SRS Aviation was part of a joint venture with another firm. Although this collaborative project offered a golden opportunity to enter the industry, the other company soon withdrew, leaving Sambo to learn the contracting process on her own.
Sibongile Sambo Founder of SRS Aviation in South Africa
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RS Aviation is the startup of the pioneering Founder of the first 100% Black- Female-Owned Aviation Company in the post-Apartheid South Africa. Sibongile Sambo, started her own company after being rejected as a Flight Attendant for South African Airways . She sold her car and borrowed money from her mother’s retirement to start the business. The gamble has been a major payoff. Born in 1974 in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa, Sibongile Sambo showed an interest in aircraft from an early age, watching planes flying overhead and wondering one day if she would fly in those planes herself to different countries, meeting different people. Although her early career took her into the human resources environment, with companies such as De Beers and City Power, her dream of being involved in the Aviation sector never left her. In 2003, with the South African government passing Black Economic Empowerment Act enabling people from previously
In 2006, following an inspection of her company’s infrastructure by the CAA, which satisfied itself that SRS Aviation had safe and airworthy aircraft among other requirements, her company was issued with a formal Air Operating Certificate, making her company the first black operational enterprise in South Africa to be given full rights to undertake commercial flying activities. Six years later in June 2010, SRS Aviation opened its first hub at one of South Africa’s city airports; and since then has opened a chain of retail shops across the country’s airport network. Over the years, Sibongile has built a reputation for identifying new opportunities and maximizing them for the benefit of her business. Her ability to network has also helped her to become a successful Entrepreneur in the highly competitive South African aviation industry. Aside from being an Entrepreneur, Sambo doubles as a Motivational Speaker. She mentors youngsters, as well as other business men and women in Africa, whilst generating much needed job opportunities and empowering women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Sibongile is a former member of the National Small Business Advisory Council that advices the Minister of Trade and Industry on Small Business; Advocates for interest of small business and Monitor Impact, she focused more on fostering the culture of Entrepreneurship for Youth and Women. She is also a member of the think-tank for the World Entrepreneurship Forum (WEF), founded in France by The State President of France Mr. Sakorzy and EMLYON Business School Eunice Midtha is a freelance writer living in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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As a nation the craze of the election has occupied the conversational space of many. However when I read an anecdote in a series of TIME opinion pieces about the election this one piece stood out. It was a dialogue between a tutor and a kindergarten student. “Mr. Ebbie, is jail a good place to be?” He said, “Why would you ever ask that?” The student said: “My daddy’s in jail and he said he gets three meals a day. And sometimes my mom can’t make me food and I’m hungry.” This was an indicator to me that a school student might insinuate that jail is a good place to be from the mere fact that it appears to provide basic needs such as three meals per day. Ebbie Banks is the black 17-year-old from Palo Alto, California who tutored the student. He said, “I went home and I cried that night. This is a kindergartner. Teachers told him he was going to jail. I looked at him as a 5-year-old. I didn’t see a criminal. I didn’t see a drug dealer. I didn’t see a rapist. I didn’t see a gangbanger. I saw myself, when I was a little kid 10 years ago. The candidates, a lot of them, are from very privileged backgrounds and benefit from a white, male, Christian power structure. And that’s O.K. I don’t think that white people should feel guilty about their privilege. But they should feel a responsibility to acknowledge it.” I think we can learn from Ebbie’s example that role models, mentors and positive peer leadership are need for our youth so that they are not making incorrect assumptions about the world and the injustices that exist in it. The emotional stability of Black young people is more important than ever before. Our communities lack proper intervention methods for troubled youth leading to a propensity for violence, rise in gang related activity, thoughts of suicide, and the list continues. When will we return to the mindset that it takes a village to raise a child? Unsupported systems lack the tools and people to raise and guide our orphaned youth. When I use this term I am referring to those who are neglected or suffering and cannot fend for themselves needing a support system. Where are the elders and leaders who are supposed to be there to defend our innocence in a world that exposes young people to mature situations beyond their understanding? We need to be heard and protected NOW and not just hope for the best! Dr. Rheeda Walker shares her psychological expertise on the matter in Essence magazine stating, “The preschool to prison pipeline is real. While “educational” systems are not fatal in
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ow will you influence the lives of the next generation? In 2016, a myriad of obstacles have been presented to Americans but I believe there is a whole population that is being overlooked when it comes to discussing prevalent issues in the Black community. While there is an adult population attempting to navigate through recent life experiences that are on a scale between pleasant and tragic, our Black youth deal with the same life experiences IN ADDITION TO learning how to find their way in the world. The despairing thing is that often we radiate a dismissive aura when we talk about issues among children, teens, and young adults. I believe it’s important to remember that future generations need spaces to express themselves and the ability to be heard and receive the guidance from those considered to be more experienced. The amount of issues that our youth deal with today are plentiful so while this discourse will reflect on several that may exist, my intent is to challenge elders to rise to the occasion and stand with our youth so they have a space to learn from and be heard.
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the traditional sense, they can engender low self-esteem that subsequently kills motivation along with academic and intellectual performance. Parents and other caregivers must protect Black children from subtle messaging that their lives don’t matter. Such messaging can be more detrimental than fractured limbs and bruised faces as it’s hard to heal what one cannot see.” Honesty is key when speaking to and educating the new generation who are constantly exposed to graphic content and violent or traumatic situations that we believe we might be sheltering them from. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 12 teens have attempted suicide. (As discovered by a semi-annual survey on youth risk behavior.) When we examine rates in the black community specifically, they are on the rise and our children are not exempt. The biggest increase is among Black children ages 5 through 11 as cited by the CDC. A published work shares more light on this topic titled, “Black Suicide: The Tragic Reality of America’s Deadliest Secret. It is clear that violence as well as bullying has accounted for the increase as well as ignoring the importance and effects of mental health and illness. When bombarded with headlines such as, ‘Girl, 15, commits suicide after friends share nude Snapchat video taken without permission’; ‘5th grader savagely attacks 1st grader in Henry Co. school bathroom’; or ‘Meet a 9-year-old girl who is constantly bullied because of her hijab’. We have to address the role that bullying plays in the development of youth. We cannot just instruct the young ones but also lead by example showing how compassion and empathy don’t make you weak. Compromise
should be used as a tool and they must also know that it is okay to have differences in opinion and still respect other people for their differences. So how will you implement change in your community? There have been several initiatives that have received national publicity. One of which is My Brother’s Keeper, a mentoring organization endorsed by President Obama and celebrities such as Steph Curry, an NBA player, in order to expose youth to opportunity and positive role models. According to research by the organization they note that mentoring reduces “depressive symptoms” and increases “social acceptance, academic attitudes and grades.” Students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class. Youth who meet regularly with their mentors are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking. So again I ask, how will you influence the lives of the next generation? As the founder of Students Talking Out Problems, I have teamed up with youth spokesperson, Sanyla P. and Kesha Fairman of Why Weight? TV to bring an anti-bullying campaign to metro Atlanta. This is just one of many organizations that you can support that work to empower and impact the lives of Black youth in a positive way. We can no longer talk about the change, it’s time to BE the change. Listen to the needs and concerns of our youth. Work with the young people who are fighting to survive and pass on the wisdom and the stories and the invaluable information of the past to the young people so that our culture can not only survive, but return to being excellent.
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Coconut Brown Rice with Wok Fried Shrimp
The Cecil is an airy brasserie serving Afro-Asian-American fare like this coconut brown rice with wok fried shrimp in a chic space with leather banquettes. Fabulously located at 210 W 118th St in Harlem. Support Black owned businesses. #TakeBlackBack 10 www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
The Mechanics of Fear
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s a journalist with Black Business Moguls Magazine, I am always honored to write commentary that motivates our readers across the world to explore their passions in business, relationships, finances etc. Inspiring people to live out their wildest dreams is absolutely amazing. I believe that we were all created to live a great life. Over the past few years, I’ve personally come to the realization that some people are born great, while others learn to be great. Either way, greatness is obtainable for everyone. As I accepted the challenge of writing an article to motivate you, I chose to do a self-analysis. I asked myself about my own motivations and those things that prevented me from pursuing my dreams. As I drew my conclusions, one common connection that kept coming to the surface was the difficulties of motivating myself in the presence of fear.
“Something that makes fear unique is that it is bold enough to attack anyone.” Fear doesn’t define its presence by skin color, social economic status, religion, or sexual orientation. Fear doesn’t define itself by language, culture, or gender. Fear challenges everyone regardless of their educational level. Interestingly, the one thing that is capable of attacking us all (fear) is the least studied or discussed. This is probably because people are afraid to admit that they walk in fear. As blacks were fighting for racial equality during the civil rights movement, the KKK used intimidation tactics such as church bombings and lynching to invoke fear in the hearts of our forefathers. Most recently the massive shooting at the Pulse nightclub and the attempts to disrupt the PRIDE festivals across our great nation became the latest mechanisms to scare the LGBTQ community from walking in total peace and oneness with the universe. I’ve grown to believe that fear is a learned behavior based on past experiences. Before we were able to process the environment, our infant bodies connected to fear. We heard parents warn us of things. Our friends told us stories of others
who failed and this ultimately controlled how we decided the risks to take or not. This inanimate concept walks the earth boldly and makes boisterous sounds, while being weak in reality. Fear attacks our dreams and visions and produces emotions within us that tell us that we’re not worthy or that we are incapable of accomplishing what the universe has already predestined for us. It’s clear that we need to be aware of the universe around us, however, we must embrace the fact that according to the plan of the world, human beings have rule and dominion over the earth. Even better, you have rule and dominion over your life!! Will you allow the media to flood your mind with images of people who failed in life, scaring you into thinking that the same thing could happen to you? Will you allow your parents and friends and their good intentions of protecting you, to cause you to walk in fear? As we look into the next quarter with Black Business Moguls Magazine, let’s encourage one another to do a self-reflection and think of the dreams that we once had. Reclaim that promise for yourself. Reclaim the vision and the dreams you once believed in. What stopped you in the first place? Was it really the lack of resources or was it really the fear mechanism? Remember, a fearless person doesn’t take NO for an answer, ultimately causing resources to find them! Give fear the eviction notice and began to walk in the promise of the universe: a long and prosperous life! I look forward to reading and hearing about your powerful lifechanging stories as you remove fear as a hindrance and began walking in your purpose.
Be Blessed Andre J. Thomas is a 5x Award Winning producer for the hit show, College Talk. He is also a featured writer for Black Moguls Magazine, Gumption Magazine, and The Birmingham Times. You can catch #AndreTheBlogger on hit radio show, The Joe Lockett Show which airs in Birmingham on 101.1 FM & 1260 AM WYDE on Saturdays from 4pm - 7pm CST. You can also follow #AndreTheBlogger on social media. IG: @AndreJThomas FB: @ mrandrejthomas Twitter: @mrandrejthomas www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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Education Mogul
Dr. Carol D. Lee Publisher’s Words
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t a time in our history such as this, we need to find a way to better educate our children. In America, it seems we are losing. We are losing young men and young women to random street violence. Sadly, it’s street violence at the hands of other young Black people. In addition, we are also losing our children at the hands of Law Enforcement. There are so many names and so much blood rolling through the streets of Black America. Sometimes we are at a loss for what we should do. Education has always been thought to be the method by which we could level the playing field. It has been pushed as the way out for the entire community. But what kind of an education do we need? And will Education stop the violence and the police brutality? In his book, “The Mis-Education of the Negro”, Dr. Carter G. Woodson theorizes that the Black community of his day were being culturally indoctrinated, rather than taught, in public schools. This conditioning, he claims, causes Black people to become dependent and to seek out inferior places in the greater society of which they are a part. He challenges his readers “do for themselves”, regardless of what they were taught.
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History shows that it does not matter who is in power... those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they did in the beginning. Dr. Woodson says, “When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”
THE ARGUMENT ABOUT EBONICS The traditional public school system has often been criticized as being weak and dumbing down our children. In December 1996 the Oakland Unified School District school board of Oakland, California passed a controversial resolution recognizing the legitimacy of Ebonics. Ebonics is what mainstream linguists more commonly term African American Vernacular English (AAVE). The resolution set off a firestorm of media criticism and ignited a national debate.
For students whose primary language was “Ebonics”, the Oakland resolution mandated some instruction in this, both for “maintaining the legitimacy and richness of such language... and to facilitate their acquisition and mastery of English language skills.” There was also a proposed increase in salaries of those proficient in both Ebonics and Standard English and that this would all be paid for by the use of public funding to help teachers learn AAVE themselves. Jean Quan, president of the Oakland Board of Education argues, “Our kids don’t speak standard English and we want to respect the culture they bring from home and want to use it to help them speak standard English,” Quan said. “Whatever you call it, many of our children from our poorest neighborhoods don’t speak standard English.” From numerous perspectives, Ebonics would do nothing more than further the divide. The school board backed down after being fraught with criticism. It was indeed a bad idea. Lowering standards does nothing to raise our children up. There has to be a better way.
MAKING THE CASE WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS Creating a better educational system for our children has now become a matter of necessity. It is beyond mission critical. Charter schools seem to offer some tangible solution and alternative to traditional public education. Charter schools are publicly funded schools of choice, meaning that families choose them for their children. They operate with freedom from some of the regulations that are imposed upon district schools. Charter schools are accountable for academic results and for upholding the promises made in their charters. WHAT??? Charter schools are held accountable for their results?! Dr. Carol D. Lee is one of the Founders of The Betty Shabazz International Charter School. The school was established in 1998, and is an African-centered network of charter schools comprised of three Chicago campuses: Betty Shabazz Academy (grades K-8), Barbara A. Sizemore Academy (grades K-8) and DuSable Leadership Academy (grades 9-12). The school has a mission to provide every student with a safe and nurturing learning environment, and an academically rigorous and culturally relevant educational program that graduates students who excel in reading, oral and written language, mathematics, science, technology, social studies, and the arts and humanities. From inception, our school has consistently produced exemplary, high achieving students who have self-confidence, a strong sense of cultural identity, and a commitment to make positive contributions to their community and the world.
What Is African Centered Education? By taking African cultural elements and influences found on each continent into every aspect of the school’s environment
and curriculum, the space is created for proper learning and understanding of self. Cultural elements like language, the arts, tradition, ceremony and values are used to instill in our students a sense of history, responsibility, accountability, community, extended family, propriety, and of course, pride. The school places great emphasis on leadership. So every morning each Betty Shabazz International Charter School campus begins with a school-wide “Unity Circle” in which students pledge self-determination, self-respect, community service and to lead principled lives. These pledges guide our students in living positive and productive lives. Dr. Carol D. Lee is also the EdwinaS.Tarry Professor of Education in the School of Education and Social Policy and in AfricanAmerican Studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. She is a past president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), AERA’spast representative to the World Educational Research Association, past vice-president of Division G (Social Contexts of Education) of the American Educational Research Association, past president of the National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy, and past co-chair of the Research Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English. She is a member of the National Academy of Education in the United States, a fellow of the American Educational Research Association, a fellow of the National Conference on Research in Language and Literacy, and a former fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences. She is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of Teachers of English, Scholars of Color Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Educational Research Association, theWalder Award for Research Excellence at Northwestern University, the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Illinois-Urbana, The President’s Pacesetters Award from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education and an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She has led three international delegations in education on behalf of the People to People’s Ambassador Program to South Africa and the People’s Republic of China. She is the author and coeditor of three books, the most recent is Culture, Literacy and Learning: Taking Bloom in the Midst of the Whirlwind, she has written 4 monographs, and has published over 62 journal articles and book/handbook chapters in the field of education. Her research addresses cultural supports for learning that includes a broad ecological focus, with attention to language and literacy and African-American youth. Her career spans a 48 year history, including work as an English Language Arts teacher at the high school and community college levels, a primary grade teacher, and a university professor. This Education Mogul has dedicated her entire life to solving the issues around the mis-education of Black children in the traditional American public school system. She has built an empire of renowned preparatory schools in the process.
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Never Give Up
Why Weight TV CEO Keisha Fairman
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esha has always been active and fit. Her body was her temple and she kept it in full form. A few years back while living in Louisiana, the Actress and Producer suddenly put on 20 pounds inside of a week. The unexplained weight gain baffled doctors. In fact, the doctors told her that African-American women were just prone to being overweight. They said that she had to be eating poorly and just plain making bad dietary decisions. The weight gain caused the once active Kesha to struggle with other health issues. She went from running marathons to struggling to leave the house. As she went from doctor to doctor looking for answers, her health continued to diminish. The once healthy actress had a sudden onset of Type 2 diabetes, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, and a list of other medical issues with no prior history of health problems. Her health problems were so perplexing that she finally sought natural solutions with acupuncture and naturopathy. In her quest to connect with her body and soul, she heard a voice. This is when it was finally discovered that she had a large tumor on her pituitary gland that was wreaking hormonal havoc on her entire body system. The stress of not knowing was finally over. But the effects of the misdiagnosis were spiraling. Kesha’s mental health and self-esteem were damaged in a major way. When going to the store, she would run into old friends who would look at her and whisper about how she has really let herself go. It was a very low point in her life. And she thought she had to walk completely
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away from her career. While she was blindly following doctor’s advice on how to deal with this new revelation, that same “voice” returned speaking to her yet again. The voice spoke so clearly and told her to make your affliction your affirmation. It was in that moment that the idea to start Why Weight TV came into fruition. Why Weight TV is a television network dedicated to helping others deal with health and wellness in a positive and life affirming way. When you are going through something as traumatic as losing your quality of life; having others around you for support makes all the difference. And sometimes you can find your answers by listening to the experiences of other people. Kesha built an alliance with a number of other people who were struggling with weight gain brought on by underlying health issues. This alliance led to the start of her company TriPoint Media & Technology which produces Why Weight TV. 2 years later, the start-up company and Kesha are both alive, and well, and thriving in Atlanta. Why Weight TV provides a community and advocacy for those who are struggling with similar issues. It was her way of turning what looked to be a hopeless situation into an opportunity to help herself and others. If you help enough people get what they want, you too will get what you want. Kesha is back to running marathons including the Peachtree Road Race and is enjoying tremendous success and better health in her new business venture.
WHY Hits Of Motivation Are Like Smoking Crack Now I know the title of this article may have caught you off guard, so allow me to explain… The Self-improvement industry represents a $10 billion per year industry in the U.S. alone. In addition to high revenues, self-help also has a high recidivism rate, with the most likely purchaser of a self-help book being the same person who purchased one already in the last 18 months. This means that people are making a ton of money from conferences, books, motivational speeches etc. from “motivating” people. Does this make them wrong? Of course not, and here’s why… Most people are looking for something outside of themselves to “motivate” them to take the actions required to create the results they are seeking.
Here’s A Couple Quick Examples I see it ALL the time. I travel all over the planet to conferences, seminars, workshops and masterminds and these events are packed with people who get all excited a.k.a “Motivated” and talk about how things are going to change when they get home. Then what happens? You guessed it! They get home, the “hit” of motivation they got at the event has worn off like when a crack addict gets a hit of drugs, it eventually wears off and then they are off looking for another hit. www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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I know that may seem like a rather drastic example, but it’s basically the same thing.
They don’t see the vision of being able to play with their GREAT GREAT grandkids because of their amazing health.
Are You A “Dope Head”?
Most people quit on their business goals, because they don’t see their kids being able to live without limitations of money and time because of the business they built.
Now I’m not talking about dope as in drugs like crack or cocaine, I’m talking about dope as in another drug. This drug is called, “Dopamine.” Now without geeking out too much and going all neuroscience on you, I’ll explain Dopamine like this….
They don’t see as a result of all the NO’s and challenges they face while building their business, they will be able to move to areas with better schools and opportunities for their kids. Yes, they do think about all these things, but they aren’t so clear on the vision that they can taste and even smell it.
Dopamine is a chemical that your brain secretes that makes you feel good.
So how do you do that?
Here’s a couple of examples…
If you know me, you know I wasn’t going to leave you without action steps, because I’m not here to just “motivate” you LOL, I’m here to INSPIRE you.
When people make a purchase (whether clothing, training products etc.), they get a really good feeling over their body and that comes from a hit of dopamine. When people go to events, listen to “motivational” videos or watch “motivational” audios and get all fired up, that’s their hit of Dopamine. Now Let Me Set The Record Straight… There is nothing wrong with going to events, watching “motivational” videos or listening “motivational” audios. I have spend HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars on personal development material, going to events etc. and continue to do so to this day. So what am I saying? What I am saying is that seeking motivation to create success is BULLCRAP and a complete waste of your time, money and energy… And there’s ONE THING that’s infinitely more powerful (which I’ll explain in a second). Before I do I want to drive the point home that external "Motivation" is ONLY temporary because it’s external and if you want to create TRUE, Sustainable Success for the long term, you have to tap into another POWER and that power is…
Action Steps Carve out an hour on your calendar, then get crystal clear on how you want your life to look 5 years from now. Suspend all disbelief and do NOT consider what’s realistic. Don’t put any of your dreams or goals on a leash. Unleash them and use this template. “Today is _______________20___ and I _____________ ...”
Here’s an example of what I mean… “Today is October 16, 2021 and I’ve officially turned 36 years young. Not only am I in the best shape of my life, but as I sit in the lanai of my beach front home on Ka’anapali beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean, I see all of my kids playing on the beach having the time of their lives. We’re blessed to be able to fly private all over the world and the communication we have amongst each other is amazing. We run a $100 Million Per Year Coaching and Training Company, have clients we love, I only have to coach 1 day per week and we’re currently on the Inc. 500 list for one of the fastest growing companies in America.” I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. I’m crystal clear on this vision. So much that I can smell the Pacific Ocean and genuine leather on my private jet, feel the sand on my feet and see my kids enjoying themselves.
The Amazing Power Of Inspiration Let me explain before you mosey off thinking “I know that already.” Let’s start with the difference in Motivation and Inspiration. To keep it simple, Motivation is external, which means it comes from something outside of you. Inspiration comes from the inside, and that’s where the magic happens. One of my mentors says that, “If you’re not willing to look WITHIN, you’re going to have to get using to living WITHOUT.” Inspiration is all about your VISION that you have for the results you want in exchange for the effort you put in. Here’s What I Mean… Most people quit going to the gym and focusing on their health because they don’t have a crystal clear vision of how they will look as a result of sticking with the workout and eating routine.
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Once you have this, it’s a powerful tool that will INSPIRE you and you will never have to worry about seeking short time motivation that can get put out like a candle. INSPIRATION is more of an eternal flame that you will have inside of you that fuels you to the results you want faster and with greater ease.
Marquel Russell is the #1 lead attraction and conversion expert in the world and specializes in helping small business owners setup automated marketing systems online that deliver customers and clients every single day with predictability.
The
“After victory, tighten the straps on your helmet.” -Tokugawa Ieyasu
G
o ahead and celebrate your victories by having a cocktail and a smile; treat yourself to a fine dinner; then get back to the hustle at hand. Sometimes winning can cause you to lose focus of the game. Goals are the destination. Focus is the GPS. -Swan Simpson Fighting procrastination and really focusing is hard enough. Oftentimes we get lazy especially after a big win. Big wins can cause us to lose sight of the things that lead us to victory in the first place.
Art of
Focus
1. STOP PROCRASTINATING
Get to it! With each delay you are putting off your own personal success. Get started now with what you already have at hand.
2. MAKE NO EXCUSES Consider how much thought and energy goes into creating those excuses you give yourself for not accomplishing something. Now take that energy and those creative juices and put them to work towards reaching your goals.
3. GET A REAL REALITY TV If you have goals you haven’t accomplished, then why are you watching Reality TV!? Does anything good come out of watching these shows? If it relaxes you consider how much more relaxed you'd be if you accomplished one of your goals.
To help you fight off the temptation to go back to a comfort zone and/ or being small, we would like to offer you some sage advice. This advice encompasses one remaining focused by constantly setting new goals. High achievement is all about staying focused at the peak of your performance.
The Importance of Goal Setting Goal setting is very important to achieving success because it gives you focus and direction to where you want to be. Goals are the destination. Focus is the GPS. However, many people still underestimate what goal setting and focus can do for them. Many don’t set goals because they are skeptical about getting results. Why? Because they don’t believe it works. However, the process only works if you work it!
Here are 10 tips that can help you get focused and achieve your goals: www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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And don’t tell me you’re catching up on the news! I have come to find that all the negative news zaps my energy and alters my mood. It’s garbage so turn it off!
business ventures. Learn what your blood type is and follow Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo’s “Eat Right For Your Type” process. Your energy, focus and health will soar!
4. SEIZE THE DAY
8. VISUALIZE YOUR SUCCESS
Yesterday is gone and all that’s left of it is any lessons learned. Appreciate and celebrate your accomplishments as they occur and then move forward. At the core of your own personal development is realizing you can’t change the past and the best way to prepare for the future is to address the present. By setting goals, daily you’re directing your actions in a more positive and purposeful direction.
“If you think you can, you will, and if you think you can’t, you’re right!” My book, Mind Hustle: The Science of Getting Rich Now is all about laying the proper mental foundation. Scientists say, your success starts within your own mind. See yourself as already achieving and know that success is your birthright!
5. DROP COMPARISON OF OTHERS
Gratitude is one of the fastest ways to achievement without ever lifting a finger. “Into every life a little rain will fall” is a matter of fact. When things fall apart as they sometimes will, focus on the
Oprah wasn't built in a day! In a society of hype, flash, and social media fantasies, distraction is easy to come by. We get so caught up looking at others that we forget to FOCUS on our own goals. Being jealous of other people's material riches won't bring you what you want. Appreciating and working with the things we do have control over is the best way to alter our present and future.
6. MAKE TIME FOR YOU It is important to maintain a healthy balance between the pursuit of any business goals and those of a more personal nature. Family, friends, and any other personal interests (hobbies) should be allotted a reasonable amount of your time and energy on a REGULAR basis. Give yourself the time to unwind and recharge! Then get back to it! All goal setting should include goals for your relationships and family. Make time in your schedule and day to focus on those things that make you happy.
7. YOUR BODY Is YOUR TEMPLE Your health is your wealth. Good eating habits and regular exercise will pay you dividends in both your personal life and
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9. BE THANKFUL for the GOOD
good, focus on the lesson and give thanks for it! It will give you a more positive outlook, a healthier mindset, and the energy needed to constructively move forward.
10. BE OPPORTUNISTIC Right time, right place. Think about your associations. Think about where you spend your leisure time and note if these activities are bringing you closer to your goals or doing nothing for you at all.
Jim rohn has this to say about associations: Here is the first question: “Who am I around?” Make a mental note of the people with whom you most often associate. You’ve got to evaluate everybody who is able to influence you in any way. The second question is: “What are these associations doing to me?” That’s a major question to ask. What have they got me doing? What have they got me listening to? What have they got me reading? Where have they got me going? What do they have me thinking? How have they got me talking? How have they got me feeling? What have they got me saying? You’ve got to make a serious study of how others are influencing you, both negatively and positively. Here’s a final question: “Is that okay?” Maybe everyone you associate with has been a positive, energizing influence. Then again, maybe there are some bad apples in the bunch. All I’m suggesting here is that you take a close and objective look. Everything is worth a second look, especially the power of influence. Both will take you somewhere, but only one will take you in the direction you need to go. “Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their
successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them.”- Jack Canfield “That’s been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”- Steve Jobs “Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.” -Denis Waitley “We focus so much on our differences, and that is creating, I think, a lot of chaos and negativity and bullying in the world. And I think if everybody focused on what we all have in common - which is - we all want to be happy.” -Ellen DeGeneres “Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something.” -Ralph Marston “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”-Bruce Lee
Follow One Course Until Successful Swan Simpson is an International Sales Trainer, Motivational Speaker & the Publisher of Black Business Moguls Magazine. Her company, Swan Simpson Media Group, organizes life changing events for highly energized Entrepreneurs. Download her bestselling book, Mind Hustle: The Science of Getting Rich Now, on Amazon.com and follow her @SwanSimpsonMediaGroup www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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Deepak & Oprah
the Path to Millionaire (and Billionaire) Zen
B
uilding an empire takes focus, goals, stamina, healthy eating, good associations, and extreme motivation and support. Keeping the mind refreshed and ready to receive is an essential part of the success toolkit. As mentioned in the book, Mind Hustle: The Science of Getting Rich Now, one can use their mind to achieve the impossible. But counter to this is the flip side of our mind. One can allow the mind to turn on you. This is why meditation serves a significant purpose in helping high achievers and others, strengthen the power of your own thoughts.
Spiritual Advisor Deepak Chopra and Billionaire Entertainer Oprah Winfrey have teamed up to help you create the time and the practice of meditation that will help you to get unstuck and to stay focused. Mega Millionaire and Media Mogul, Russell Simmons, says ”The same way today artists like Jay Z or Lil Wayne are able to create entire songs without ever putting a word down on paper. Through being able to connect completely with the music, they are able to operate from that “zone” that the great ones are able to access. That might not sound like a big deal, but I’ve seen so many artists get sidetracked by those distractions. And when it’s time for them to get in the recording booth and execute their craft, their mind is somewhere else.” The 21 day meditation experience is all about helping you to
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get through these tough times and seasons. Life is not meant to be a series of burdensome obligations. Embark on a boundless meditation journey to break free from the past, ignite your creativity, and embrace healthy change that brings freshness and renewal to each day. Stop sleepwalking through life and start living it, as you define a new path that leads to the joy and fulfillment you’ve been searching to experience. Taking the advice of other successful people and modeling what they do can help you shorten your own learning curve. Meditation is a great method to keep your thoughts in check as you build your business, legacy, empire. The 21 day meditation experience is available at https://chopracentermeditation. com.
Young, Black, Rich & Famous with $10 bills hanging out my anus-Drake Top 35 Must Attend Events for Millennial CEOs & Established Entrepreneurs so plan ahead for 2017 1. CEO National– Imagine what happens when over 1,000 college entrepreneurs get together in one giant convention center for a weekend full of keynotes, workshops and lots of “networking”. The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization holds a soft spot in our heart as Under30CEO was launched in Chicago at this very conference, where we keynoted and threw quite the after party. 2. SXSW– If you can only get to one conference each year or are launching a startup, you may want to consider South by Southwest (SXSW). Austin hosts one of the most serious interactive film and music festivals in the world, but it’s getting a little oversold these days. Be sure to find a place to stay months in advance to guarantee a place to stay. 3. Startup Weekend– Want to launch a company in 54 hours? Find a Startup Weekend in your region of the globe, pitch your idea and build a team around it. Go from idea to a hacked together business in a single weekend. “No Talk. All Action.” 4. Techcrunch Disrupt– If you are a tech startup and you want to launch big, this is where you want to do it. Enter into the demo competition and be ready to answer the tough questions. The networking is top notch if you are looking to meet investors, but you’ll pay the price to get in. 5. Ignite– Check your local city for Ignite events and be ready for a high energy event. Speakers make 5 minute presentations using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds, sharing what they know.
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6. Under30CEOnyc– Yes, we had to. But if you don’t believe in your product, you might as well not be in business. We keep our speakers short and sweet, and draw a great crowd for networking all young at heart. Our last meetup featured Alexis Ohanian Co-founder of Reddit who rocked the house. 7. Launch– This competition not only encourages attendees to couch surf there way to Silcon Valley, but gives opportunities for companies to pitch who have never had any press or are still in private beta. This demo event are where storybook starts take place. Imagine: hacking together your product on the plane, sleeping on floors and going home with funding. 8. PivotCon– Want to understand where marketing and the social consumer are heading? This is your event. It’s not only startups and Fortune 500s that are pivoting; it’s the entire world. 9. Web2Expo– Held on both coasts, Web2Expo is known for its killer keynotes. Get the expo hall pass for only $50 and skip the high priced breakout sessions. Watch out for the booth crawl… it’ll get the best of you. 10. Social Media Week– SMWeek happens in select cities across the globe who simultaneously celebrate social media. These gatherings of new media people bring together the thought leaders in the industry in cosmopolitan cities like DC, Hong Kong and Sao Paulo. 11. Internet Week– Another festival style event, IW draws major sponsors like Yahoo! and Ford. IWNY’s highlight was the “Walkabout Tour”, where all of the city’s startups opened their doors for an afternoon walking tour. 12. Affiliate Summit– Want to learn the tips and tricks of internet marketing? This bi-coastal conference is filled with people making millions online while drinking pina coladas under palm trees. Enough said. 13. Tony Robbins– While Tony my take a lot of flack for having a cult-like following of people who have been transformed by his events, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Andre Agassi all can’t be wrong. Tony’s 6’7” stage presence truly does rock the house.
14. TEDx– While TED is known for their earth-shattering keynotes by world leaders, the $10k price tag and exclusivity of the event will probably keep you away. Luckily for the rest of us, TEDx events are hosted by local organizers to bring people together to talk about “Ideas Worth Spreading”. 15. Lean Startup Machine– Surrounding the launch of Eric Ries’ Lean Startup book launch our friend Trevor Owens is perpetuating the movement to find out what your customers really care about. Join the metrics driven startup competition in London, Lahore, New York and DC.
females who write informative content. In case you are curious, 10-15% of attendees happen to be men. 25. Seth Godin Meetup– In true Seth fashion, this top business blogger has given his tribe the tools to organize and make something happen. Using the Meetup Everywhere platform, anyone can organize a gathering of Seth fans. 26. Ad:tech– this global digital marketing conference hosts events around the globe at the world’s biggest convention centers. Topics include media buying, search, email marketing, mobile, web analytics, affiliate marketing and blogging.
16. BlogWorld Expo– BWE is also held on both coasts and often corresponds with the timing of Techcrunch Disrupt. It has a big convention center feel, and we think that info on social media and blogging is available most anywhere these days, but if you want to speak at an event this is the place to be.
27. WOMMA– The World of Mouth Marketing Association is an organization dedicated to the ethical and effective ways to generate buzz. One recent summit even featured a discussion on how social media had a leading role to save the NFL season.
17. Startup Riot– As bootstrapped entrepreneur events should be, this event brands itself as “affordable, curated events for the startup community.” Held across the country, what we like best is that they claim their event “will make you hate all job fairs.”
28. SheCon– Always a fan of supporting women entrepreneurs and their unique set of opportunities and challenges, Under30CEO highly recommends this Miami summit. Even Guy Kawasaki joins the party to share with the audience how they can use new media to build their brands.
18. INC’s GrowCo– The Grow Your Business Conference is the place for advice and strategies to help your business get to the next level. This three day conference has featured speakers such as the CEO of 1-800 Flowers and businessman George Foreman. If the top magazine on growing your business hosts an event designed to help you do the same, we’re in. 19. Small Business Technology Tour– Ramon Ray of Small Biz Technology produces a five city tour to educate small and medium sized companies how to utilize technology as a tool for their business. 20. Buy Young Campaign– This invite only event was designed to be a discussion between America’s top young entrepreneurs and our nation’s political leaders. These business owners discussed the success and challenges of creating tens of thousands of jobs at the Capitol Building, White House and US Chamber of Commerce. This event is hosted by an organization dedicating themselves to the advancement of opportunities for young people, Our Time. 21. FundingPost.com– In the last 10 years, 11,000 CEOs and 750 Venture Capital firms have met in over 20 cities nationwide through FundingPost. Their online and offline community has represented $107billion in investment. These events are both educational with their pitch coaching and opportunistic with their networking opportunities. 22. Brite– This conference is designed to teach attendees how technology and innovation are transforming the ways that companies build and sustain great brands. Hosted by Columbia Business School, this conference stresses the importance of thinkers and doers in a changing landscape. 23. SobCon– This is the think tank of the social web where people come to talk about building successful online businesses. What started as Successful Online Bloggers has now morphed into a full fledged business conference. 24. BlogHer– With over 27million women bloggers, this network was designed to give opportunity for exposure to
29. DCM– With so many conferences on this list focused on using new media, the Digital Content Monetization conference is all about creating cashflow from it. Speakers include executives from MTV, Thrillist, Samsung and Forbes. 30. Inbound Marketing Summit– The brainchild of blogger Chris Brogan, this bi-coastal conference shows you how to have customers flocking to your business. Sponsored by Hubspot, IMS is a two day conference, but many of the videos are available online if you’d like a sneak preview. 31. TiE– This conference has an international flavor and is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship globally. TiE even boasts a retreat to Bali to connect with passionate entrepreneurs, and receive mentorship from successful business owners worldwide. 32. 140 Character Conference– At first glance, a conference all about Twitter might seem a bit much, but the 140 conference is a traveling roadshow all about how commerce and community are changing. Hosted by Jeff Pulver, the speakers are high energy and have limited time to get their point across. 33. DEMO- The launchpad for emerging technology and trends, invites you to come and experience the future of innovation, find quality dealflow and network with people from around the world who are likely to change the face of technology in the years to come. 34. Shark Tank- Watch this important video on how to get on the show and pitch your ideas to the world’s most famous investment partners. http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/20/howto-get-on-shark-tank-to-pitch-a-business-idea.html 35. The Get Money Expo- Sponsored by Black Moguls Magazine and coming to cities around the country. This is the place to be for Black Entrepreneurs looking for loans, business grants, business credit, Angel Investors, working capital, and financial partners who can help you grow and get funded. Visit www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com check out events for more details and registration. www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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What is Branding The marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products.
What is Brand Strategy Your brand strategy is how, what, where, when and to whom you plan on communicating and delivering on your brand messages.
Building a Successful Brand Every business owner expects to begin business on solid ground. In many cases business plans are written or thought out, the company’s direction is forged, corporate profiles that contain the business’ mission statements are crafted, and every wheel needed for the business to turn on its expected axis are created. At this point, every entrepreneur is excited and pumped up to go succeed in a very diverse and crowded world. You have all ideas working according to plan until you hit a brick-wall; no one is buying and opportunities are failing to show up. You know your business idea is great; you understand the working of your industry and you see yourself as a potential A-game player. Why then are you stuck? The problem is likely contributed to not successfully branding your company, your product or your service. Your brand is what causes people to know who you are and to remember you when they have a want or need. Here’s how you can move your business in the right direction when it comes to establishing your brand.
Samples of Successful Brands You Can Study
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Where you advertise is part of your brand strategy. If you do not currently methodically and consistently advertise your business, then you have no branding strategy. And casually mentioning your business on social media is not advertising. If you have not have an advertising or promotions campaign for your business, perhaps it is just a hobby and you have no interest in making large amounts of money for yourself or your family. Your distribution channels are also part of your brand strategy. How do people obtain your product or service? Is it on a website, web store, retail, or some other manner? How will you get your product or service out to people? If you do not have a website that properly communicates how people can find your business or how they can buy products and services
from you, then you are not effectively promoting your brand. With these missteps, your brand’s failure is very likely. What you communicate visually and verbally are two very important parts of your brand strategy. How does your product or service come across to other people? Do you have a logo that clearly identifies who you are? Do you have a face or an image that clearly serves as your brand? Is the name of your company readily identified as your brand? How about your website, business cards, slogan or
Here are five keys to building a successful brand: Brand positioning: This is where you develop a unique mission and vision statement, compress them into as few words as possible, and ingrain them into your team and your target audience.
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What value will people get from doing business with you? Unique Identity: Every business has something that makes it stand out; find yours. If you, for example, are the only brand to offer “food on the go” in a market where everyone else do eat-ins, you’re going to be popular among those that don’t have time to leave their workplaces to eat. In essence, craft a unique identity that your market can relate to.
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Know your target market: It’s not enough to assume that you know your target audience; research them as often as possible. You may have your eyes set on women in their 40s for anti-aging and beauty treatments only to find that women in their 50s are your biggest customers. This means that in the time it took you to find that out, you had lost a lot of opportunities. You cannot say EVERYONE is my target audience. Everyone may be able to enjoy your product or service, but WHO do you want to focus your time and energy building your business around?
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tagline? What do all of these say about you? If you don’t have a way for people to associate or readily identify your brand, then there is a very good chance, your brand will fail as a business. But all of these are fixable problems. Examine these extremely successful brands below. What do they do differently than you? How can you model one or all of them and create your own success story? How can you do it starting with the budget you have now? What is the budget you can pull together and how soon?
Consistent Uniformity: Make sure your brand is uniform across the board. It should have a universal appeal and consistency for your targeted audience. Remember you cannot be all things to all people. Find your voice and those who will listen. Hire a branding team to help you if you aren’t sure where to start.
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Building a successful brand requires an investment in your business. Investing in advertising, social media strategy, having a means to get your product or service to people is mission critical. And small business owners must being to develop a greater understanding of how this can be done. And one must be willing to invest in proper advertising and promotion if your goal is to build longevity. There is no way around it. Our mission is to help thousands of Black and Latino owned businesses to get focused on branding your business in the best way. We have affordable branding and advertising solutions that any serious small and growing business can afford. Visit us at www. SwanSimpsonMediaGroup.com for more details.
Research benchmarks/competitors: The easiest way to achieve real branding is by researching your competitors; what do they do right, their branding fails, reviews about them, consistency in brand propositions etc. This will save you from falling into the same traps they fell into. You can use free and low cost tools like Google Insights to help you get focused.
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Motivation
101
From Prison To Publishing
“Start Where You Are With What You Got.” - Publisher’s Words
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hen I first met Eugene Williams in the Boulevard Mall in Las Vegas, I had no idea he was publishing books. I walked past his kiosk and saw the different titles and was curious enough to inquire. He introduced himself as the owner and began to share his life story with me. The soft spoken and smooth CEO of Payroll Publishing spent time in prison before having the revelation to make a lasting change. The idea came to him after wanting to write a book about his own life story. The goal was to write the book first then to turn the book into a movie. His autobiography, “10 G’$ A Week”, was all about his life as a Hustler in Detroit. He was literally taking in millions of dollars as part of an organized crime ring that conspired to cash counterfeit checks. Life as a hustler was good while it lasted. But like all bad deeds, they must come to an end. Eugene found himself locked up and looking for better options and choices to make money and get paid. Upon his release from prison, he decided to take his gift of gab and hustle and turn it into skills that would pay him longer dividends. His primary focus was to maintain his freedom. This is when he got the idea to write the book and make movies about his life. He felt his own story was interesting enough to leverage into money making opportunity. Sometimes you have to trust your own instincts indeed.
Hustlers Make no excuses A convicted felon with four felonies on his criminal background, he undoubtedly had to create his own employment situation. Without any of the usual professional skills and training, he began to write “10 G’$ A Week” in 2004. Using nothing more than pure passion and determination, the book started taking form. Too broke to afford an editor, Eugene would often read books of other successful Authors and use them as a guideline
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on how to develop his own writing voice. With no money and living in a basement with no air, by 2006 the book was finally finished. It was now time to use the power of hustle to get the book out on the streets. He sold his computer and hired an editor, printed 100 copies and the rest is history in the making. With cash starting to flow again, he began to put life back into proper perspective. He realized he was on to something big in the world of urban book publishing. People started approaching him about publishing books for them. Payroll Publishing’s next big hit following the success of “10 G’$ A Week” was a book which delves into ideas about real church situations involving real people. “Bianca” is a young lady’s personal tale about un-Godly experiences with people in the church. Part of the research that went into the book came from a young lady who had deep secrets about a church and a Pastor down in Florida. The story sounded so juicy, Eugene decided to risk all that he had been building to go to Florida and get the details. Being an entrepreneur is all about taking risks. if you truly believe in your business and your dreams you must be prepared to risk it all. With people like T.D. Jakes and Tyler Perry proving to us that Church audiences are a built in success, it was a risk this former career criminal turned Entrepreneur was willing to take. Bypassing paying his mortgage and using bill money to set up shop temporarily in Florida, he let his home go into foreclosure because he believed this story would be what he needed to take his company to the next level.
Follow Your instincts The book about church folks became an instant hit. And he was determined not to let anything stop him from seeing his dream
through. He had already lost everything including his wife and house. So, he became laser focused while selling books out the trunk of his car which doubled as his home. The young Author was selling books at flea markets, in front of liquor stores, outside of Little Caesar’s Pizza, and at Rainbow Clothing stores. Using persuasive techniques like introducing himself as a young Author, putting the book in the customer’s hands while asking for their support proved to be highly effective. Interesting offers started coming to the table. He was even approached by a Producer who wanted to make movies with him. As the company was about to take off again, he ran up against more obstacles and bad situations. Between racism on the streets, police confiscating his books, and spending 90 days in jail… it would seem he should just give it all up. But instead of quitting like most people being handed these kinds of odds would have done, Eugene fought back. He won his case against the police using a court appointed Attorney who happened to be a former Judge. His "aha moment" came soon after winning his case. While at a concert in Shane Park he met a Millionaire Investor who offered to help him brand his business and he opened his first retail store in a suburban Detroit mall. After more than 5 years of continuous success, Payroll Publishing now has locations in Detroit, Las Vegas, and a new
store opening this fall in Hollywood. The company is one of the most successful Distributors of underground urban books, mix tapes, & independent movies in the country.
Business lessons: The Blueprint Mogul Blueprint Breakdown From eugene Williams ceo of payroll publishing 1. Once you start you cannot stop! Your dream may cost you everything (spouse, family, friends). When times get hard, if they are not willing to sleep in the car with you, you might have to let them go! 2. Position yourself to be seen. If you don’t have an advertising budget, then hit the streets. You have to be out there where people can see you. 3. Know your audience and stick with them! Keep your core in tack. His audience is 90% women. 100% African-American. 4. If you don’t have a name or an audience built, your artwork or packaging has to be killer! Your branding is all people will have to go on. 5. Do it yourself! You cannot depend on Hollywood or anyone else to give you a deal. You cannot wait on the big companies to get started. And once you get started remember point #1. Footnotes: Williams did go on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in 2008 from WSU in Interdisciplinary Studies. But the streets gave him his Ph.D in life. The company is currently working on a new movie called, “Boss Status”. Visit www.payrollpublishing.com for release dates and information.
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Building a Billion Dollar Brand Unique Flavors Tea
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aid back and down to earth, you would never know that Anthony Richardson was the CEO of the hottest new beverage company in America. He looks like an old Jazz Musician walking in the room ready to play with the band. This is truly a sign that success has not gone to his head. Not one to brag about his success or the quick growth of his start-up company, he still makes time for all of the things he loves including making indie films and music. Yes, Anthony Richardson is indeed a Musician who Hosts his own radio show called Love & Rhythm. One of the segments on his show is called “What’s in your glass?” While the smooth voiced Richardson interviews celebrities like singer Tony Terry, he would create a personal mix of libations to serve them as his listeners would call in and share what they were drinking. The tea mixtures that Richardson would make caught on quickly. His guests would ask for refill after refill. Every guest on the show would be served his tea concoctions with the pineapple lime being a favorite. The tea became so popular that people started calling in wanting to know where they too could get his tea. One evening when the rush of calls shut the radio network down with people demanding to know how to get their hands on his celebrity tea, he knew he was on to something big. His company, Unique Flavors LLC was born. In November 2013 with an investment of less than $5000, Anthony partnered with Power Brands in California to formulate and create his special blend of all natural teas. Spending money on research, product development, branding and marketing is critical to any company wanting to become a factor in business. Because of his willingness to invest in his own company’s success, the growth of his product began to soar. The relationship with Power Brands helped him get his tea in stores all over Los Angeles. And the popularity of the
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Business Lessons : The BluePrint Anthony Richardson CEO of Unique Flavors LLC Mogul BluePrint: A Black Business Moguls Magazine Exclusive! 1. The enemy’s job is to make you think it can’t be done and will create obstacles. So, prepare for these things “spiritually”. 2. Use the energy and drive to move your company forward. Make no excuses. 3. Close out the world. Put the work in. ASK FOR HELP. 4. God does not author negative ideas. So, develop your idea regardless of any negative feedback coming from other people. Don’t allow other people to talk you out of your ideas and your success. 5. Your spirit has to be right. Start your business with the right intentions. beverage has yielded him two major industry awards; World’s Best Tasting Tea and Best New Product Design. As the popularity of his teas continued to rise, Anthony began to seek more autonomy and greater brand control. He severed his relationship with Power Brands and joined forces with MXB Equity Group, a Black owned Equity Capital Firm based in Atlanta. As a result, Unique Flavors moved all of its manufacturing and distribution operations to the Atlanta market. As word began to spread that Unique Flavors was dominating its category in the beverage market, numerous Atlanta Tastemakers started approaching him with offers to buy his company. Former Turner Network Executive and Atlanta Icon, Xernona Clayton would be among the first trying to give him a check. Next would be McDonald’s Corporation which put out a bid to buy his formula and his brand for $1 Billion Dollars. Rumor has is that McDonald’s was planning a back door deal with the Coca Cola Company that would yield them $3 Billion Dollars off the purchase of his company. The deal is still in legal stages with more details coming at a later date. But the grassroots movement still continues while the lawyers talk through the potentials. On June 24, 2016 Unique Flavors Teas was featured at the Black Humanitarian Awards in Atlanta and was in high demand by attendees and Honorees. Since that event, Wal-Mart Stores signed a deal to carry the brand on their shelves starting February 2017. The success of his company is nothing short of amazing. His product is incredible. Amid all obstacles, he’s continued to prevail. Part of what makes Black Moguls Business Magazine different from others is that we like to answer the question of “how did you do it?” And better yet, “how can I do it too?” We want our tribe of readers and supporters to grow their businesses using a similar blueprint.
How did you get your product in Walmart Stores? The Walmart Jump Program. Walmart has set aside $250 Billion Dollars to invest in American owned companies and businesses. I am always promoting my product. I carry teas with me everywhere I go. I was attending an event at Georgia Tech and started talking to a gentleman sitting next to me. While we were talking, I gave him a bottle of my tea. Turns out he was a Buyer for Walmart. He and I had parted ways, but he tracked me down after drinking the tea. He told me about the upcoming Walmart Summit for the Jump Program. I attended the summit and they loved my tea. They made a deal with me on the spot.
How does a $5000 investment create a Billion Dollar company? Investing in developing your brand is key. People loved my product. But I knew it had to be taken to the next level. Otherwise, it would be a hobby at my kitchen table. Building a company requires you to invest in that company. I put my own money in. I got the help I needed. I’m not the expert of branding and marketing. I just know what tastes good. I asked and paid for help. And I did not let anything stop me from moving things forward, not even money.
What’s next for your company by way of growth? We are not waiting for anyone. I have licensing deals with manufacturers in India. We are soon going to be in Starbucks, Wholefoods Markets & some Marriott Hotels. For a complete listing of teas and to learn more about Anthony, the company, and the release of his upcoming independent film, visit http://www.uniqueflavorsllc.com
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Brand Your Business Who We Are
Increase Brand Awareness with BLACK (BUSINESS) MOGULS MAGAZINE
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We are highly targeted in Urban Markets and it shows. Urban is what we know and what we do. We are the premier business lifestyle publication for Black America. By 2015, Urban is valued to be a $1 Trillion Dollar market according to Nielsen. We are a commanding Brand with a digital footprint of 400,000+ readers & subscribers. These numbers are expected to increase exponentially.
recent events Adding To our explosive growth Beginning with the Fall 2016 issue, Black Moguls Magazine has been added to Magzster’s subscription base of more than 50 Million readers. We are also being added to Apple’s newsstand app, so make sure you don't get left behind!
Magazine engagement •
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We Offer Clients A Strong Brand Awareness & Engagement Platform accommodating most small business budgets starting at $149 monthly. • Magazine, TV & Radio Interviews • Articles • Co-op Radio & TV Advertising • Digital Marketing • Social Media Content & Engagement
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• United Kingdom • Brazil • Spain • Botswana • Peru
Bet On Black! Black Moguls Magazine Captures both the #1 Consumer Market (Latinos) & The #2 Consumer Market (Black Americans/African-Americans) on the Planet!
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Measuring return on investment (ROI) is simple with our brand awareness campaigns. How many people did you reach? How many new people have become aware of your business thus giving you the opportunity to have them as new customers? We are about results. The numbers say it all!
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Contact Us CEO@BlackMogulsMagazine.com www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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A Black Business Moguls Exclusive
Millionaire Life Class Real Estate Mogul
Sonia Booker
-Swan Simpson
A
few years ago I was searching for a transformational female figure to add to my network of business associates. I came across a post on eventbrite about a real estate and wealth expo in Atlanta so I checked it out. This would be the beginning of my introduction to the world of Sonia Booker. Our first meeting was in a private dining room at world famous Paschalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurant. The conversation was like the second coming. Engaging with another Black woman whose mission was to change the world, especially the world of other Black women, was enlightening. Although we spent the bulk of that time talking about my entrepreneurial endeavors, over time I would discover the heavy hitter this lady truly had become.
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Like most women on the move, finding time in our schedules to do this interview took months to accommodate. But I finally got the chance to talk to her about her new book and her life as a Real Estate Mogul in general. Nicknamed the “wealth builder”, she is the host of a successful radio show on biz1190.com, a best-selling author, and a sought after speaker delivering sterling financial advice impacting the lives of more than 100,000 people. She is the former business partner of Atlanta icon, Herman J. Russell. Together with Russell, Sonia managed to convert 400 apartment units to condos thus creating a massive portfolio of over $50 million.
The Backstory Coming from entrepreneurial beginnings peddling produce with her grandfather in Jackson, Mississippi, Sonia learned the art of the deal at an early age. While working with her grandfather in his business, her job was to pack the truck and shell the peas. This is when she realized she had the knack for “creating her own money”. Having an entrepreneurial foundation did not immediately move Sonia to running her own business. After graduating from high school, she went off to college and eventually got a job working for a major retailer embracing the 9 to 5 life and happily building a 401k. It was at this point that her grandfather told her to go and get a clue. All the years of working with him on his produce truck surely she had learned the lessons he was trying to instill in her. Sonia did indeed get a clue. She got a Master’s degree before completely ditching corporate America. And once she got that piece of paper, she packed up, told her employer good riddance, and made her move to Atlanta to get rich! At age 24 she became the youngest person to ever own an independent Allstate Insurance Agency. It was a business that she built and sold before becoming a fulltime real estate investor. At first she started slow making sure to do 4 flips before deciding to go all in. She then formed her first partnership and developed a system of fix and flip. She would use her personal credit to finance deals. Her partner would do all the rehabbing. She would later add long term rental property to her investing goals. As her wealth began to grow, her circle of influence began to expand. She wanted to share what she had learned with others. So, she’s made it her mission to educate Black people about wealth and real estate investing especially women. Her new book, Self Wealth For Women, just dropped in July 2016 and is all about women investing in themselves. The book takes a peek into the lives of women she has mentored over the years. Some have attended her wealth expo. Some were readers of her previous top selling book. It is these stories that make her mission worthwhile.
The Average Black Woman Is Worth $5 The average Black woman’s net worth is $5. This is not a typo. The actual calculation of net worth is really simple. You just add
up the value of all of the things that you own – the value of your home, the value of your cars, the value of your savings accounts and investment accounts and retirement accounts – and subtract from that the value of all of your debts. The resulting number is your net worth. The study, “Lifting As We Climb: Women of Color, Wealth, and America’s Future,” found that while the median net worth of single white women ages 36-49 is $42,600— single women of color in the same age group have a median wealth of just $5. There are women walking around with $1500 purses, weaves, and shoes, but don’t have $1500 in the bank. This is why the work of Sonia Booker is so mission critical in our community
What Recession? The proof is in the performance. Booker is not just a Speaker selling books and products from the stage. She is living proof of what she teaches. When the economy took a dip back in 2010, Sonia’s personal portfolio was up 20%. According to the IRS, of all the Americans who declared more than one million dollars on www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com 32
their income tax returns, 71 percent of them were in real estate. There is no doubt that real estate is a key foundation to financial freedom because of its long term wealth potential.
Getting Real With Yourself Women have to get honest with themselves. And we have to be real about taking care of our business and finances in a much www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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more thoughtful manner. Part of the challenge is we have no roadmaps or mentors. Most of our mothers did not handle finances in the home. The traditional upbringing dictates that men handle the finances in the house. But todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Black woman is largely single, professional, and getting married much later in life. In addition, married women are outliving their husbands and need to make sure they too understand the dynamics of money and financial freedom.
The Lessons
Investment Strategy 3
1. Sonia had a student whose husband came home one day and told her to get out. He had sold the house, decided how much he was going to pay her in the divorce and told her he was leaving. She was floored! In relationships and marriages, whether solid or not, we should never put our future in the hands of someone else.
If I can’t sell it after renting it, am I comfortable with this plan?
2. You hear all the talk about improving your credit score, but here are some of the reasons why. People with poor credit pay more than those with good credit. You pay more for insurance, cars, housing. Sometimes it’s just a little work that your credit needs that will keep you from paying $30,000 more for the same exact car. 3. Buying versus renting. Owning gives you a tangible asset and adds to your net worth. Renting makes other people rich. According to Open Source Ecology, the average American that lives to be 78 spends approximately $1.6 million just to survive. Of this, $1 million is spent on housing, food, and cars. If you are going to spend the money, you may as well build a legacy for yourself and your family. 4. Business owners should own their buildings and storefronts. Other people will encourage you to rent and talk about tax write offs. And while people in other communities teach our people to rent, they are the owners from which you are renting. It’s just a method of keeping you poor and begging.
If the answer is no. DON’T MAKE THE INVESTMENT.
Real Estate Wholesaling You can start investing in real estate while you are still a renter. Wholesaling real estate allows you to become a real estate investor with no money down and no credit. Real estate wholesaling is similar to flipping except you never really purchase the property. Wholesaling is trading contracts for cash. A real estate wholesaler contracts with a home seller, markets the home to other potential buyers, and then assigns the contract to a buyer. Wholesaling is the best way to build up capital and cash for future long term investing.
ASK Sonia was introduced to Black Mogul, Herman J. Russell who agreed to give her 15 minutes to state her case. It took her 2 years to meet this icon so she had to make sure her pitch was compelling. She went to his office and told him why she wanted to work with him. The meeting lasted 20 minutes. He gave her his mobile number and bid her adieu. Two weeks later he calls saying he was retiring, but had some pet projects on his mind and wanted to know if she was interested. She knew nothing about the condominium conversions that Mr. Russell wanted to do, but vowed to learn all that she could. Sonia asked for 15 minutes and ended up getting 12 years.
Start With Basic Homeownership To Lessen The Wealth Gap #BlackLivesBroke According to Forbes in absolute terms, the median white household had $111,146 in wealth holdings in 2011, compared to $7,113 for the median black household and $8,348 for the median Latino household. (All figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Survey of Income and Program Participation.) For most U.S. families, a home usually comprises the largest portion of their wealth assets. For this reason alone, homeownership and real estate investing is central to improving the wealth of our community, according to Booker.
Sonia Booker’s Millionaire BluePrint Home ownership is the basic starting point. Continue building by adding rental houses, apartments, and commercial properties to your portfolio.
When investing have 3 exit strategies Investment Strategy 1 Have A Goal. Ask yourself, what do I REALLY want to do? Short term fix and flip to start cash flow or long term keep and hold for passive income?
Sonia spoke about the next generation of potential wealth builders. No question there is an urgent need for better financial education. She specifically mentions the Black Lives Matter movement saying it indicative of the long term challenges that plague our community. “What is the agenda of #BlackLivesMatter? While they were out marching, Coke stock went up because we were buying the (Dasani) water.” It’s as simple as Black, white, green…. “If they stop us from being consumers the world would end.” There is big money in keeping Black folks in debt. Black people are a $1 trillion consumer group that other communities continuously leverage to grow their wealth. It’s time to go beyond blaming and complaining and find a way to do for self. Sonia Booker’s Everything Real Estate Conference & Wealth Expo seeks to change the narrative. Students attending the expo have the opportunity to have Sonia as their mentor. The goal of the expo is to help each student build a minimum of $10 million in real estate assets within 3 years.
Investment Strategy 2
It’s too hot outside to still be marching. If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired…..stop marching, start building. Start where you are by investing in your financial education. Find a mentor. Do better than previous generations.
If I can’t sell it in 6 months, can I put it on the rental market temporarily?
Visit SoniaBooker.com to learn more about her books, expos and radio show. And stop talking about it, be about it.
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FROM OUR PUBLishER The Revolution Will Be WhEREVER YOU ARE “Tonight, Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The shelf And Just Enjoy Yourself” -Michael Jackson There is a financial revolution going on and it will not be televised. It started happening right after the economic crash of our banking and housing systems in America back in 2008. You work 40 years and all it takes is someone outside of you to bring your entire life into peril. There is no greater motivation than being broke. Being broke and sleeping on friends’ floors and couches. Being broke and having your cars repossessed. Being broke and wondering if you have anything else left to pawn so you can buy a $5 foot-long at Subway to eat on all day. Yes, that was my life. I learned the power of broke the hard way just like many others. And it ain’t pretty. Sending out hundreds of resumes only to hear you are over qualified or under qualified or some bullshit in between. Going to interviews and regurgitating all the right words so that people will like you more than the others acting like a one trick pony. Then getting offer letters from companies that are willing to pay you pennies in exchange for 50 plus hours of your time each week. And don’t forget getting up at some God forsaken hour so you can make it to work on time in crazy traffic. And if you’ve ever lived in Atlanta like me, you know if you have to be in the office at 8am. You got to leave home by 6am; which means you are usually up around 4am. Then back home around 7pm after a near two hour commute. No thank you! If you are still trying to determine why you should start your own business, I hope these words will give you the motivation to get in the game somehow, someway, today! You can be an Entrepreneur without going all in by yourself. There are opportunities everywhere for you to lay the rat race to rest. Sure keep your job to keep your cash flowing. But have an exit plan. Escape the mediocre life of living on someone else’s terms and begin the process of calling your own shots. More millionaires are being created in the “broke economy” than any other time in our history. Take those God given gifts and talents; dust them off, and put them to good use making yourself and your family super rich! Inside this issue you will find articles to keep you on track and stories to get you motivated in the right way! And if that’s not enough, here are some more ideas. These companies have disrupted the way we work. Get an un-job and create your own path to financial freedom by joining forces with one of the following: • Uber
• Freelancer
• TaskRabbit
• Postmates
• Etsy
• AirBNB
Partnering with these companies allows you to start that financial freedom account right where you are today with virtually zero investment. Let us know how you are doing. We would love to follow your progress and success. Tag us in a video or post on Twitter and Instagram @BlackMogulsMag or email me CEO@BlackMogulsMagazine.com and tell me all about your new journey. I want to share your story with the more than 400,000 who read our magazine each quarter. You could be the reason someone else changes their lives. And that audience is rapidly growing (read more inside). Until….Let’s Get it! Let’s Go! Peace and Blessings Swan
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FROM OUR PUBLishER The Revolution Will Be WhEREVER YOU ARE “Tonight, Gotta Leave That Nine To Five Upon The shelf And Just Enjoy Yourself” -Michael Jackson There is a financial revolution going on and it will not be televised. It started happening right after the economic crash of our banking and housing systems in America back in 2008. You work 40 years and all it takes is someone outside of you to bring your entire life into peril. There is no greater motivation than being broke. Being broke and sleeping on friends’ floors and couches. Being broke and having your cars repossessed. Being broke and wondering if you have anything else left to pawn so you can buy a $5 foot-long at Subway to eat on all day. Yes, that was my life. I learned the power of broke the hard way just like many others. And it ain’t pretty. Sending out hundreds of resumes only to hear you are over qualified or under qualified or some bullshit in between. Going to interviews and regurgitating all the right words so that people will like you more than the others acting like a one trick pony. Then getting offer letters from companies that are willing to pay you pennies in exchange for 50 plus hours of your time each week. And don’t forget getting up at some God forsaken hour so you can make it to work on time in crazy traffic. And if you’ve ever lived in Atlanta like me, you know if you have to be in the office at 8am. You got to leave home by 6am; which means you are usually up around 4am. Then back home around 7pm after a near two hour commute. No thank you! If you are still trying to determine why you should start your own business, I hope these words will give you the motivation to get in the game somehow, someway, today! You can be an Entrepreneur without going all in by yourself. There are opportunities everywhere for you to lay the rat race to rest. Sure keep your job to keep your cash flowing. But have an exit plan. Escape the mediocre life of living on someone else’s terms and begin the process of calling your own shots. More millionaires are being created in the “broke economy” than any other time in our history. Take those God given gifts and talents; dust them off, and put them to good use making yourself and your family super rich! Inside this issue you will find articles to keep you on track and stories to get you motivated in the right way! And if that’s not enough, here are some more ideas. These companies have disrupted the way we work. Get an un-job and create your own path to financial freedom by joining forces with one of the following: • Uber
• Freelancer
• TaskRabbit
• Postmates
• Etsy
• AirBNB
Partnering with these companies allows you to start that financial freedom account right where you are today with virtually zero investment. Let us know how you are doing. We would love to follow your progress and success. Tag us in a video or post on Twitter and Instagram @BlackMogulsMag or email me CEO@BlackMogulsMagazine.com and tell me all about your new journey. I want to share your story with the more than 400,000 who read our magazine each quarter. You could be the reason someone else changes their lives. And that audience is rapidly growing (read more inside). Until….Let’s Get it! Let’s Go! Peace and Blessings Swan
36 www.BlackMogulsMagazine.com
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