Create Your Life Series

About our Guest:

Su is the CEO & Co-founder at WeDidIt, a New York-based tech company that helps nonprofit organizations fundraise online. For the last 6 years, Su has helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations raise funds and find new donors through WeDidIt's innovative technology. Some of WeDidit’s customers include Amnesty International, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, NYC Coalition Against Hunger, LA Zoo, and Stupid Cancer. and he is now working on a new venture called dollaride on the side. 


Episode Summary:

Su takes us on his journey of failing in one startup to creating two successful companies. He teaches us the importance of flexibility, how self awareness has helped him in his partnership and how to run a company as a non – technical founder.

 Insight from this episode:

• Strategies to create a strong team

Quotes from the show:

“Choose to work on projects or at companies or in ventures where you'ree going to enjoy the process more than the end result” Su Sanni episode #96

I don't let dreams stay dreams, I put the work in, I bend the world to my will in order to make it happen - Su Sanni ep #97

 “You have to be humble enough to know that you don’t know everything and bold enough to ask questions to people who know more than you” - Kevin Y. Brown episode #97

 “Being right means nothing when you loose everything” - Kevin Y. Brown episode #97

 Resources Mentioned:

• Slack.com


Favorite Book:

• The Lean Startup

 Favorite Quote:

• “If you will it, it is no dream” - Theodor Herzl


 3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Make long-term goals but try to enjoy the journey towards those goals - fall in love with process not the end result

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Su Sanni:

https://www.dollaride.com/

www.wedidit.it

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sulaimansanni

https://twitter.com/thesusanni

https://www.facebook.com/ssanni

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Episode Summary

Listeners (CYLS family) call in and share their stories and expertise on how they have got others to invest in them and tips that they have for making yourself a investible asset.

Insight from this episode:

Tips to get others to invest in you:

Listener #1 Nicole Anderson, California Educaator 

1. follow your calling

Listener #2 Andrew Johnson, ESPN:

1. Invest in people who invest with you

Listener #3 Jodi-Kay Williams,  rising attorney at law:

1. Aspiration and desire to be in a better place

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

About our Guest:

Raphael is the owner of ricardos steak house, corner social, mintons playhouse and the cecil steak house as well as an executie chef, who uses his culinary mastery to incite creativity and fun with food. He is also the exectuive producer for east harlem presents which is a performing-arts venue with a multi-use art gallery space & independent programming. He is also the owner and artistic director of the Poet's Den Theater & Gallery and founder of the east harlem international film festival.

Episode Summary

Raphael talks about his journey immigrating to the United states, going into the family business. He breaks down his goal setting process, secrets to his decision making when taking on a new project and his secrets to creating a great team.

Insight from this episode:

• Why trusting your gut and taking risks is important even against a great opportunity
Why Raphael turned down his internship opportunity on the first day to follow his intuition

a new project including opening a restaurant
How to play to your strength

• Business tips for selling art

Quotes:

“Dont ever do anything for monetary reasons, money is always the by product of what you do” - Raphael Benevidas episode #94

Anyone can paint art, but it takes a genius to sell it” - Raphael Benevidas episode #94

Resources Mentioned:

Cell phone

Favorite Book: Brains on fire

Favorite Quote: “If you never try, youll never know if it could have been”?

3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Be passionate about whatever you do

Stay Connected:

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

www.eastharlempresents.org

instagram.com/raphaelbaccus

https://twitter.com/poetsdentheater

https://www.facebook.com/raphael.baccus

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

About our Guest:

Currently  Head of Business Operations Management, North America at StubHub, formerly, Lead Counsel for the Global Infrastructure, Development, and Operations (“Inbound”) Commercial Legal team at Facebook Award winning attorney,  receiving the Excellence in Legal Innovation award from national bar association, 40 under 40 from both the Digital Diversity Network and national bar associations . she is  a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley (BA, Mass Communications), St. Mary’s College of California (MBA), the University of California, Los Angeles (MA, African-American Studies), and the University of California, Hastings College of Law (JD). She is also very active in her community as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, and in political organizing and fundraising at the local, state, and national level. An Oakland native, she and her husband, Jaime, live in Oakland with their two children. 

About this Episode:

 Bari discusses overcoming hiring disappointment from google, quitting her job, creating the supplier diversity program at Facebook through pitching a dynamic presentation to the CFO all while being a mom, wife, daughter and friend.

Insight from this episode:

• The importance of following good advice

choice

• The difference between constructive and destructive law

 Resources Mentioned:

https://www.doordash.com

https://munchery.com

Favorite Book:

A Colony and A Nation

Between The World and Me

The Bluest Eye

Kindred

The Loneliness of the Black Republican

Favorite Quote:

 “Expect what you Accept” - Grandma Bettye Sudduth & Bari A. Wiliams Episode #93

3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Expect What You Accept

Stay Connected:

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

https://www.bariawilliams.com

www.instagram.com/bari.a.williams

https://twitter.com/bariawilliams

https://www.facebook.com/bari.a.williams

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Episode Summary

Henry provides us his secrets to being a revered 8 plus year CEO by establishing a great company culture and a vision that his team will be on board with. He also discusses the different types of leadership and when to implement the different styles.


Insight from this episode:

• The importance of Fatherhood

Quotes from the show:

“Two things that you must do, that must come from you as the team leader, you have to have a vision and be able to articulate that vision and you have to be able to manage your culture.” – Henry Thompson Episode #92

Resources Mentioned:

• https://www.eclinicalworks.com/


Favorite Book:

• Count of Monte Cristo

Favorite Quote:

“Go Hard or Go Home” - Unknown


3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Be comfortable with the person in the mirror

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

www.chcrichmond.com

[email protected]

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Episode Summary:

Changa highlights how his near death experience and changed his lifestyle choices and diet, his travels around the world, being a father of 6 and working as a team with his wife to create new opportunities
 

Insight from this episode:

• Secrets to the entire Yoga lifestyle

Quotes from the show:

“I always tell people that leadership is lonely, so I became a leader of myself” - Changa Bell Episode #90

Resources Mentioned: 

• https://www.getharvest.com/

 Favorite Book:

• Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It

Favorite Quote:                

Great doubt: great awakening. Little doubt: little awakening. No doubt: no awakening. - Zen Koan

3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Hug on, hold on, don’t let go of peace

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

http://www.bmyi.org

http://www.changabell.com

http://www.Instagram.com/changabell

http://www.twitter.com/changabell

www.fb.com/changabell

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

About our Guest:

Marjuan Canady, a native Washingtonian with Trinidadian/African-American roots, is an award winning writer, actress, playwright, director, educator and producer for both film and the stage. Canady is the founder and CEO of her multi-media production company, Sepia Works.

She is the CEO / Author / Co-creator of the children’s media brand Callaloo. Originally conceived as a theatrical play, Marjuan has led her team in building Callaloo into a brand consisting of books, puppet shows, digital content, animation, arts education programming and merchandise. Canady’s first children’s book Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale was published in 2013 in which she received the 2013 First Time Author’s Award from the National Library of Trinidad and Tobago. School of the Arts

Episode Summary:

Learning through failure, being rejected from roles, creating a global children’s brand, trusting her gut, having 6 jobs at once , touring and growing her performance fee, writing her own original work & bringing youth of color to the theater

Insight from this episode:

• How to find the passion to create your original work

 Quotes from the show:

“You can’t just be one thing” – Marjuan Canady Episode #91

 Resources Mentioned:

• https://quickbooks.intuit.com

Favorite Book:

• Sula

Favorite Quote:

“If you don’t see you in the world, Script Your Story” –Marjuan Canady Episode #91

3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Be patient and be patient with yourself

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

http://www.marjuancanady.com/

https://www.instagram.com/marjuancanady

https://twitter.com/marjuancanady

‪callalookids.com 

‪sepiaworks.org 

‪canadyfoundationarts.org 

www.callalookids.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Callaloothebook

https://www.instagram.com/callaloothebook

www.twitter.com/‪callaloothebook

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

About our Guest:

Everette Taylor is a four-time entrepreneur, marketing executive, public speaker and writer. His entrepreneurial career started at the age of 19 with his first company which was acquired 2 years later. Since then he has started three multi-million dollar companies: the marketing firm MilliSense where he serves as CEO, co-founded GrowthHackers.com where he served as VP of Growth, and recently founded the company PopSocial – the software company that provides affordable solution for brands to grow on social media where he also serves as CEO. 

About this Episode: 

In this episode Everette speaks very candidly about his high school homeless experience, dropping out of college, battling depression to becoming a top tech marketer and now running 3 multi- million dollar companies.

Insight from this episode:

• How to channel your internal happiness

 Quotes:

 “Skillset is the new currency” - Kevin Y. Brown episode #89

The #1 thing people miss when it comes to marketing is the product or service itself - Everette Taylor Episode #89

Resources Mentioned:

http://www.stripe.com

Favorite Quote:

“Who You Are Today Is Not Good Enough For Tomorrow” - Everette Taylor Episode #89

Favorite Book:

The Harry Potter Series

Hacking Growth

3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Self Care

www.popsocial.co 25% off coupon code CYLS

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

www.instagram.com/everette

https://twitter.com/everette

http://www.popsocial.co

Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

About our Guest:

Lawrence E. Adjah is an entrepreneur and community builder dedicated to creating content, community and conversation that unites, heals and transforms lives.

He’s the Founder and Chair of Family Dinner Foundation, an international, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to connect the world as a family at, and beyond, the dinner table.

Episode Summary

Lawrence discusses building friendships and relationships as an adult, the challenges of running a global volunteer organization and the importance of a network vs. people who actually care about you.

Insight from this episode:

• Lawrence’s background as a Nigerian American growing up in New Jersey and its influence, plus his Olympic dreams and change of focus for his personal goals

• Next steps for Lawrence and his foundation: continuing to serve around the world and helping to build relationships & friendships

You’ll learn:

• Why Lawrence founded the Family Dinner Foundation

Quotes from our guest:

 “ If anything, I said just by osmosis how much can I grow and How much can I learn” - Lawrence Adjah episode #88

“Our mission is to connect the world as a family over the dinner table” - Lawrence Adjah episode #88

“Our tradition is everybody eats at the family dinner table”  - Lawrence Adjah episode #88

“Something magical happens over a meal” - Lawrence Adjah Episode #88

“Family means everybody” - Lawrence Adjah Episode #88

Resources Mentioned:

• https://www.ourfamilydinner.org/

Favorite Books:

• The Last Lecture  by Randy Pausch & Jeffrey Zaslow

• Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community by Martin Luther King, Jr

Favorite Quotes:

• “But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.” Moses from Deuteronomy 4:29 The Bible

3 keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Have faith

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Guest Name:

http://lawrenceadjah.com/

Instagram: @adjah_l

Twitter: @ajah_l

Facebook: @lawrence.adjah

About our Guests:

• Shaun Lynda started out from humble beginnings, raised by a single mom and his sister in government housing he excelled in sports and academics. Shaun graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Finance. He later went on to work on Wall Street for Chase Manhattan Bank, Paine Webber and American Express. Being in a tower during 9/11 was a turning point for him that lead him to branch out on his own in 2002 to launch his online business, NicNatDirect.com, and flip real estate property in Brooklyn. Later in 2006 Shaun’s desire to pass  on the knowledge that he had gained over his career to the next generation lead to the concept of CLEAN.

Episode Summary

Shaun and Dionne discuss their journey's of switching careers and now investing in tomorrow’s leaders by teaching them financial literacy. They reveal their secrets of being a dynamic team and stretching their business to NBA rookies and beyond.

Insight from this episode:

• The goal and concept behind Financially CLEAN, a fun and interactive program with a mission to help younger generations build a financial plan around their personal goals

You’ll learn:

• How to understand your partner's abilities and ways to work more efficient together

Quotes:

“If you don’t balance lifestyle with financial literacy, you’ll never be successful” - Shaun Lynda Episode #87

“Know that your goals can always be a moving target” - Shaun Lynda Episode #87

“You have to see for yourself, jump out there”- Kevin Y. Brown Episode #87

Resources Mentioned:

• Slack app

Shaun’s Favorites:

• Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? by Reginald Lewis & Blair Walker

Dionne’s Favorites: 

• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay 

• “Success is not about your resources. It’s about how resourceful you are with what you have!”  Tony Robbins

Shaun’s Keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Be confident, don’t let anyone steal your confidence

Dionne’s Keys to Create Your Best Life:

1. Surround yourself with positive people

Stay Connected:

Create Your Life Series:

https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/

https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/

Kevin:

www.kevinybrown.com

www.instagram.com/kevinybrown

www.twitter.com/kevinybrown

www.facebook.com/kevbrown001

Shaun:

Instagram @financiallycleanshaun

Dionne:

Instagram @dionnenicholls

Facebook @dionne.nicholls

Twitter @dee2blackguys

Financially CLEAN:

http://www.financiallyclean.com/

Instagram @financiallyclean

Twitter @FinancialClean

Facebook @financiallyclean

Two Black Guys with Good Credit:

Instagram @twoblackguysgoodcredit

Twitter @tbgwgc2

Facebook @TwoBlackGuysWithGoodCredit