COMEDIAN LESTER BIBBS.
HUSBAND,FATHERANDMUSICALMAN
The Freeman’s Journal is a tool that allows you to quickly capture, organize, and catalog your business ideas in one place It also serves as an ideal development tool that walks you through the creation of a basic business plan using terminology that most people can understand. The journal is formatted in a way that encourages you to fully get your ideas down on paper in a way that you can understand and forces you to think hard about your ideas in a business-minded manner It asks a series of questions that follow the formula of “why”, “how”, and “why you” that, if you answer fully, will render a basic business plan, and automatically give you a leg up into making your business dreams a viable reality
Richard E.B. Gross is a native of Alpharetta, Georgia He is an experienced entrepreneur with a passion for helping others succeed He maintains more than 5 years of entrepreneurial experience In addition to his Bachelor's in Business Administration from
@thefreemansjournal, @badmanrich
You are a native from Alpharetta, GA. Tell me how did your surroundings impact who you are today as an entrepreneur?
From an early age, I often found myself as the only one who looked like me in school This experience taught me the importance of carrying myself differently and working harder to be treated equally At home, I was nurtured with affirmations of my identity and roots, empowering me to face racism and ignorance throughout my life. Both white and black people treated me differently due to preconceived notions As the only male in my household after my father's passing, I also experienced a distinct upbringing Eventually, I stopped caring about others' opinions and chose to be true to myself, embracing those who supported me and loving everyone regardless of their stance I always seek to tell the truth, despite what may come with itt
Who is Richard Gross in five words? Entrepreneur, musician, advocate, thinker, gentleman Morehouse College, Richard holds an MBA from Kennesaw State UniversityCan you remember your earliest example of entrepreneurship?
My earliest example of entrepreneurship came from my mom She faced a layoff early in my childhood and learned a new skill in order to start a business and provide for us
Tell us
Freeman's Journal, what inspired you to create this tool?
I noticed the significant influence African Americans have had in shaping global cultural trends, yet our communities often don't reflect these contributions. My personal experience of working for minimal wages at a gym, despite having a master's degree and innovative ideas, drove me to act Utilizing my academic background and graphic design skills, I aimed to create The FreeMan's Journal, a platform empowering individuals to generate capital from their ideas, no matter their size or unconventionality
The FreeMan's Journal is a unique tool that allows users to quickly document, catalog, and index all of their business ideas in one place, enabling them to develop these ideas into business plans at their leisure without needing a business education This focus on tapping into creativity and potential sets it apart from other journal brands Additionally, the journal serves as a business term resource, featuring over 200 business terms and definitions, which enables readers to understand and participate in relevant conversations. This makes The FreeMan's Journal more than just a journal, but a tool for personal and professional growth
The FreeMan's Journal offers numerous benefits to entrepreneurs, acting as a comprehensive tool for idea organization, business plan development, and learning resources By providing a dedicated space to document, catalog, and index ideas, the journal helps entrepreneurs keep their thoughts structured and easily accessible while transforming raw ideas into actionable business plans, guiding them through the process even without formal business education With over 200 business terms and definitions, the journal serves as a valuable resource, helping entrepreneurs expand their business vocabulary and better understand industry jargon
The FreeMan's Journal fosters an environment where entrepreneurs can explore unconventional ideas, promoting innovation and creative problem-solving It enables them to prioritize, refine, and make informed decisions about which ventures to pursue, while also aiding in setting achievable goals, tracking progress, and maintaining focus on their objectives. The journal encourages efficient use of time and resources by offering a structured approach to idea development The process of documenting, refining, and developing ideas can boost entrepreneurs' self-confidence, making them better prepared to pitch their ideas to investors or take the next steps in their ventures Overall, The FreeMan's Journal serves as a valuable tool for entrepreneurs, helping them organize and develop their ideas, expand their business knowledge, and enhance their decision-making, ultimately leading to personal and professional growth
What message do you hope entrepreneurs take away from this project?
That there are no dumb ideas, and you have a place to store all of them You can make it work
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
A Man Who Hustles relentlessly pursues the aspirations that God has instilled in his heart, recognizing that fear has no place in his spirit He understands that as long as he breathes, he possesses the power to execute God's plans. Perfection isn't the goal; instead, he focuses on making progress Contrary to popular belief, a true hustler's worth isn't determined by wealth or fame, but by the extent of his dedication and devotion to his convictions All the glittery stuff will come after that
Known for his infectious laugh and million - dollar smile, J Wells Jr is a SAG Award - winning stunt performer and actor Recognized with the stunt ensemble for the critically acclaimed film, Black Panther, he reprised his stunt role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as a member of the Jabari Tribe.
J received his 4th degree black belt in karate in Okinawa and holds the Guinness World Record as a participant in the largest gathering of karate practitioners to perform a kata at one time His martial arts background has uniquely prepared him for additional stunt work on the small screen including performances in Tyler Perry's Sistas and All the Queen's Men.
A Les Brown trained motivational speaker; J. inspires audiences by sharing his story of overcoming bullying as well as his journey in entertainment Aside from his stunt work, he is an accomplished actor He has lit up the big and small screens via roles in Step Up: High Water on Starz, Fatal Attraction on TV One, Atlanta Justice on Investigation Discovery and the short film
Thirty with Karon Riley. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, when his schedule permits, J. teaches
self - defense workshops for women and is a personal trainer
When did you discover your interest in Martial Arts? and why?
My interest started when I was very young. I met a cousin at a family reunion, and he was a martial artist He was practicing with a pair of Nunchaku, and he absolutely fascinated me Also, I was shy and timid as a child I didn't know how to stand up for myself and was bullied This further reinforced my interest in martial arts
How did you shift over into acting and becoming a stunt master?
Well, I have always been an artist, whether that be in acting or martial arts When I wasn't at the dojo training, I would be on stage rehearsing for a play My two passions didn't come together until I got my first major opportunity to be a stunt performer on Black Panther From there it just clicked for me that I can act and do stunts So martial arts lead me to the point I'm at now Follow your passion.
You have experienced a lot in the entertainment industry already, appearing in some of our favorite films and shows. Can you tell us about this experience?
My experience thus far is surreal Sometimes you look ahead and see how far you still have to go It's not until you look back and see just how far you have come. Having grown up watching films and television shows to now being able to turn on the TV and see my work on one of Tyler Perry's shows or go to the movies and see my name in the credits of Wakanda Forever has me in awe I'm still working to get where I want to be, but I am so grateful for how far I've come
How can someone interested in becoming a stunt master break into the industry? What advice or tips do you have?
The first thing I would tell a person looking to get into stunts or film period is to be a good person and treat everyone and I mean everyone with respect Today's production assistant will be tomorrow's director There are countless stories of people that were treated poorly then rose through the ranks and they didn't forgot who treated them bad or conversely who treated them good Second Train, Train, and Train As a stunt performer you are a professional athelete for film, so your fitness is of the utmost importance. Fighting on camera is a big part of what we do so if you have a basis in a martial art that will make the transition to learning how to do it on film easier Third and final tip be humble and willing to learn
What is next for you and your brand?
Did I mention training? Lol I'm continuing to train and add different things to my skill set to make me a better stunt performer. I'm also a motivational speaker. I've been actively going out speaking to the youth and different groups sharing my experience as a stunt performer, as a martial artist to help guide and motivate them I'm enjoying being able to lend my voice to help others
What advice do you have for new entrepreneurs? Follow your passion and trust the timing of your life Passion is key We often times follow what someone else has for us instead of what the Most High God has for us Which leaves us unfulfilled The path won't be easy, but it will be worth it "Struggle is the road that leads us to the realization of our Goals" J. Wells Jr.
What is your definition of a Man who hustles?
My definition of a man who hustles " is a man who does what he needs to do, when he needs to do it" He moves in God's Time No one else's
PWH MAGAZINE
Jaymes Anthony is a 27 - Year Old actor, model, and entertainment host with several years of experience under his belt He enjoys roles in television, radio, and Red Carpet premieres With many awards and accomplishments under his name, his story of hustle is one that will inspire and ignite fire into the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Who exactly is Jaymes Anthony in five words? Resilient, Creative, Innovative, Persistent, Iconic
How did you break into the modeling and entertainment industry? When exactly did you realize you had a gift and energy that was contagious enough to bring joy to those around you through hosting?
I started modeling when I was eighteen years old, in the San Francisco market It was something I always wanted to do as a child, so I went for it! When I met with agents in my area for representation, ALL of them told me no They did not believe that my look was "striking" enough and they did not want to take the risk I was CRUSHED & sort of felt like an unattractive person.
Soon after experiencing those "no's", I started researching open calls for models in my area that did not require an agent and started attending those to see if I could work around not having any representation. Immediately, I started getting booked for runway shows, receiving brand deals with local designers, & being featured in international magazines, which reinvigorated my faith in having a modeling career Soon, I became a staple in the SF Market, with little-to-no outside assistance, which helped me evolve with resistance
I started hosting events in high school, such as our annual fashion shows, pep rallys, and commencement ceremonies. My school's faculty saw after my first time hosting a large event that I had a lot of charisma and fearlessness, so they started specifically asking me to host most events during my high school tenure Eventually, I went to college for broadcast journalism and had hopes of becoming either a news anchor or a professional red carpet commentator Public
speaking has always come natural to me and I always wanted to be somewhat of a public figure, so I thought that career path would make the most sense to me!
You have been in this industry for several years, what would you say had been the highs and lows of your career journey?
Some of the highs that I have experienced in my career consist of being able to network with other seasoned & new models I found that developing a commeratory with like-minded people would consistently set me up for professional growth, which is imperative in this line of work Additionally, I have been able to have my face seen across the globe in publications that I truly did not think was possible, especially after being told no by all of the local modeling agents. All of the lows that I experienced were internal issues that I was suffering from, such as imposter syndrome, depression, and fear I would always tell myself that I don't deserve certain jobs or opportunities because I didn't look like my peers Sadly, that is something I still struggle with from time-to-time
What message do you have for the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs?
The best thing that I can encourage upcoming entrepreneurs to do is run with the vision that God gave you, even if literally no one else believes in it other than you So many times, we become insecure about our goals because they don't mirror anyone elses around us Do not lose sight of your life's purpose because that's where you will have the most rewarding journey
Where do you hope to see your platform in the next 3-5 years?
I am hoping to enlarge my platform into a global enterprise! I want to build more relationships with like-minded professionals & creatives, begin mentoring the next generation of models & hosts, and become a global household name!
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
My definition of a Man Who Hustles is a man that never takes no for an answer! He is powerful, persistent, gracious, and very self-aware
Comedian Lester Bibbs was discovered by Steve Harvey at Sir Laigh Alot Comedy Club in Memphis Taking on topics related to life, his style is filled with polished appeal Lester knows how to keep the crowd rolling and is the record title holder for most standing ovations received by any performer to board the Carnival Cruise Lines. Lester's recital of life's events will paint a picture in such detail, delivering both hilarity and spontaneity throughout his every performance Lester Bibbs' stage presence is unlike any other seen before His hard work, dedication and professionalism has given him the opportunity to work at some of the most prestigious comedy clubs, such as The Improv, Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, Funny Bones, The Punchline, Atlanta Comedy Theater, StarDome and many more.
Lester Bibbs has appeared with many of the most celebrated comedians in the industry having performed in a multitude of eminent comedy tours around the world He has humbly experienced collaborative efforts with the likes of Bob Summer, DL Hugley, etc Lester has appeared on the Martin Lawrence 1st Amendment Stand Up on Starz network and has
also performed on HBO's Def Comedy Jam, BET's Comic View, as well as HBO's Bad Boys of Comedy Lester Bibbs has had the pleasure of performing alongside comedy greats, such as Jerry Seinfeld, George Wallace, Richard Pryor, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Michael Epps, Bernie Mac, Robin Williams, Rodney Dangerfield, Chris Tucker, Deon Cole, JB Smoove, Bill Cosby and others
Actor Lester Bibbs can be seen featured as Reverend DoWrong in The Reverend DoWrong Ain't Right Comedian Lester Bibbs plays the character of Reverend DoWrong, an astute con artist, with ease and style. Through his performance in the film, Actor/Comedian Lester Bibbs displays his natural ability and talent of adding humor and plot twist value to any script assignment
When Lester is not on the stage bringing joy to his loving fans, he is spending time with his beloved son and/or actively giving back to his community. His yearly charitable performances
and appearances contribute to more than a laugh and smile from those in need Lester has a great capacity to appeal to audiences of every demographic, and he very much enjoys utilizing his celebrity platform for inspirational speaking engagements as well
When did you realize you had a passion for making people feel good through comedy?
I think it started as a kid. My mother, she was a maid for Elvis, and she would come home, joke, do impersonations and stuff, so all of us would sit around and listen Instead of a fireplace, we had a heater We would get in front of it talk and joke It was a old school heater that you could put wood in Growing up in the sixties and seventies it was like that, But it was around that time I realized that humor was a way to connect with people and make them feel good and forget about all the issues.
Can you remember the first time you told your first joke, is there someone from your childhood who you could credit as your influence?
Yes, It was me and my brother Tony We were sitting around and he would tell the worst joke ever and nobody would laugh I would follow up with an even worst joke and no one would laugh.
It was all apart of it, those were humble days. We were kids, and we knew what we wanted to do early on in life Now he is a minister, and I am still telling jokes
When I first started out young, I used to watch Tv all the time We were watching people like Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby (Huge Influence), George Carlin, Eddie Murphy and Tommy Davison, you name it. They were all people that I used to look up to as a youngster
But, we can go back farther than that There was people like Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, Abbot Costello and it was just alot of people doing cool things back then
I was fortunate enough to be able to catch and absorb some of that stuff. The Little Rascals, shows like that were you didn't have many black shows back in the day but we made it work for us.
Who or what do you channel to prepare for your set? What is the creative process like?
Well, I have to only channel me because I can only be me Honestly, I just meditate, go into my corner, I call it I pick what is important to me, and thats my son and loved ones I concentrate on that and get my mind off of the pressure behind going on stage. I get totally relaxed. I picture them waiting to greet me, etcetera, etcetera. Then I leave and go on to do the show. And when I'm finished, that's when I hit what I did But I never think about it much before I go on
Being discovered by Steve Harvey has to be an impactful thing for you, can you share how he has been influential in your career?
Uh, being discovered by Steve, Steve discovered me when I was 17. I want to set the record straight. It's not like he went this is Lester and we will make him a star. No, I was a youngster. We were both up and coming comedians and struggling somewhat I lived with a guy named AJ Jamal for a while and I met him through Steve and we would go from city to city, and I would drive I had a car that had no breaks, I would mash down on the brakes and we wouldn't stop We went to McDonald's one time, the lady was like, can we take your order? I was like, I'll be right back. So we came from very humble beginnings. Has it been impactful? Well, you know, he hasn't done anything career wise for me
The fact that he started me, I will always be grateful for that Let's get that right Nobody has to do anything for you You go fishing and catch the fish yourself, so it's not expected I don't want to lie and say, yeah, he's a big influence People who has opened doors for me in this business has been people like Bob Sumner, Tina Graham, Tobin Costa, and the people who actually gave me a chance to be on TV shows and movies. Tobin casted me for the movie, the Reverand Do Wrong I was the one of the few comics to debut as a lead in a movie I'm forever grateful for Steve and the stuff that he has done
I'm very proud of him making his permanent mark as he should have As far as my comedy career goes, acting or what have you,I stood on my own ten. I am grateful for the year I spent driving when I was seventeen years old. Being
able to learn how to dress, how to be professional and that was a major thing to learn Being able to learn how to iron clothes, I was a kid, I would just pack it all up and put it in a paper sack I didn't have a suitcase Look at me now
Looking back over your years in comedy, what has been the highlight of your career thus far? There is a couple of them. One, the movie Reverend Do wrong absolutely was a highlight, you know, being able to star in the movie, be a lead without any acting experience, that says a lot.
The main one though, has to be Def Comedy Jam. Bob Sumner, Chuck, Joe took his word on it and told him, Hey, this is a guy you need to have on the show and he's fantastic. He'll do this, he'll do that. Bob came looking for me, and thank God he did. Cause it changed my entire life.
The one event after that was with DL Hugley, We were working in North Carolina, and we were blessed enough to connect and he was like, "Hey, I got a show that's starting and it's called Comic View" So to do that right after, was a blessing Although Do wrong came after comic view and came after Def Jam
What has been your greatest lesson that you take with you?
In comedy or in life, I will answer both In comedy, Never burn any bridges Be humble Be thankful for every single thing that you receive And no matter how big or small, just show God a lot of gratitude and show the people who help you get there, alot of gratitude That's not always a easy thing to do Alot of times we get caught up in ourselves and thinking our blessings come from us, when it actually comes from God and the people he sends and uses to bless you
In life, the answer is simple: The people that we love, our loved ones from your parents to your children, to your spouse, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, Whoever you love It is important that they know you love them unconditionally I feel that is the biggest lesson I've taken
How have you managed to balance your long standing career in comedy and fatherhood?
I've been doing comedy for 40 years, so that part was easy Being a father with no experience, you know, they don't come with instructions I give a lot of that to my ex-wife, She did a wonderful job whenever I wasn't around and when I was around, she did a wonderful job with him
Being a father and being in show business, you have to separate the two He knows me only as his dad He knows what I do now, he is currently 21 and starting to get into the entertainment business himself Not comedy, but other genres of entertainment He understands the difference between show business and being daddy at home He knows you can't have the show without the business, but you can always have daddy as long as God bless you to have me in life. I made sure I paid extra attention to him and let him know all of this other stuff in the, in the back none of that matters. He mattered. Everything else was background noise.
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
Barack Hustled, pushed it, he pushed it. He did all of the unforeseeable at the time. Somebody like that who shows hustle in different ways.
You know, there are different types of hustles There are street hustles, what I like to call the intelligence hustle: where you think your way throughout the street, we already know that's self-explanatory Then there's a combination of all That's exactly what Barack was, that's where most of us are You see so many people out, that are awesome There is so many comics out, living or ones that are past that are all great I will name five that I think hustle and are great
If I was doing a new Kings of comedy, these would be my five choices other than myself I would go with Lavelle Crawford, Kat Williams, Earthquake, JB Smooth, Dion Cole and me This is excluding Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock
We have to take the top fruit from over there and let's be honest, Kat is a brilliant comic He is a very intelligent marketing genius He has been around for a while, because he is great at what he does Make no mistakes about it, he is clearly one of the best ever take a look at his body of work, It speaks for itself Nobody has more standups than him, he has made the most off of his standup shows, the pimp chronicles made many millions
So you have those guys who are hustling, they are hustlers and getting their stuff out there, Alot of people don't get the chance to get a beautiful break The ones that do deserve to be there and you root for them hard Kat deserves to be there, I have alot of respect for him Love, respect and acknowledgment
NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU FALL DOWN, HOLD ON TO WHAT GIVES YOU STRENTH AND GET BACK UP AGAIN.
PWH MAGAZINE
Charles Jenkins is a celebrated hitmaker, label head, and music mogul. Most noted for his infectious anthems “Awesome” and “War”, Charles is back with timeless anthems that promise to touch the soul and entertain all who listen. He has earned 18 Billboard #1’s, 9 Stellar Awards, Grammy recognition, a Soul Train Music Award nomination, and 7 Dove Music Award nominations. This spring Charles also received his 9th BMI Top Songwriter Award. He closed out 2022 at the #1 spot on the Year-End Billboard Gospel Airplay Chart with his hit “Never Knew Love.”
Flash back twenty years when pews of churches were all filled. Choirs wore robes, shout music and prayer service still existed and children could recite and memorize the word of God at command.
Let's reminisce for a second a decade ago, when we still participated in revivals, praise and worship was a main event and relationship with God and dedication to our church was what most aimed for.
Music that make you thank God for our good ole gospel history, while praising God for the evolution of Gospel music and the advancements we have made all at the same time is exactly what Rev. Charles Jenkins brings to the table.
Grandmomma and Grandaddy can clap and shout, and then change the track and we can worship while lifting our hands in worship. Music that touches every generation that comes in contact with his sound, is exactly what he does for the music scene.
I am excited to introduce to some and present to others Rev. Charles Jenkins: After over 10 years of success in the music business with hit songs such as “Awesome”, “War”, “Winning”, and “Never Knew Love” which has accumulated over 95.5 million streams, over 100 million views on YouTube, and 734,560 Shazams.
The Florida native is a devoted family man He is married to Dr Tara Rawls and he has three beautiful children, Princess, Paris, and Charles III As a beloved gospel figure, he has had the opportunity to perform at BET’s “Sunday Best,” “Celebration of Gospel”, and TVOne’s “Urban One Honors,” but he is no stranger to performing for a wide variety of crowds. He has had the opportunity to perform at the Jay-Z Made In America Festival, The Essence Music Festival, and D-Nice’s Club Quarantine at LA’s famed Hollywood Bowl in front of 17,000 attendees.
For 20 years, Jenkins served as the senior pastor of the historic Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago His passion for service has been a phenomenal help to the city and the State of Illinois He was pivotal in the passing of the Big Box Ordinance which led to Walmart and Target stores arriving in Chicago Charles was also an instrumental figure in Uber’s arrival to the city He also helped restore 30 million dollars to the Illinois state budget which led to the expansion of Walgreens and affordable medication for senior citizens.
Additionally, as a celebrated motivator and communicator, Charles has traveled around the world inspiring audiences. He was a featured speaker at a special National Prayer Breakfast event alongside the famed Os Guinness Jenkins was also a speaker at President Barack Obama’s second Inaugural Prayer Service among many other notable events He has received countless awards and citations for his service including the BET Networks ICON Man of Change Award and the Black Enterprise Magazine’s Urban Business Game Changer Award Charles Jenkins’s passionate journey has led him all over the world and onto almost every stage an artist can dream of. He is a hit songwriter and gospel music mogul embracing the next page of his musical journey.
The new EP, titled “Gospel Music Changed My Life”, is produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Warryn Campbell and Grammy-nominated producer Marcus Hodge. The EP flashes back to the 70s and 80s with a range of soulful emotions laced with hip-hop inflections This project represents the story of a misguided teen who was put in a gospel choir for punishment as a 9th grader Crystallized as one of Gospel Music’s leading artists, Charles intends to use this album and his story to reach at-risk inner-city youth with events, music camps, and concerts around the world The first single, “God Be Praised,” is a southern, handclapping, foot-stomping anthem. “I listen to God Be Praised every morning, and then 3 times a day after that”, says Louis Carr, President of Media Sales for BET Networks.
His longtime fans will feel the same sense of familiarity and joy, while first-time listeners will be welcomed into a broader sense of community that Jenkins so proudly embraces
“I’m embracing who I’ve always been and what I’ve always done” – Charles Jenkins
Outside of music and ministry, who is Charles Jenkins?
Charles Jenkins is a country man who loves the Lord. I love people. I'm a athlete through and through. I am committed to southern charm. Let's treat people right, treat people well. I am diehard about service. I'm a serial entrepreneur and I'm a music man. I am a fashion man. My mama will make me wear suits to school growing up. So race me, and I will dust you with my church shoes on
But yeah, I love people You know, people have over the years, members of my team and staff members have said to me, people ask them, is he really that nice? Like, is he really kind in real life? And I was raised that way in real life You know, if, if I don't speak to you and you spoke to me, it's cuz I'm deaf in my left ear, you were probably on my left side But yeah, I'm, I'm with the people That's, who I am in a nutshell I'm a aviation fan I'm a diehard aviator I was a student pilot for a little bit I'm a swimmer I was on the swim team growing up I'm a cook My wife says, says I cook like a grandmama, but yet I'm your granddaddy So, you know, that's the way love goes.
Take us back to the beginning. When did you realize you had a calling into the ministry through preaching?
You know, if I go all the way back to the beginning and bring you up. So my father passed away when I was 10. I didn't have a lot of pictures of men, of faith, men who were successful. The images unfortunately were tough, disparaging and difficult. And so, you know, I kind of paid attention to those images. I didn't come from a bad household I came from a great household My father, before he passed, was in construction My mother was a school teacher She taught school for 40 years A great woman of faith My daddy listened to the mighty clouds of joy on Sunday He wasn't really coming to your church every now and then, but you going to hear the clouds Maybe a Lil Williams brothers, and then he is going golfing But when he passed, I was kind of working through how to live without my hero
What does it look like to be a young boy with the right frame of thinking and what this manhood look like And I thought it was being a tough guy, thought he was doing whatever you want to do, making your own decisions You can't tell me nothing. Fast forward, I was skipping school my freshman year and I missed more days of school than I can count. And I would catch the bus to school, walk through the school, jump in my homeboy's stinking Lincoln town car. And I would hang out all day. One day I was walking through the school, call myself, heading to my boys' car and members of the school staff headed me off. They did an intervention, took me into a room, gave me a good talking to, challenged me on not throwing my life away.
They gave me a hall monitor to make sure I went to class, a tutor to make sure I was doing my homework. A guidance counselor to make sure I was thinking straight and for punishment they didn't put me in detention, they put me in gospel choir. So Gospel choir was the place and I hated it. I sat in the back mean mugging, t-shirt, bald head, chucks no socks and I didn't think it was for tough guys and I hated it One day the choir director walked in, started playing the piano, never looked at the keys I was fascinated because I had taken seven years of classical piano as a child from the age of five to 12 I went from not paying attention, not standing up to standing up in the back, singing along in the front solo quad directing and gospel choir was where I engaged my faith formally
It was where I engaged what ministry was in service because we would be singing all over the city and, and seeing people deeply impacted And I saw that And Gospel Choir was the place where a ministry was formally engaged because we had a phenomenon in my hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida where there were all of these young preachers. So fast forward, I ended up having my own choir, the biggest choir in the city and my choir sung at all of these revivals. So I started to wonder was I called to preach too. I was a dancer, a dancer, dancer annd I won all the talent shows.
I had a dance group with one of my dearest friends, famed producer Will Packer. We were in a dance group together, we would tear your talent show up, we would come to your house party and come in the door and Go. So everybody thought that I was gonna be a professional dancer and I actually wanted to be. It was a moment when Mc hammer, this legendary rapper from way back was coming to town looking for dancers and the whole city was like, Chuck is outta here That's what everybody calls me at home Chuck is gone, he's out
One night I was reading my Bible and I had an epiphany theophany, a aha moment I was done reading my Bible, I sat my bible down and it was hot I turned the fan on, got in bed the fan is turning the pages of the Bible So I get up, I turn the fan off the Bible stops, the pages stopped flipping Something said to me, now I know to be the Holy Spirit says, see what pages the Bible stopped on So I turned the light on and it stopped on that passage where it says, the spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me to preach I'm crying, I run in my room and i'm like, I am called to preach Oh the Lord has called me to preach the gospel
My mama, who's a holiness woman who loves the Lord, Queen of Service, said, boy, you ain't called to preach. You called to clean your room, you are called to wash the dishes, you are called to cut the grass. Fast forward, That was my genesis and I had the conviction. I think you really know that you're called to do something when you feel the burning passion, even beyond the challenge of someone pushing the envelope or pushing against you. So I had that conviction, I started preaching when I was 16, was offered my first church, this big church in Birmingham, Alabama at 18. I was named a successor to the iconic Reverend Clay Evans in Chicago when I was 21. Took over when I was 24 days before my 25th birthday. And the rest is history.
You mentioned Reverend Clay Evans, so from Florida to Chicago. How did that happen? How did you get to the great fellowship?
So I ended up in Chicago, I attended Miles College cause I was a tough guy in high school I got into college as a favor to my mother from her college boyfriend He was a head football coach at Stillman College in Alabama He made a phone call to Miles College in Birmingham, I got in there I tried to transfer to Moorehouse after a year and a half or so, Morehouse lost my application, couldn't find my application They called me at the end of, I wanna say 1995, maybe November, 1995, they called and said, we found your application, but all of your classes are closed day school. You gotta go to night school at the entire AU center. It's too late to get financial aid for January, you have to bring 7,500 cash on the front end. Pay 7,500 cash on the back end. Well that was out. Yeah, we didn't have that.
So I was over at my pastor's house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Reverend Wilkins Garrett. He said, so why were you going to Morehouse? What was you going to Morehouse for? I was like, computer science. He was like, lawyers go where? I said, law school. Doctors go where? I said medical school. He said, and ministers go where? I said, Bible school. He said, and you were going for computer science? No, you should be going to Bible school
Laying on the table was this magazine and on the back of the magazine, the number one Bible school was on this Christian magazine is Moody Bible Institute in Chicago So I applied, all of my friends were like, you're never gonna get into that school It's the Ivy League of Bible Colleges in the US I applied, they accepted me January the week of orientation, called me and said, by the time a letter will come, school would've already been started
So this is your call to tell you that you are accepted If you can get here tomorrow, there's one bed left on the campus available for you. All of the classes are open for your major and all you have to bring is $500. Okay, It's much different than 7,500.
My mama went to JC Penny, We bought long Johns and sweatpants and I left 80 degree weather and went to 30 below zero on a day's notice, not knowing anyone. Fast forward, I get to Chicago, I end up under watch care at a church called Mount Vernon, Reverend Johnny Miller, iconic man, amazing human being. He puts me up at some event called the Gospel Bowl where all of these preachers come and all of these people and they preach all day That was my introduction to Chicago I ended up getting invited everywhere, So I'm preaching all over the city I got four, four o'clock services, or four three o'clock services This one put me up early This one hold the people This one sings extra songs This one starts later
Reverend Evans had this organization called the arc, the African-American Religious Connection, where he would bring business people together to buy businesses, community leaders and influencers to do business and communities He also did his music, the A A R C Mass choir He would have this convention and they would record and they wanted a youth division and they did not have a youth division So his right hand person, Jeanette Wilson, reached out to me and said, you're really popular in the city, could you help us with the aarc? And so I said, sure. I put a proposal together and my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife of 25 years printed it up and I called Jeanette and was like, I have a proposal of how I could help.
She said, meet me at the church on Thursday. So I go to bring the proposal and Jeanette doesn't come. The secretary says, go downstairs and wait. I'm dressed, Martin Luther King style, black suit, white dress shirt, black tie, black hard bottom shoes, I have a dream. So I'm just coming to drop off this proposal. A gentleman by the name of Reverend Lynn Taylor walks up and says, are you Charles Jenkins? I said, I am. Says that's your proposal, I said it is and he says, I need to make about 30 or 40 copies of it for the meeting we're getting ready to have I was like, no sir, this is not for a meeting I'm just supposed to drop this off for Jeanette to review Get back to me Let me know if she likes it or not He's like, you are Charles Jenkins
Yes,That's your proposal? Yes, I was told to come get it to make 30 or 40 copies of it I'm like, no way Nobody's supposed to see this This has not been vetted, reviewed Fast forward, he tells me I was told to get this and if you don't give it to me, Reverend Evans is gonna be very upset with you I was like, he doesn't know me Reverend Evans doesn't know who I am Why would he be very upset with me? He Pulled out this clipboard and said, see on this agenda for the meeting, we're getting ready to have, your name is on the agenda and you're scheduled to speak today and present this proposal. I'm like, wow and I am mortified. Like, oh my God. So he says, if you don't hand me this proposal, he's gonna say some very unkind things about you in front of everyone.
I reluctantly hand him the proposal and Reverend Evans gets to me on the agenda. He says, the Reverend Charles Jenkins, please rise and present. Both of my knees are knocking underneath the table. I wasn't even supposed to be at this meeting. I don't know how I got on the agenda. He says, at the moment, when I opened my mouth, God yelled in his ear, that's your successor. What he didn't know was, in May of 1996, God put on my heart that I was gonna be the pastor of fellowship or I was supposed to be. I told my wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, my mother and my best friend Craig Craig Oliver, pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia I told them, and so fast forward, he never told me that I was his successor He told me tp stay close, That year during the aarc we had, the year prior, I had 2000 kids that year we had, they had 25 kids The year I started, we had 2000 kids and I had Kim Burrell there, Marvin Sapp there the very first year I went $13,000 in the black with the kids' budget, I raised 13,000 over
He called me into a meeting and I shared with him my testimony of how I knew I was supposed to be the pastor of Fellowship We both cried,I gave him all these confirmations We both cried, He went and got a master plan of a project he was working on and he said, I thought I was supposed to do this. You're supposed to do this, Build the temple. Right, and the rest is history. That's how I got to fellowship.
You then spent over two decades as senior pastor. Can you share some of your most impactful moments of ministry?
It's so many special moments that only God can make. When I got there again, I was 24, 80% of the church was 75 or older Everybody was my grandmother and grandfather Really nobody thought that I would last a year The word was on the street was that those old people gonna kill him He's not gonna be able to change nothing, do nothing The first year thousand new people joined all my age, 20 somethings
Every year, 15 years at least, that was the trend So watching thousands of people come to Christ watching, you know, when Mace first started preaching, I invited him and he preached We did an altar call and 80 gang members threw down their flags and got out of the gangs I baptized 80 young brothers That was special, and then there's so many moments just seeing people healed and, you know, seeing people's lives changed I remember it was one guy, he was a big drug dealer, and when you have a felony there 82 jobs you can't do. This brother, long story short, he got pulled over by the police and he had cocaine on him. They did not arrest him. He told them I was mentoring him, and they let him go. He didn't tell me, The police told me.
I walked into a meeting at the state's attorney's office and they said, you know, so-and-so, and I was like, who? and they were like, so and so, I was like, yeah. We pulled him over, He had how many grams? Whatever. But we let him go because he said you were mentoring him and you just want to talk to him. I ended up taking him to dinner and you know, he was telling me he had to provide for his family and 82 jobs you can't do. So what do I do? I told him brother despise not small beginnings and walked with him He ended up getting a job with the city of Chicago A job that you're not supposed to have, when you have a felony So seeing so many of those kinds of stories, I sat with all of the gang founders in the city of Chicago to get the inside scoop on why the violence happens and what we could do to try to change it
Chicago needs so much help and at least being able to have that conversation and trying to make a difference I helped bring Walmart to the city that was hundreds of millions of dollars to the city's bottom line Target was a part of that deal It was something called the big box ordinance that I helped to get past with a number of other amazing people. Helped bring Uber to the city. Wow, at a certain point, 60 million was cut out of the state budget. State of Illinois budget for Medicare, Medicaid, me, Leonard Muhammad, father Michael Flagger and James Meeks went to the state capital and we got 30 million back in the budget. What that meant was if all that money was gone, there would not be insurance available for seniors to be able to go get their medicine. So I didn't know the pharmacy was, Walgreens is bread and butter and all of the other stuff in there is the ancillary stuff around the pharmacy.
Rev. Jenkins ends the interview with giving us a glimpse into his new music: He shares that his latest EP includes music for everyone Songs dedicated to his mother, old school gospel filled music, foot stomping music. This album is available wherever music is available Go stream Gospel Music Saved My Life
PWH MAGAZINE
With a lifelong love for entertaining, Atlanta Native Vince Ashton is fulfilling his wildest dreams! 2022 was a year of boasting success with his television debut on the Food Network show, The Great Chocolate Showdown, and his newly minted position as the official host of all College Park, GA festivities including the NBA G-League Sky Hawks. Vince has many memorable moments in his entertainment career, he has performed for Former First Lady Michelle Obama, opened for Grammy Award Winning R&B songstress Monica, and became a recurring actor/dancer on the hit YouTube Show “Face the Music”
In 2022, he also performed in Vancouver, B.C. for the TedxSFU and he performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN. Now in 2023, he has released his debut EP as a solo artist
Who is Vince, and what inspired your start in the entertainment industry?
Vince Ashton is a soulful, passionate, creative, and energetic guy from Atlanta, and represents it through and through! What inspired me in wanting to be in the entertainment industry is my
love and hunger to perform From singing at a daycare Christmas recital from as young as I can remember, to youth choirs in church, winning high school talent shows, and now opening for Grammy Award winner, Monica, it just seemed like a natural fit for me
Tell us about the moment you received the call from The Food Network, what was going through your mind?
I remember it being a ZOOM call! It was an early weekday morning and we had already been submitting things, getting vaccinated, constant phone calls, texts, and interviews with producers for weeks. Not to mention, I was already challenged before I even received the opportunity to bake a lot of things that I never baked before to show the producers I wanted this moment Needless to say, I WAS TIRED!!! But when they sent a text saying they needed to interview me again and sort of sprung the "congratulations" moment on me, I was SHOCKED! My brain was blank from exhaustion and excitement.
Nevertheless, the immediate thoughts were what challenges I would ensue-- "I need to tell my mom, is it cold in Canada "where we filmed" all raced through my mind
When you look back over your career, what would you say has been the highlight of your journey thus far?
I thank God constantly because I have been very extraordinarily blessed to have accomplished so much The highlight of my journey would have to be a 3-way tie of opening for former First Lady, Michelle Obama, along with the Food Network Canada show, and opening for Monica It's not even for the notoriety or success, but from the idea that my talent will be seen by millions and hopefully whatever I'm doing would change a life
What lessons have you learned on your journey? I've learned so many lessons, however biggest one is remembering that consistency is the key to Breakthrough
Tell us about your Debut EP, what can listeners expect? What message do you hope they take away from this project?
I am so proud of this project These songs are definitely more of a celebratory feel. Celebrating your new seasons, chapters, triumphs, and loving life in the midst of it. They also speak to relationships, love, and putting in the effort to fight for the one you're with Sonically, you'll be getting up & mid-tempo records ranging from Dance/Pop to Southern Hip Hop sounds and a feel-good, mid-tempo record too
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
My definition of a Man Who Hustles is one that places zero limitations on his creativity, goals, and vision. Also, a Man Who Hustles is one who believes in himself so much that even in the scenario of you not having big resources or engines to support you, it won't interfere with momentum Lastly, a Man Who Hustles is a man that has faith in knowing that whatever you're hustling for, once you achieve it, is your process and story is meant to help, impact, and inspire others
A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Daniel JA Gibson is a graduate of both Morgan State and Bowie State Universities receiving his Undergraduate and Graduate degrees with honors in Strategic and Organizational Communications
Daniel began practicing PR at the early age of 16 when he got his first internship at Sidda Communications in Nassau, Bahamas under the mentorship of Award-Winning Publicist Addis Huyler By the time Daniel turned 25 his background has allowed him to practice PR in the faith-based, entertainment, non-profit, higher education, political, lifestyle, real estate, and retail industries before stepping out on his own to lead a thriving PR practice while also managing multiple other business ventures.
Daniel has also received much recognition for his work and was also featured as one of five up-andcomers to watch in the PR industry by Medium Magazine, Daniel was also the only man of AfroCaribbean descent on the list Daniel’s career has been filled with many introductions, experiences, and events As a believer, Daniel knows that God has given him the gift of practicing Public Relations and he therefore has devoted his life to
@danieljagibson
@thestrategistpr
producing and managing the brands of those he believes in
Outside of entrepreneurship, who is Daniel J.A. Gibson?
Daniel is a young man with a heart for family and community Moving to the United States to pursue my tertiary education was a win I struggled academically my entire childhood and throughout high school, so obtaining two degrees, an ivy league certification, and starting a business was not in the forecast many people had for me. But I knew from a young age that I wanted to be wealthy. I wanted a lifestyle that would be an example to future generations, and I knew that I was not only determined to obtain it but anointed to receive it Outside of entrepreneurship, Daniel JA Gibson is a young man of great faith and spends time trying to navigate life as a Gen-z Christian
Can you share a little about the impact your community had on who you are as an
entrepreneur and leader in your industry?
I come from a large, very close-knit family So the saying it takes a village was how literally the environment I was raised in While my parents played the leading roles in my upbringing, for most of my life, I had all of my grandparents To this day, I still have many aunts, uncles, older cousins, and godparents that are holding me to a high standard of excellence but also keep me accountable to complete everything that I set out to do So when I decided to start my agency, it wasn't very long before my family started sowing into me and the business in various ways to the point where I knew quitting was never an option
When did you realize you had a passion for the PR World?
When I tapped into what God had purposed for my life, I believe God positioned me in this industry to show those around me that all things are possible through Him I was 16 when I got my first taste of working in PR, and I have never worked in another industry since God has truly blessed me with the opportunity to have worked on some fantastic projects and with some amazing clients over the past ten years.
What would you say has been the key to your successful career?
The key to my success has been the prayers and support of my parents Both have hustled their way to their success My father has been a constant example of what hard work, dedication, and commitment look like, while my late mother displayed where passion, grace, and influence took you. I hustle not because I have to but because it is in my DNA. For generations, my family has produced some of the Bahamas' best in all industries, from Politics to Finance, even to Ministry and Education Only a few people can say both of their great-grandfathers have schools named in their honor My family's success has been the key to my success I had a blueprint before me; I had to be focused, work, and continue the legacy
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs looking to hire a publicist for their brand?
Just do it! I promise you we mean well, and you will benefit Sometimes you need someone to push you out of your comfort zone and into the atmospheres and environments you want to be in but are too scared to walk into Once you have fully fleshed out your concept, schedule a consultation with a publicist to find out if there is an angle. And if so, how can we maximize visibility? Many publicists will offer you lifechanging business ideas in their strategy sessions. The key to a tremendous publicist-client relationship is taking the time and finding the right one! Not because they come highly recommended means they are highly recommended for you!
You have reached many milestones in your career, what has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Having done so much thus far for my mother to see that her labor was not in vain before she passed away Everything I do is to honor the sacrifices that my parents have made
Where do you see yourself in the next 3-5 years?
Within the next 3-5 years, I plan to be a thought leader in the PR industry. My goal is to travel the world, speak and teach about the value of having a PR Strategist on your team and serve as an advisor to some of the world's most influential individuals and organizations
I also plan to be involved heavily in other entrepreneurial opportunities that will create not only generational wealth for my family but also be able to create opportunities and avenues for the future younger me to learn and grow under someone who is a mover and shaker within the industry as I had to the chance to do so under my mentors and role models; Addis Huyler, Regan Farley, and Ebony Porter-Ike
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
A Man who Hustles, locks in, and focuses on achieving their goals no matter how hard life may get a man who knows how to pivot and stretch for the success of his future. A Man who hustles never gives up.
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Jonathan Jay Dubois, PhD, received his doctorate in Anthropology from UC Riverside in 2017 For over ten years, he has been teaching courses focused on race and gender at CSU San Bernardino and CSU Northridge In addition to his academic pursuits, Jonathan has dedicated over two decades to practicing and honing his skills in the healing arts. His extensive experience in both academia and healing has uniquely positioned him to contribute to the growth, guidance, and realization of the Compassionate Transformation Community's vision as Executive Director Jonathan is thrilled to combine his academic research expertise and practical life skills to make a meaningful impact within the CTC community
How did you get your start into Anthropology?
I dropped out of college the first time through and became a theatrical carpenter and then a technical director for theaters in Boston This work did not satisfy me, and when I did some internal searching, I discovered that I had already been reading about ancient cultures for some time I decided to go back to college and got my degree in anthropology It is well-suited to me because it is the holistic study of humans. Humans are endlessly fascinating and often perplexing.
@jonathan.j.Dubois
I especially love our tendency to express our yearning for connection with others and the world around us, so in graduate school, I focused on ancient art Along the way I discovered that there is a vast diversity of ways to be human and to express ourselves I have a passion for digging into human nature, especially our need for each other, and I bring this passion into the classroom. I love to ask about why we evolved to be the most social species on the planet The answers often surprise my students and me!
You have been educating others on race and gender for over a decade, what big lesson do you hope students take away from your course?
Two things:
Diversity is amazing! That’s not just a PC trope, it’s backed by science. Evolution has been moving toward greater diversity since life has existed on this planet If you think about it, life started as single-celled organisms and evolved into a bewildering complexity and diversity of life! We are a microcosm of this larger expression of life We are the first species that we know of that had unique cultural expressions and identifiers based on our group identity from the time we first
existed We love to express our differences! We have so many languages, cultures, and unique expressions that it would take several lifetimes to explore them all For example, people in the Indus Valley 9,000 years ago first began to express their yoga practice in art We are still practicing this form of self-exploration today On the other hand, the device I wrote this from was barely imaginable when I was born. It boggles the mind how many possibilities we’ve already explored, yet we have barely begun to scratch the surface!
Biologically we are more or less all the same Race is a tiny box that, aside from being proven completely false from a biological perspective, cannot possibly begin to describe the real diversity that exists in us Human diversity comes from the urge to self-express and the boxes that we try to fit each other into (race and gender included) are for lazy, unimaginative minds. Humans are meaning-making animals The brain naturally tends to fill in something we don’t know with a simple answer Race appeals to this tendency Our skin color and other superficial features are an accident of where our ancestors evolved Skin color has nothing to do with other abilities, tendencies, practices, or preferences etc Our species began in Africa and lived there for the first 100,000+ years. So the greatest human diversity can be found in Africa. When you consider this, it becomes clear that the whole idea of race is a fallacy To lump the most diverse continent into a single group is ridiculous To look at Asia, the largest and most populous continent, and then lump everyone there together into one group is even more ridiculous Gender is similarly oversimplified Many societies have had a role for non-binary genders since long before Europeanderived patriarchy became the dominant world power.
It is the tendency of our society to break diversity down into simple groups based on superficial traits, it has nothing to do with biology It is a holdover from colonialism and Enlightenment-based thinking The Enlightenment is responsible for some of the greatest scientific advancements, but it is also responsible for our tendency to think of ourselves as isolated and separate and subject to exploitation. The time for this way of thinking has passed
b When we look at how we evolved and became a dominant species, what is clear is that it is our sociality, our dependency on one another, that is our superpower One person alone is not very impressive They cannot do very much, there is not exceptional strength or ability There is intelligence, but what good can we do with it alone? It is in our ability to work together, to coordinate our actions that we excel as a species. I teach a class called the Evolution of the Social Brain, where we go through all of the exceptional structures in the human nervous system that other animals don’t have They are almost entirely devoted to connecting with each other, predicting each other’s behavior, and understanding each other Why would we have evolved all of these adaptations if we were meant to be separate, isolated individuals? We are meant to connect. With each other. With other groups and nations With plants and animals
c In other words, biologically, we are all one We evolved to be together, not separate It is not “to each his own”, it is I give myself to you and the world to further our evolution and our health and the health of the planet This doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for diversity On the contrary, it means that we are diverse because we all have a different part to play and we all add something unique and valuable to the great tapestry of life
How does anthropology (Race and Gender) play a role in business culture?
Anthropology helps us understand human behavior Human systems Our strengths and weaknesses What is true or false about our understanding of human nature and what humans might be capable of. When we understand who we are and how we can best work together, how can business not benefit?
Anthropology is a tool to help us understand human systems and human interactions, so it’s a tool that every business person needs Anthropology is a tool that helps us step outside ourselves and our society to find out what we’re lacking and where other humans have already solved the problem we're having Who doesn’t want a tool like that?
Tell us about your venture into healing arts?
I was drawn to shamanic healing more than 20
years ago I was having some difficulties in my life I felt isolated and misunderstood Sitting in a laundromat one day in Amesbury, MA, and saw a flyer that claimed that shamanic work could help with depression I didn’t think I was depressed, but I had a strong pull to find out what this was and what it was about My mother was a nurse who was a spiritual seeker, and she had just tried a shamanic workshop in Maine.
I went, and a new world opened up to me I had a facility for shamanic journeying, and in these altered states of consciousness, I could fly, transform into an animal, and witness and perform miracles This is what hooked me at first The next year I enrolled in a shamanic healer certification program with Evie Rysdyk and Allie Knowlton of Spirit Passages in Maine. This is where I came to understand that being a healer is a calling that requires long-term dedication to self-development, growth, and service For many years I struggled to heal my own trauma to serve others I went to graduate school and put my spiritual development aside
In the last 5 years or so, I have become disciplined enough and had enough self-love to become a real healer I needed to process enough of my own trauma so that I didn’t always need to be thinking of myself. I needed to outgrow some of the unhealthy coping mechanisms that I had picked up in response to my traumas As I am able to set more of this aside and become more healed, I become more able to help others heal Winnie (Wang, my partner) has been instrumental in this development during the last few years She is relentless in her pursuit of growth and following God’s guidance She inspires me to show up in equal measure to how she does. It has inspired me to push myself further than I would have done alone. I am blessed in this way
What can your supporters expect from you next?
Winnie and I have recently co-founded a nonprofit called Compassionate Transformation Community You can expect us to advocate for the mental health needs of youth, their parents, and our communities. There has been a huge surge in mental health issues since the COVID lockdown. We were inspired to start it after a recent mass shooting in Monterey Park, CA We
are holding frequent events through the rest of the year and into the future to raise awareness of mental health struggles and spread the word of how we can overcome them Winnie and I will be leading workshops over the summer and fall The next one will be a relationship retreat on June 17th I co-host two monthly men’s circles with colleagues. Men in our society rarely seek the help they need, especially around emotional support. Men tend to turn to the women in our lives for emotional support and processing (when we are not stuffing our emotions through addictions I am dedicated to helping men learn emotional literacy and providing mutual support so that we can support our families and loved ones from a position where we are ourselves supported In July, I will begin teaching a class on shadow work online.I also take private clients, and Winnie and I do Sacred Union healing sessions together, where we work with the couple to heal the wounds that are preventing them from fully showing up in their relationship
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we are coauthoring a book that will be released in a few months called Unlocking Light It explores the healing journeys of 5 co-authors through the lens of our healing modalities It is the story of how we each unlocked the light within us so that others can find their own light through healing. It is organized into chapters on the soul, heart, mind, energy, and body I wrote the chapter on the heart about how I unlocked my light by letting my heart walls be melted through healing some of my core traumas The 5 co-authors will be holding workshops once the book is out
Did I mention that Winnie and I were recently called to start a church? You can find us every Sunday from 4:30-6 PM at 1800 W Garvey Ave in Monterey Park, CA.
What message do you hope people take away from your work?
We are naturally meant to work together It can be difficult to see because of the way our society is organized and the interests that are engaged in keeping us separate However, it is the most natural thing to a human being to be working and living hand in hand with others. Human nature is actually to help each other. This will make recovering from the current extreme disconnection from each other easier to be healed It is what we evolved to do
Diversity is amazing, and it is evidence that we each have our own role to play in the great unfolding of life! Ironically, it is one of the things that makes us all one! We all want to express what we came here to express and serve our soul’s purpose We can only do this by working together Working together is the human superpower!
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles? A Divine Masculine servant who says yes to serving others in whatever way he is called It is through service that all things become possible!
PTSD comes in many different forms. PTSD comes in various waves. PSTD has a number of triggers. PTSD affects thousands of people around the world Everyday someone is trigger by a memory, a smell, a thought, and a touch. PTSD also looks different on everyone one. What you may be experiencing and dealing with is not the same as the next person. Most people associate PTSD with the military They are not wrong to associate this with the military but there are also others who experience this disorder.
Although, many veterans return home with extreme PTSD; they are not the only ones who are suffering Domestic Violence survivors suffer from PTSD, individuals who have been robbed suffer from PTSD. Burn victims suffer from PTSD. Gun violence victims suffer from PTSD. Car wreck
survivors suffer from PTSD. School shooting survivors suffer from PTSD. Natural disaster survivors suffer from PTSD. Mothers and fathers who have lost a child suffer from PTSD. Women and men who have lost their parents suffer from PTSD Drug and alcohol addiction causes PTSD and affects so many. However, regardless of your trigger and/or reason behind your PTSD; it will always look different.
No matter if you believed military soldiers and veterans were the only people to have PTSD, you must still bring awareness to the causes. We must all understand PTSD for what it truly is; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem you may develop after experiencing traumatic events. The condition was first recognised in war veterans. It has had different names in the past, such as 'shell shock', but it's not only diagnosed in soldiers.
causes of PTSD (Mind, 2023) After understanding the true definition of PTSD, we all must understand the signs. Certain signs of PTSD can be viewed as;
panicking when reminded of the trauma. being easily upset or angry. extreme alertness, also sometimes called 'hypervigilance' disturbed sleep or a lack of sleep. irritability or aggressive behavior's. finding it hard to concentrate – including on simple or everyday tasks. being jumpy or easily startled (Mind, 2023).
By knowing the signs, symptoms, and behaviors to look for; we will be able to respond better to those who are suffering. We can also assist them by bringing awareness to their needs. Just by sitting down to talk to someone during a time when they need it the most will be beneficial
crisis interventions and resources will also help to bring awareness to PTSD. Allowing people to know that they have resources and others willing to help them in their time of need us a strong key factor in letting them know they are not alone. Having PTSD can be confusing. It can be difficult. It can be scary and it can be a lot to handle but when we all come together to offer support; we can make these triggers a little better to handle We can sympathize and also emphasize with those suffering. We can be their shoulders to lean on. We can be that listening ear. We can be that person to offer then a hug and be their friend. PTSD awareness is much more than offering crisis intervention; it is about being kind, understanding, and caring for those suffering.
References Mind.(2023).Post-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD). https://wwwmindorguk/information-support/typesof-mental-health-problems/post-traumatic-stressdisorder-ptsd-and-complex-ptsd/symptoms/
No stranger to sacrifice, Rashad was run over by a car at the age of 6, leaving him with debilitating health concerns Determined, he was able to move forward
During his high school years, he unearthed and found his passion for rap music, playing gigs and getting in front of a crowd for the first time. When he found music, he found himself for the first time
Toward the end of high school, he was solely devoted to starting his own music business and performing After watching his father, an entrepreneur, Rashad developed a commitment to working for himself, knowing he had his own best interests at heart.
He started his first record label while at the University of North Texas, learning about Marketing; Advertising; and Sales Over time, Rashad realized that marketing was his favorite part of Business and founded the Thirlkill Marketing Agency where he educates and provides marketing education and products
Rashad is also the founder of the Millionaire by Morning Brand.
millionairebymorning.biz
Linkedin: rashadthirlkill
Instagram: millionairebymorning
If you had to use five words to describe you and your vision, what would they be and why?
Motivated
Disciplined
Momentum
Marketing
Monetization
I realized that if these 5 things are included in any person’s everyday life, it automatically equals success
Motivation: Finding something that will have you jumping out of bed in the morning My motivation is my family We enjoy taking trips to exotic islands and eating at exquisite restaurants. So, I’m extremely motivated to have a work life that doesn’t require me to be stagnant and stuck in an office
Disciplined: It took a long time for me to incorporate discipline into my life I thought I could get around it, do without it, and just make up for my downfalls Eventually, trying to bounce
back and overcome gets tiresome Discipline keeps me focused on the prize that’s in front of me
Momentum: When you deal with setbacks, it can be difficult to focus and get back on track In my life, I’ve had to consistently start from zero and I learned that starting from a struggling standpoint stifles creativity, motivation, and discipline. This new way of marketing, digital marketing or influencer marketing, allows people to stumble or learn as they grow and the following understands Knowing this, I built a platform in public for the eyes to see my mistakes so that at some point, I can assist them with correction Without any setbacks or expectations, I have been able to build some momentum and now things are falling into place.
Marketing: Most people know that branding and marketing a business is essential However, we are in a time when people have to brand themselves Potential users or buyers want to know if you are their type of person: politics; favorite things; where you donate; are a fan of their sports team Marketing is no longer a thing to do It’s a thing to be in order to stay at the top of minds
Monetized: It is my belief that we all have GODGiven talents that we are able to use for monetization purposes We can write our own checks and live life how we desire My brand, Millionaire by Morning exists to break down limiting beliefs and uplift our thoughts and processes as it pertains to money making
You have had to overcome obstacles starting at a young age, how did those experiences impact who you are today as an entrepreneur?
I’ve been through a lot: from ailments and illness to the death of my closest loved ones to being in trouble with law enforcement The obstacles that I faced were plenty, but they helped me to build character and possess knowledge far past my years I’ve been around and seen so many different circumstances that it turned me into a perpetual chameleon: able to adapt to all situations. Once, I sought out a job at a car dealership because I heard they paid a lot. Having never sold a car in my life, within a month I was the #2 salesman on the lot Skills such as
negotiation, perseverance, patience, and critical and creative thinking were skills that I learned from overcoming obstacles Today, I use those same skills daily as an entrepreneur
When did you develop your passion for music, specifically hip-hop?
My passion for music started from getting up early on Saturday mornings to the clean-up music that my parents were blasting There is nothing like slow dancing to a mop or broom to a soulful R&B joint I instantly became a fan of hiphop when I first heard LL Cool J’s song “Radio” Vividly, I remember re-writing and reciting Run DMC’s Christmas song Hip Hop became the soundtrack to my life If someone were to ask me a question about my past, I would be able to recall it through a song, remembering the timespan, the nostalgia, and even the place that I was at during the time I began performing in the 8th grade and started a record label the summer after I graduated high school
Tell us about the marketing side of your life, how did the Thirlkill Marketing Agency come about?
Marketing my life through music I guess you can say that I wanted to make my dream of rapping come to life, so I intended on learning and conquering every aspect of the industry I enrolled in college for business marketing and decided that I mostly knew those things I’d been selling my entire adolescent years: kool-aid, candy, mixtapes, marijuana Then, I became a party promoter, booking shows for myself and other artists Because I knew how to give a presentation, design, print, and distribute flyers, I asked myself why I was spending lots of money on a degree. I knew that I’d be better suited to creating my own agency. That’s the story of how Thirlkill Marketing Agency was born
What key tips do you have for new entrepreneurs wanting to monetize their passion?
The keys for any entrepreneur wanting to monetize their passion would be:
1. Be Passionate about it!
If you get the chance to wake up every morning with an idea or talent, use it It was given to you for a reason
2 Focus
With the automated, instant success-seeming world that we live in currently, it is easy to get distracted. Create a plan, set goals, and follow that plan until those goals are accomplished and you’ll begin to see your dreams come true
3 Have Faith
If you can dream it you can be it, seems like such a cliche, but it is the truth You don’t have to know how you’re going to get to where you want to be initially The doors will open and the teacher will appear whenever the time is right
4 Be Clear and Concise
Ask for what it is that you want And, when you ask, do so with full confidence and conviction
I hope to see my platform fully elevated and automated within the next 5 years. I’m in love with the idea of having such a platform that is able to help others achieve their dreams Never would I have thought of being a digital marketer, a coach, and at the forefront of technology but to have an idea and watch it come together is pretty awesome I want to transition into Web3 within the next 5 years, I have some ideas for that, but I'm still studying Web3
I have big plans for the platform with the goal to place it directly in the face of athletes, entertainers, and high-value coaches by the end of this year I’ll be hoping to onboard some of them soon! My true goal is to average 50,000 monthly viewers light work when you consider the population. However, I want to remain in my current niche and space with the target demographic and avatars I’ve created, staying hands-on.
A man that hustles by definition would be a man that can roll with the punches and think on his feet Ideally, he would be able to create opportunities and not just accept what is given to him He’d know how to delegate and be able to appreciate those that assist him in his endeavors Mostly, a man that hustles would understand that it’s better to be loved than feared and would use that approach in any form of leadership
We met Kal Marshell in a quiet intimate steakhouse in Los Angeles,Ca.
He was fashionable and understated, With great skin and a warm smile, dressed in all black he took off his black roundsunglasses.
His look included a signature gold locked-on love necklace which he designed and released last year. A black long sleeve T-shirt with white letters saying INDIE Artists Of The World. Black velvet joggers that he paired withblackDiorB23High-topsneakers
As he welcomed and embraced me, he was inviting and smelleddivine
Icomplimentedhimonhisscentandaskedwhathewore. Iinstantlyfeltlikewekneweachotherforeverhewasone
ofthemostcharmingmenI’devermet.Hethenrespondedwithawarmsmoothvoice. Hello and thank you! It is my pleasure to meet you and your beautiful readers and I’m currently wearingLaLabo.
Wewereabletodiverightintoourinterview:
EJ:Whendidyoudiscoveryourpassionformusic?
KM: Keeping it one hundred, I never discovered my passion for music, because music discovered me. Music is my happy place, I believe it’s because of my mother. She’s a singer and musician so from conception she was playing the organ/piano, singing, learning songs, or practicing music at alltimes.
I never had to discover my passion for music, my life has never been without it. My prayer has alwaysbeenformusictohaveapassionforme
Interviewby:EbonyJacksonEJ: You are a native of Chicago IL, how did your surroundings growing up impact who and where you are today?
KM: I am a Chicago native!
I’m fortunate to have lived all over the Chicagoland area
Growing up in the suburbs and going to church in the city of Chicago allowed me to have the best of both worlds. I learned a little Hebrew with my Jewish friends from school and had an out-of-body musical/spiritual experience as a child at church.
I became an entertainer because I feel I was born to do a little dance, make a little love and get down. When I grew up it was education, church business, and show business.
Since artists never interacted with music royalty from the 20th & 21st centuries but I did, because I was in Chicago These moments allowed me to honor the rich history of my city and the historians allowing me to truly understand the stories within the music I believe that when you respect your elders and the past, you honor your future
I grew up meeting and performing with icons such as Albertina Walker, Aretha Franklin, Shirley Cesar, and many more so the progression to become an entertainer was natural I’ve performed and opened for secular artists/icons as well such as Miki Howard, Ginuwine, and Jennifer Hudson and the list goes on
I’m grateful my upbringing and surroundings instilled the importance of being a compassionate person, a professional, and a patient man that gives one hell of a show.
So that’s how my surroundings impacted me and I’m pretty happy about it.
EJ: Can you reflect on your earliest example of entrepreneurship?
KM: I definitely can, honestly, it started in church when I was a child
(After a chuckle, Kal lights up the room with a quick smile of excitement so warm it’s infectious He settles and responds )
I wanted candy from the church candy store but didn’t have the money to get what I wanted and I couldn’t steal So I realized, if I helped out / worked every Sunday I could get out of service early and get paid in snacks! I was 8 years old and bartered my deal I was on top of the world happy with my company perks I told Ms Bonnie I helped my great aunt in her home candy store from the ages of 6-8 and could help her I then resold some of those snacks to my suburban classmates, I was a “boss” for an 8-year-old he laughed
Wow, that’s my earliest memory. Thank you for helping me to remember.
EJ: What has been your greatest lesson in entrepreneurship and music?
KM: My greatest lesson in both entrepreneurship & music…. (After a pause Kal thinks for a moment and completes his thought )
It might sound cliché but it would have to be to never quit "A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits “
If you find or know your passion, study it That’s how you find your purpose, within your passion Then no matter what life throws your way, you will always have the will to push through and continue on
As an entrepreneur and artist, I’ve lost more than you’d believe I will probably lose more than I can mentally conceive at this moment I also understand that if my purpose is fulfilled in this life, it’s all worth it because I will leave this earth fulfilled with actual joy
So keep going and never quit that’s my greatest lesson so far.
EJ: One of your accomplishments has been losing over 250lbs naturally, can you share a little about your weight-loss journey and your tips for keeping motivated?
KM: (His expressive face looks shocked as he’s surprised by this question
Kal responds to me with a laugh and says: I see you do your research
Honestly, I lost weight because of Lizzo I absolutely adore her and the body positivity movement
For me weight was always a struggle and when I moved to Los Angeles, CA I had slimmed down considerably from my 500 lbs high school stature Although slimmer I was still heavy and as I sat in my drop top, on my way to an event
I realized I was unhappy, I couldn’t stop sweating and had the most uncomfortable shapewear on because I wasn’t being honest with myself I realized in that moment I didn’t truly love myself and I wasn’t feeling “good as hell”. That night I stared in the mirror and implemented my philosophy. Either love yourself as you are or fix what you want to change.
That night I swore myself to a year of no-shape wear and that is what started me on my path to love myself 3 years ago Now 275 lbs later the love I have for myself is what keeps me motivated daily I realized it was never about the weight it was always about honesty and to me that’s body positivity
EJ: Tell us about your newly released single "Come Thru", can you share the message behind it?
KM: Well, Come Thru is my new baby, a sultry and sophisticated song that I’m grateful radio stations and people across the nation are enjoying When I wrote Come Thru the producer Jay Rence was like where the hell has this guy been?
I wrote it feeling like currently I’m missing in music Everyone sounds amazing, but everyone sounds the same So I wanted to let folks hear a male balladeer, sing about romance, love, and happiness So the message was simple, I wanted people to feel me. So the message was simple, I wanted people to feel me.
It’s an authentic and elegant love song about saying yes to desire A new type of song for me more sensual than my previous recordings but we all must evolve and I’m just grateful to love who I’m becoming
KM: There are a few projects in the works: Movies, music, books, and more spectacular things that I’ll be sharing on social media and my website www KALLIVE com
I would be honored if your readers decided to sign up for announcements and special gifts.
I am excited to share that I’m preparing for my first live recording in Wheeling, Il. I’ll become a part of history this August as the first African American to record a live album in that city. Wheeling is one of the suburbs in the Chicagoland area where I grew up
I’m excited because I’ve partnered with great businesses as well to give an amazingly immersive and intimate experience for the audience
I appreciate the support I receive and you can find me on social media at @KAL LIVE I may be coming to a city near you soon and would love to meet some of your amazing readers in person
KM: Often times the word hustler can have a negative connotation people think pimp, prostitute, swindler, and people of ill repute.
For me, I hustle hard but when I say hustle I define it as
H is for Healing the community
U is for Understanding others
S is for Studying & sharing knowledge
T is for Tact and talent in every aspect of life
L is for Learning lessons in all environments
E is for Ethics because you can never lose your light if your intentions are pure
I am a man, entertainer, and entrepreneur who understands making things happen is necessary to succeed To ensure I keep going in a positive direction I try to always remember what hustle means to me
to prove it
Thank you for having me and I appreciate this opportunity so much (Hustle T-shirts for men & women are available now at www.Kallive.com.)
ConnectWithKalMarshell:
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SUPLMNT is a Black-owned hydration brand creating stylish insulated water bottles for those who appreciate the sneaker culture Founded by Jairus Morris, the mission of SUPLMNT is to change the narrative of drinking water in urban communities by merging style and function.
Every element of this stylish hydration bottle has been designed with convenience in mind The rubber foot of the bottle allows for a secure grip and easy placement on surfaces, while the oversized lanyard is selected from sneaker laces The SUPLMNT bottle offers unbeatable insulation, keeping drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12
The SUPLMNT brand is on a mission to make drinking water a stylish and enjoyable experience and to spread awareness They're collaborating with renowned artist, Apexer, at the upcoming 'Black To The Block' event for Juneteenth in Los Angeles This unique partnership between art and hydration will unite two passions to help spread the message that staying hydrated can also be stylish
Instagram:suplmnt/ Tiktok:@suplmnt Facebook:suplmntbrand/ Website:sumplnt.com
Outside of entrepreneurship, who is Jairus Morris?
A father A son A brother A family man Spending time with my family is very important Especially with my daughter my lady And of course, staying active and fit I'm heaving into kickboxing as well. That all ties back to my loved ones because I always encourage them to do the same.
When did you realize you had an entrepreneurial spirit?
When I went to SAMs club for the first time back in high school I bought a 20-pack of Snickers for $999 -- sold them for $1 each and doubled my money in one day From that point on, I knew I wanted to hustle and work for myself, and essentially with my own product or service.
How did SUPLMNT, get its start?
SUPLMNT started as an idea really I wanted to find a way to incorporate hydration into the culture I soon started realizing the water bottle industry was dominated by brands that I never
heard of and could even resonate with So I started to build on my idea I set out to create the first black-owned insulated water bottle that we [the culture] can be proud of and here we are! It's a tool to help encourage our communities to drink more water Hydration has always been the mission
Can you share a little about the creative process behind the brand?
Water is the body's most important "supplement" which is how I came up with the name I then worked with an award-winning black industrial designer to help bring this bottle to life And being sneaker culture is huge in the urban community, we wanted to create bottles that would add value to your outfits and blend in with your City! Hence, our BLOCKS logo LID represents City blocks and how SUPLMNT is bringing [the] blocks together for one common goal, HYDRATION And back to the sneaker inspiration, the rubber boot [of the bottle] represents the sole of our sneakers, and the holding loop portrays a sneaker lace
Why was creating a brand to keep the urban community hydrated important to you?
I was never encouraged or told to drink water growing up. I realized later in life how negatively not drinking water can affect you: premature kidney failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease the list goes on These diseases plague the black community year after year and I wanted to take charge to try and decrease those numbers And hydration is one of the answers It's something that we can ALL be more intentional with
It can be that first step that we take [as a culture] collectively, for an overall healthier lifestyle.
What can supporters expect next from you and the SUPLMNT Brand?
They can expect us to keep spreading awareness of the importance of hydration within our culture
We will continue to provide high-quality products, larger bottles, and more accessories to the bottles And Expect to see us at your favorite festivals, outdoor events, cookouts, etc. -- and collaborating with your favorite streetwear brands, artists, and soon .. your favorite retailers!
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
A man who bets on himself and then doubles down! Being relentless when it comes to making his dreams a reality!
Nationwide - “Gentle Giant” has officially been redefined by Darryl Perry, a Big and Tall model, actor, and singer from Dayton, Ohio Standing at 6’ 7”, “Larger than life” is the best way to describe his huge presence and personality
Growing up was tough, though; Darryl was always bigger than his peers and often got made fun of by them, leading to serious body image issues and a lack of self-confidence that plagued him all the way through his early twenties
Thankfully, that changed overnight when his eyes were opened to the Big and Tall modeling community in 2019, and was suddenly surrounded by lots of people who felt about themselves exactly the way he had. This newfound kinship inspired Darryl to speak out about his own pain and embolden other big men and women who are struggling with the same issues he did As he told XL Tribe Magazine (https://xltribecom/2020/11/19/xl-tribes-magazineissue-10-with-darryl), “I would tell my 10-year-old self to stand up for himself and be strong Find that warrior inside of you and go for whatever you want!”
wwwiamdarrylperrycom/ Facebook:khololifestyle
Instagram:khololifestyle
Instagram: whatsuplilbro/ Tiktok:@khololifestyle/
Men’s Big & Tall clothing brands have been hungrily pursuing Darryl and his social media following has been growing by leaps and bounds, which will come in handy when Darryl launches his Big & Tall menswear line, Kholo “Kholo means BIG It’s not just a state of being It’s a lifestyle!”
And this gentle giant is now inspiring other young men to stand up for themselves with his What’s Up, Lil Bro? video series, motivating young men to become their greatest selves by teaching them fundamental life lessons like controlling their tempers, building their confidence, and busting through the world’s stereotypes, all in a relaxed, open, engaging manner Darryl tells his young followers, “Life can be hard as a young man but I’m here to help you navigate through it! I’m proud of you!”
How did you get your start in modeling and fashion as a whole?
I started Big and Tall modeling at the end of 2019 when a friend who was a plus-size model pulled me in I began working with local photographers in the DMV area and my career started taking off I got my first official modeling gig with a denim company out of NY in the summer of 2020, right before I went viral from a beach shoot that I did in Ocean City, Maryland. It’s been moving ever since
As a Big and Tall model, you represent a large part of our population that often goes overlooked. Can you share the message you hope your platform is teaching other Big and Tall men?
Sure! Most big men deal with confidence issues that stem from trauma from their past I think that the important thing to do is to heal internally first and then work on the external. We gotta love ourselves first! Once you learn to love yourself you will be more willing to step out of your comfort zone and live your life the way you envision it in your dreams!
What are you hoping young men are taking away from your organization?
What's Up Lil Bro? is a movement created to help young men navigate through life by teaching them fundamental lessons that will propel them to live productive lives I want young men to understand that I get that life is hard and that there are some who understand and will help them move through it What's Up Lil Bro? will teach them confidence in areas like chivalry, respect, anger management, hygiene, selfconfidence, and more
You grew up in Dayton, OH. How did your surroundings growing up impact the way you mentor and lead today?
Dayton, OH was a place of survival; everyone around me was just trying to make it in any way they knew how Growing up in a place like that teaches you how to make things happen even when you don’t know how You also learn how to not make excuses; there was always someone doing worse than me. That life has given me a positive outlook and perspective today…I lead with that
What is next for Darryl? What can we expect from your platform in the next 2-3 years?
In the next 2-3 years, you can expect to see tremendous growth in the support of Kholo Lifestyle
(https://wwwinstagramcom/khololifestyle/; my modeling, acting, and design brand) and What's Up Lil Bro?. You will see more accolades on the modeling, acting, and singing side. What's Up Lil Bro? will be an official nonprofit and will be highly recognized in the community with programs in schools and outreach programs
What is your definition of a "Man Who Hustles"?
A man who hustles A man who has a vision and goes for it despite the obstacles he may face. If something stops him, he finds a way to get around it and keep pressing toward that goal. He provides for his family while setting an example of how to get it done He leads with action!
James Gray Robinson is a highly successful lawyer, world-renowned healer, coach, and speaker dedicated to helping people heal and live more fulfilling lives With over 30 years of experience, James has mastered 28 different modalities, lived with top healers and coaches in the world, and gained access to the best guidance and support. His innovative program, SHIFT, distills all of his experience and insights into a powerful tool that catalyzes transformation and helps people achieve their goals at an unprecedented pace James has been featured in prestigious publications such as the ABA Journal, Family Lawyer Magazine, Attorney At Work, and The Elephant Journal.
Outside of entrepreneurship and Law, who is James Robinson?
I am what one used to call a Renaissance man I have a liberal arts background in English, Music, Arts, Science, Philosophy, Psychology and trivia I am a scratch golfer, marathon runner, horse trainer, cattle rancher, restauranteur, chef, strength trainer, healer, and coach. I am certified in over 30 healing and coaching modalities.
jamesgrayrobinson.com
lawyerlifeline.net
awakeningmasterycom
I am a father, husband, and relationship expert I am a trauma, addiction, stress, and burn out specialist I am a voracious reader and eternal student I am a speaker and thought leader I am an awakened master
How did you get your start into law?
I am a third generation trial lawyer. My grandfather was a judge in eastern North Carolina during the Depression My father went to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1945 After his service he went to law school and was a nationally known trial attorney in North Carolina I was expected to follow the family tradition and did so, even though I didn't want to be a lawyer.
. You have dedicated your life to helping people deal with stress in a productive way, can you share a little about your efforts?
In 2004 I burned out (nervous breakdown) and quit practicing law Since that time I have researched and trained to discover why I burned
out and how to prevent it I studied with internationally recognized gurus and spiritual leaders for 15 years, traveling around the world by their side I discovered I had a rare healing ability as a result of 5 near death experiences I have developed a program which trains lawyers, executives and entrepreneurs how to deal and eliminate stress through coaching and energy healing. My work will be featured in a documentary premiering in January, "Beyond Physical Matter"
Speaking of stress, entrepreneurship and the demands of the courtroom and clients can be a huge stressor, How do you navigate and set aside time to breathe and practice self care?
After I burned out in 2004 and learned how to deal with stress, I took the bar exam again in 2017 and passed! I developed a routine of exercise, nutrition, contemplation and meditation, which I teach my clients Success in any endeavor requires effort, discipline and balance I take routine breaks throughout the day to let my mind reboot The neurobiology of stress has shown that letting your mind relax repeatedly throughout the day is critical to mental and emotional health
What advice do you have for the next generation of entrepreneurs?
You have to believe in what you are doing and believe that you will be successful The mind is an incredible tool when used properly, but society does not train people to use it In fact, society tries to control our minds to the extent that it limits our ability to be successful It is critical for success to find a mentor like me or a mastermind group to collaborate and learn.
What can readers expect from you next?
I have my documentary coming in January, "Beyond Physical Matter" which is predicted to be bigger than "The Secret" wwwBeyondPhysicalMattercom Beyond Physical Matter I have an online course "Ho'oponopono for Lawyers" with Joe Vitale coming this fall.
I will be forming a mentorship program for a wide range of business professionals and a mastermind group to create collaboration between business professionals I have three other movies in production I am often published in a number of legal and professional journals, as well as journals dedicated to improving the human condition such as Best Holistic Life Magazine and The Good Men Project.
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
A Man Who Hustles is passionate about what he does and can't wait to get out of bed and make things happen He manifests effort with a purpose
Lil Mikey TMB, also known as The Money Boy, is an artist from East Oakland, California, born and raised on 96 and Cherry St to be exact Music has always been in Mikey’s DNA as his uncle Money-B was a part of the legendary funk and rap group Digital Underground
10 years ago, Lil Mikey wouldn’t have believed that he would have a career in music as he was heavily involved in the street life, selling dope and living recklessly After losing close friends, being shot a total of 5 times on 3 different occasions by the age of 23, and waking up from a coma after 3 weeks, Lil Mikey realized it was time to change and relocated to Vegas.
While in Vegas, Lil Mikey reconnected with his current management and longtime acquaintance, Champagne Elite Music Group who flew Mikey to Miami to be around his label at the time, Foreign Gang Mikey observed the priority artists and the lifestyle He survived a rigorous year long artist development and perfected the art of hyping a crowd, similar to Tupac and Digital Underground
Foreign Gang soon demised but Lil Mikey TMB furthered his relationship with Champagne Elite Music Group as they shared the same vision There was no turning back to the streets or prison and Lil Mikey credits Lil Wayne and the Hot Boyz as his main influences.
L I L M I K E Y T M B
Mikey is hoping to create a lasting legacy and motivate young people who can identify with him to get money live better and think outside of the world they live.
Lil Mikey released his first single “Crack Spot” in 2016 which caught the attention of Hoodrich’s, DJ Scream. DJ Scream then connected Mikey with 21 Savage and Hoodrich Pablo Juan who both appeared on his debut mixtape, ‘Eastside Nino’ released that same year
DJ Scream and Lil Mikey later went on to release 2 more projects, ‘Truth Be Told’ (2018) and ‘Deep In My Thoughts’ (2020) featuring production by longtime collaborators KC Da Beatmonster, Evil G, and SM Tracks. The deluxe version of ‘Deep In My Thoughts’ released on Lil Mikey’s birthday December 15th and he has since appeared on major publications such as Sway In The Morning, VLAD TV, Dirty Glove Bastard, ThisIs50, and The Progress Report
Now Lil Mikey TMB is back with his 4th body of work titled ‘Sum’n Special’ hosted by Grand Hustle’s own, DJ MLK. The tape is inspired by cultural icons Jay-Z and Lil Wayne and only has one feature with Atlanta’s own Tracy T and all production is handled by KC Da Beatmonster, Evil G, and SM Tracks
“I feel like this is the best of all my work, I feel like this is something special” Lil Mikey TMB
When exactly did you find your lover for music, specifically hiphop?
I have always had a love for music Watching my uncle and manager Money B from the legendary group Digital Underground growing and me being a super Tupac fan didn’t help lol, but the person who I watched that made me wanna do music myself is Lil Wayne. I learned everything musically from watching him and his career.
Tell us about the music scene in California, who influenced your sound early on?
I feel like the music scene in California is all over the place and is wide open for the taken and is in need of something fresh
Over the last few years you have had to overcome a lot What lessons do you carry with you today? The things I learned and carry with me from things I overcame were staying focused, knowing if I want something done, I have to put the work in myself, and staying prepared so when opportunities come I’m always ready and don’t get caught up in who’s supporting me cause the work will support when it’s time.
What message do you hope listeners take away from your music?
The message in my music is to give hope to the young dudes who identify with me and come from the same background as me letting them know to get money, living right, being healthy, and taking care of their family and people is the new gangsta, and u can make it out if u apply yourself
Can you take us through your creative process, what does your time in the booth look like?
My process in the studio consists of first things first I gotta have some gas (Weed) and top of the line at that then maybe a drink then I sit with the beat while it plays then let my emotions tell me what to say depending on how I feel that day then I go from there my brain starts going non stop
What advice do you have for upcoming artists?
The advice I have for upcoming artists is Fuck what anybody says don’t never stop and be a leader and think for yourself making your own decisions cause nobody gotta live your life but you.
What can your supporters expect from you next?
My supporters can expect a lot more visuals and me keeping my foot on the gas nonstop
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
My definition of a man who hustles is somebody who goes out and makes things happen with no excuses no matter what standing on all ten
Connect With Lil Mikey:
Instagram @LilMikey TMB
Facebook @LilMikey TMB
Youtube @OfficialTMBChannel
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Izzy The DJ (@izzythedj) is an international DJ based out of the Hampton Roads Area of Virginia He is a Father, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, and Community Activist
As the owner of multiple businesses such as Bazl Vibe and Dine (@Bazl VB), Can’t Stay Local Clothing line (@cantstaylocal), and ParadICE (Paradice757) he embodies the true meaning of “Men Who Hustle” From Virginia to Paris, he has impacted the world with the ability to speak to his audience through his turntables
I always tell this story lol. So, my uncle taught me how to download music at a super young age so between that and road trips with my dad, my love for music began I used to burn mix CDs at age 10 with my favorite songs (early remnants of my mixtape era) then it turned into me making them for friends and family Then my stepmom copped me my first DJ set when I was 11 for Christmas The rest was history My real climb began when I had my daughter and quit playing college football. This is when the real journey began for me.
@cantstaylocal Paradice757
Do you remember any of your early influences on music and creativity in the DJ world?
My early influences definitely were my cousin DJ T-Period (Formally DJ T-Nutz) DJ Envy, DJ Drama, Kay Slay, and my uncle for teaching me how to download music which started all of this.
Tell us about the Virginia Music Scene, How have you stayed focused to blaze your trail in your local area?
I emerged myself in it Made it home The Virginia music scene is rich with talent so it’s easy in my opinion to get wrapped in it As far as my role, I just try to put my best foot forward and shed light on the area through my work whether that’s as a DJ, curating events and through my travels.
Tell us about your entrepreneurial journey, how do you balance music and business?
There's no balance because music is business I use my music side to fuel most of my business or at least have some facet of music incorporated
within these businesses I also choose businesses that I have a genuine interest in outside of running them For example, I co-own a premium Italian ice and Ice Cream business called “ParadICE” This is something I partake in as a consumer as well Everyone knows I love frozen treats, so this business was a no-brainer
What lesson do you hope your supporters gain from your platform?
No matter where you are from or what your story is, you can do it too The things I’ve been able to accomplish over the years were a part of the plan but not at the same time I always knew I wanted to be successful, but I never knew how it looked exactly I just knew I had to be able to show and tell my daughter this journey of mine and I wanted it to be a story we could be proud of today.
A man who hustles is one who gets it done by any means Beats the odds Lays it all on the line no matter what it costs Mr Make it happen Creating goals and running through them in ways that don’t make sense to most A man who has that dog in them to get sh*t done.
Justin Drummond, CEO of Spark C Innovation, was a former NCAA Championship player D-1 and owner of a successful Cyber Security company ( SparkC, LLC), he also mentors millennial entrepreneurs and speaks at schools.
He was also featured in the 2021 March Madness Dove Men+Care "Off court champs" campaign celebrating black men off-court
In January of 2022 he published a new game called "Cyber Warriors", a Cyber Educational Gaming Experience for ages 12+
He has also launched a Cyber mentoring academy to assist individuals looking to get into the Tech World.
How did you get your start into entrepreneurship? Tell us about your company SparkC, LLC?
I got my start into entrepreneurship at age 20 while playing high-level Division 1 basketball at the University of Toledo Underneath my passion for basketball, I always had a passion for safety. Even though I was an all-conference athlete,
basketball was life for me After seeing many players go into school and come out with little opportunity to play professional basketball long term I have always valued the phrase “Smart people learn from their own mistakes Wise people learn from others' mistakes” Based on this phrase, I started my cybersecurity business at 20 knowing that people knew me and it would be a great place to start. After my senior year, I decided to forgo the opportunity to play professional basketball and went to the University of Maryland to get my masters in Cybersecurity Management & Policy
SparkC is a cybersecurity and training technology that provides services to federal, state and local partners. We have a total of 6 full time employees spread out across the country.
Tell us about your transition from basketball to full time entrepreneur, what lessons have carried you along the way?
I lost alot of friends and supporters once I decided to stop playing basketball, but it was the best decision I could have made for myself and my future During the long basketball season, we went from hotel to hotel room and I would take advantage of the time to learn more about the cybersecurity industry While in school during the offseason, I won a couple contracts conducting security assessments for businesses in Toledo. All this preparation in school allowed me to prepare to pursue my masters and start my business
After school, I started providing digital solutions to public safety departments at colleges and universities These opportunities provided the funding and pathway to prepare SparkC to secure large federal training and cybersecurity contracts
What message do you hope millennials and young entrepreneurs take away from your platform?
The message I want them to take away is start preparing for your purposes earlier in life As I’ve gotten older and grew up with the NBA or youth sports being the focus, it blinds our young people of the other opportunities and careers out there until it's too late 1% of youth will be professional athletes but 99.9% can secure a high paying job in the cybersecurity industry.
Ball is not life I make way more money than I ever would playing basketball CyberWarrior is a resource to engage, ignite and motivate youth to embark on high-paying cybersecurity careers once they reach professional age Introducing cybersecurity or some type of STEM component during their developmental years, ages 7 through 17 ensures our youth are proficient and prepared to compete on a global scale for over 3.5 unfilled cybersecurity jobs as of 2022 in the USA. Dont limit yourself, it's a big world out there with tons of opportunities
Tell us about your game "Cyber Warriors'' what do you hope young gamers take away from their gaming experience?
CyberWarriors is the best cybersecurity edugaming site under the sun. Our mindgrabbing simulations and application scenarios expose real-world processes and procedures to
fulfilling the mission of a cyberwarrior The goal of CyberWarrior is to ignite an interest and learn how much money one can make pursuing a career in cybersecurity I am trying to create a young techy community where those who may not be the best athletes have a place to feel a sense of belonging and ultimately prepare them for future success. We hold in-person events at our Cybersphere location in Lanham along with virtual events where we have kids from Texas, Michigan and Florida to compete for a cash prize It's truly a niche product that we offer and we are confident that it be the #1 cybersecurity edugaming site in the USA and beyond
What is next for you, what can your supporters expect from you in the next 3-5 years?
Over the next 3-5 years, CyberWarrior will be a platform that services schools, STEM organizations, summer camps, and individual exposure We are building our official GLOBAL gaming site which makes this possible Our goal is to average about 2,000 visitors a month in 5 years or less
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
A Man Who Hustles is one that keeps going no matter the obstacles to lay ahead. Pushing through adversity and going the extra mile will always make up for lost opportunities because combination allows new ones to appear You must be consistent with your Hustle to truly see results
The Media Prince is a solidified Top Journalist in Washington, DC whose has dominated the urban and mainstream market for the past couple years garnishing over 14 million hits to his website and gaining attraction of the likes of TMZ, iHeartRadio, Vice, Shoe City, Nike, Amazon and Diet Coke With over 400,000 views in interviews with some of the top celebrities from Rico Nasty, Cardi B, Dream Doll, Megan The Stallion, Boris Kodjoe, Regina Hall, & Common The Media Prince has proven to be a top feat in the media realm
His blog is also dedicated to showcasing art of all facets whether it be through music, dance, acting, poetry, cooking, teaching, etc.
Outside of entrepreneurship and journalism, who is the Media Prince?
The Media Prince is a lover of art and music, so outside of the normal realm, I am a music connoisseur, a poet, I can sew, do hair and love collecting sunglasses and vast eyewear
Tell us a little about the entrepreneurial scene in DC, how did your surroundings impact who you are today as a journalist?
DC is a mecca of all things art, entertainment and entrepreneurship That world here is vastly
growing here and it's quite beautiful to see so many people betting on themselves and trying to make a different outcome for themselves, especially black men
You have been in the media industry for quite some time, what has been your biggest lesson thus far?
To stay true to self, stay consistent, be patient and to not watch the next man's path, focus on self Also be kind to others and understand everyone is not going to get the vision at first, but in due time, they all will see
What message do you hope people take away from your platform?
Inspiration, creativity and DMV to the fullest of the full, LOL!
What can your supporters expect from you next?
More TV, more content, just more everything Consistency is how I got here and consistency is how I will continue on this path of greatness
What is your definition of a Man Who Hustles?
A Man who gets to it, no questions asked You have the plan, you have the vision, you get up and go, you start today and you don't make excuses and you don't let up off the gas That is a Man Who Hustles
