Today’s episode is a high-level overview of four different ways to invest as an entrepreneur. We talk about direct investing, anonymous investing, venture capital investing, and non-financial investing in the form of mentoring other business owners. We also discuss a few of the platforms and organizations that help make it easier for you to invest in whatever way best suits you. Tune in today to hear how you can use your money and your knowledge to make a positive contribution to your local economy!

Projections are made all the time regarding our financial future. Systems are analyzing the data of where we are right now to predict our future. In today’s conversation, I am joined by De’Von Truvel, creator of the game Play Black Wall Street. We talk about the future of Black wealth in America and why it is up to us to change the narrative of what is spoken over our lives.

This was an especially inspiring and emotional conversation as we both recently returned from a trip to Ghana. You’ll hear how we both were affected by the experience and how we were both empowered to learn the true beginning of Black history and the resilient nature of our culture.

In this episode, you’ll also hear how De’Von first developed the concept for his game and how it became an entire business over time. He shares excellent lessons on overcoming perfectionism, creating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), and what it was like to work with business investors and advisors who don’t fully understand your project.

De’Von has a big vision for his company, and his game, Play Black Wall Street, is only one piece of the puzzle. The future holds a multi-layered approach to educating and entertaining folks about Black history, and I’m excited to hear about what’s to come.

[Trigger Warning: Episode contains details about the slave trade]

Do you know your family origin story? After my recent trip to Ghana, the home of my ancestors, I can speak from personal experience when I say there is so much power in understanding your roots.

I’ve always felt a bit like an adopted child in America; not fully American, but not entirely African, either. Going to Ghana and spending time at the sites where, for hundreds of years, my ancestors were held captive and sold as enslaved people gave me a deeper understanding of the trauma that they went through and how much of a miracle it is that I get to live the life I do.

It also helped me see that my family's origin story is not all about suffering, and there is so much more to African history than the slave trade. We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.

I hope you enjoy this deeply personal episode and that it encourages you to look into the origin story of your own family.

This week, we are talking about recognizing the superpower that singleness can be while building your business. If you’re single and you’re not sure if you should be focusing your energy on looking for a partner or growing your business, in this episode, we break down why making the most of the season you’re in is essential.

From having the freedom to invest your money and your time the way you want to allowing yourself to be indecisive and making room for failure, this episode will help you recognize and maximize the benefits of being single as an entrepreneur.

There are seasons for everything, even business. Today we look at the evolution of business in four different seasons and what it looks like for entrepreneurs to plant, cultivate, harvest, and rest in their business.

In the planting season, we look at what it means to put your seeds of ideas in the ground and create the foundation for your business. We then move into cultivation and discuss what it means to nurture the relationships we’ve built and the audience we’re gathering. Next, we move into the third season, which is harvesting. When you have planted and nurtured the seeds of your business, you will then be able to harvest the fruit of your labor. That means that you're going to have clients, you might get brand partnerships, you might be asked to do a keynote speech, or you might be asked to collaborate. All those things are coming because you planted and cultivated the seeds for your business and focused on growing them.

In this episode, we also talk about the importance of having a season of rest and how this fits into our seasons of business. We often forget to rest before we plant new seeds, which can lead to stress and overwhelm. Instead, I encourage you to intentionally build in time for rest into your seasons of business.

Today’s episode discusses the history of Black entrepreneurship in the United States and sheds some light on why it is crucial for people of color to start their businesses. There is still a distinct gap in wealth between white and Black people in the US.

The truth is that there are many examples of Black entrepreneurship in the US after slavery was abolished. Black folks had unique skills they monetized to serve their communities. These efforts grew into a diverse set of businesses, including banks, restaurants, and insurance companies.

However, alongside this trajectory of Black entrepreneurship runs a parallel thread of sabotage by white folks looking to derail people of color on the road to financial freedom.

This episode gives listeners an important history lesson. You’ll also hear about some of the earliest and most remarkable examples of Black entrepreneurship, including the story of Robert Reed Church and the Solvent Savings Bank and Trust. You’ll also learn about some of the biggest oppressive maneuvers conducted by white people, such as the Greenwood Massacre, the mismanagement of the G.I. Bill, and Redlining.

Entrepreneurship is in our DNA as Black people, and by following this path, we can empower ourselves, our families, and our communities.

We all know that there will be times when everything is going right and times when it feels like nothing is going right. It's not about whether it feels like it's going well or not; it’s about continuing to persevere and keep moving forward, working towards your goals. That’s where the importance of neuro coaching comes in.

In today's episode, we dive into the benefits of self-coaching: the importance of focusing on the practice instead of the outcome, being less critical of yourself and realizing that all situations are neutral. We talk about dealing with thoughts and emotions while on this bumpy road of entrepreneurship, flipping the coin on negative thoughts, and using your beliefs to lead your actions. For all this and more, stay tuned!

If you’re eager to scale your service-based business but aren’t quite sure how, this episode is for you. Instead of focusing on what doesn’t work, it’s time to start opening your mind to what could work!

Today, you’ll hear three simple tips for scaling your business without simultaneously scaling your time and effort. We look at how to go from one-to-one to one-to-many without necessarily increasing your workload, the value of going digital, and how hiring support will facilitate the growth of your business.

Remember that financial gain will never be worthwhile unless you simultaneously honor your time and values. Tune in to find out how to strike the balance of reaching your professional goals while protecting your personal needs.

This episode is a bit different as I open up about an experience I recently had, which I was not ready for, when I found myself at a clothing-optional spa. In the process, she had several revelations relatable to entrepreneurship and other aspects of life.

Tuning in, you’ll hear how I ended up at the spa with my friends, my expectations for the trip, and my views on public nudity before this experience. You’ll also hear what it was like first to encounter naked people in public, what it felt like to be the odd one out for wearing clothes, and how my friends and I decided to make the most of the situation.

Listen in today for some profound revelations about choosing to be comfortable, challenging your limiting beliefs, and removing the modifiers of good or bad to see events like this as experiences. Be sure to tune in and keep an open mind.

If you’ve reached a point in your entrepreneurial journey where you feel like your business isn’t allowing you to live the life you want, you may need to give it an electric shock in the form of Vanessa Zamy, also known as The Business Defibrillator!

Inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad, armed with expertise that she acquired from working in the corporate world, and driven by her deep desire to help mom-and-pop business owners thrive, Vanessa founded Your Vision’s Catalyst; a coaching service that revitalizes finances, operations, and marketing for businesses that are making between $75K and $250K.

Are you ready to transition from bottleneck to breakthrough? Tune in today to hear the process Vanessa goes through to ensure that she meets each business owner's unique needs, the importance of mindset, and why entrepreneurship is a catalyst for authenticity.