Style of Business - Page 8

NEW! SOB Episode: Derick Gant – CFO of Gant Companies & Smart Money Management

CFO of Gant Companies & Smart Money Management Derick Gant visits with SOB to talk about how we can accomplish tasks and achieve goals by being the best that we can be. He also shares his insight on money management. You can connect with Derick on Twitter and Instagram.

Style of Business

-Podcast Show Notes-

Episode  22

Summary:

In this episode, Keetria interviews Derick Gant, founder and CEO of Smart Money Management, an organization helping people manage their debt and build wealth. Listen as Derick gives SOLID financial and business advice. He explains the importance of living “The 24K Life”—a life that is dedicated to being solid gold physically, mentally, and emotionally to name a few. Being at your peak trickles into all areas of your life and contributes to the success you so desire in life. So, tune-in as Derick describes the importance of physical fitness, what it means to live a balanced life, and some financial tips and tricks that will help you achieve freedom from the shackles of debt.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

  •     Keetria introduces Derick to the show
  •     Derick has been managing money, helping people get out of debt and building wealth for years!
  •     Two kinds of clients seek out Derick for advice:

1. Clients who have a large retirement fund and want optimal returns

              2. The second type are those who need advice with managing their debt, fixing their credit, buying a house and/or retirement planning among other things

When a new client, Derick starts off with a discovery meeting to find out where the client currently is and where he needs to go financially

               o      Primary aim is to help clients manage their debts; debt shackles a client to a terrible way of living

  •     Misconception that rich people do not believe in watching their budgets; they      know exactly how much they have and how much they are spending
  •     Even people who do not have enough money need to be a militant about sticking to their budget; learn to live WITHIN your means

               o      Plan for future purchases and avoid spending all you have in your checking account

  •     Derick explains the philosophy behind “The 24K Life”

               o      Be the BEST version of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, educationally and spiritually

               o      Maximize your gifts and talent to increase your value in the workplace

               o      If you strive to be 24 karat gold (purest form) in your life, then GREAT things are going to come to you no matter what!

  •     Realize your true potential by taking time to invest in yourself
  •     Nobody is going to hand you a bar of gold; you need to dig out the nuggets
  •     To be financially fit, you need to be physically fit

               o      Your outer world represents your inner world

               o      If you are fit, you are mentally sharper

               o      People judge you by your physical fitness

  •     Strive to be in great physical, mental and financial shape

               o      If you are unbalanced, you’re not going to be happy and productive

  •     Finding a coach is the best way to become physically fit; seeking out like-minded people is another way

               o      Know yourself, and avoid lying to yourself

               o      Invest in a coach or consider buying fitness books

  •     People who are sick of their life and know they deserve better are the ones that turn their life around
  •     You can be physically fit in spite of having a ton of responsibilities; you can do whatever you put your mind to
  •     Weight-loss tip from Derick: do not focus on how much you need to lose, just focus on your next meal
  •     Has a gift of taking complicated information, diluting it down to digestible bites for people to fix their lives

              o      Wants to genuinely help people get to the next level, so that they can help somebody else do the same

  •     Develop a great team of people to propel you on the path of high growth

              o      Invest in building relationships with your banker and accountant

              o      Find mentors who have done what you want to do; people love to talk about themselves, and finding mentors is not as hard as it seems

  •     Know your product inside out; if you don’t believe in your product, no one else is going to
  •     Challenges faced while setting up 24K

               o      Clearly communicating his thoughts to his prospective customers through his content was Derick’s greatest challenge

               o      Keep patience and believe in what you are doing

  •     Derick shares his social media experience

               o      Has solidified value face-to-face with prospects and clients

               o      Has a viewing audience of 25,000 across all mediums

               o      Got a chance to do a local Ted Talk because of his influential social presence

  •     Key components of entrepreneurial success

               o      Make your personal financial life as solid as you possibly can; make it your side-hustle and work it so hard that it becomes your main resource of revenue

               o      Set aside $10,000; the first reason why people fold is because they run out of money. Segregate your personal finances from your business. Make sure that if you use your new business as a second stream of income to get that started, then you will never jeopardize your primary source of income until you can flip your secondary with your primary

  •     “Anything will work if you do. So, roll up your sleeves, whatever it is that you are trying to do, and go to work. And, don’t quit. Don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t get it done”
  •     Connect with Derick on his website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
  •     Connect with Keetria through her website or Twitter

3 Key Points:

  1.       You cannot be financially fit without being physically fit; strive to be in great physical, financial and mental shape.
  2.       Make your personal financial life as solid as you possibly can; make it your side-hustle and work it so hard that it becomes your main resource of revenue.
  3.       The first reason why people fold is because they run out of money—segregate your personal finances from your business and work to make your secondary source (the business) your primary source of income.

NEW! SOB Episode: Yoshi Holland – Founder & CEO of Smart Girls Smart Moms

Founder and CEO of Smart Girls Smart Moms Yoshi Holland talks to us about the focus and the mission for her abstinence education program by giving us the brief on what led her to action to pursue her interest in mentoring, speaking and coaching.

5 Films That Focus on Business and What We Can Learn From Them

We don’t just watch films for entertainment. We watch movies because we want to see ourselves and people we relate to on the big screen. If you’re an entrepreneur, you definitely like to indulge in stories of success.

Whether these main characters are successful or not, they’re all featured in movies related to business that can teach us valuable lessons about our craft.

“Norma Rae”

One of my favorite female-focused movies, Norma Rae tells the story of a single mother who works at a textile mill to make ends meet. The conditions within the mill are abhorrent, the pay is measly and the hours are long. What does Norma Rae do about this? She doesn’t take it lying down — she rallies her fellow workers and fights for unionism. She always fought for what she believed in and wanted to be treated fairly, and that’s definitely a great takeaway.

“The Founder”

“The Founder” is perhaps the most relatable “rags to riches” story simply because we all know the success of the end product. It focuses on Ray Kroc, the salesman that founded the global fast food chain, McDonald’s. While he didn’t start the first McDonald’s, he helped the McDonald brothers Mac and Dick franchise their business, turning it into the empire it is today. This illustrates the lesson clearly: always look for new potential, and jump at the chance to get in on the ground floor of something.

“Tucker: A Man and His Dream”

This 80’s film might not be one that you’ve seen before, but it’s certainly worth watching. After long-time inventor Preston Tucker sells a design for a World War II turret gun, he decides to achieves his childhood dreams: inventing the car of the future. While he has the clout to get started on his dream now, he certainly learns a valuable lesson: the path to success is filled with obstacles and sacrifice. From manufacturers to the legal system, Tucker is challenged multiple times along the way to his dream reaching fruition…but does it ever come true?

“Citizen Kane”

While this movie is iconic for its cinematic innovation and famous “Rosebud” spoiler, Citizen Kane is a business story at the heart of it all. Charles Foster Kane was a successful business magnate, and the story is told through his narration of his life on his deathbed. Starting out as nothing, Kane becomes a tycoon, and learns his own valuable lesson: being in business means your ethics will be questioned. Will you lose your moral fiber, or double down on what you believe in?

“The Godfather”

Finally, I would normally never advocate following the examples given to us by the mafia, but The Godfather is actually a business-esque movie that we can learn a lot from. First, building and fostering relationships is paramount to success. Typically it isn’t as do or die in the world of business, but it’s still important to network and foster these connections you make. Another lesson? Always know what your competition is up to. Being one step ahead is how you beat out your business peers.

5 New Books You HAVE to Have On Your Summer Reading List

Summer is here, which also means we all need to make an effort to start checking books off of our summer reading list…that is, if you have a summer reading list.

Having more free time in the summer means it’s the perfect time to get to reading again. However, you may not know what to read if you aren’t up to date on the latest and greatest books on the market. While 2017 isn’t over yet, 2016 is — and here are five of the best books released that you still have time to jump on the bandwagon for.

“Here I Am” — Jonathan Safran Foer

Perhaps the most attractive thing about “Here I Am” is its inventive narrative structure. Instead of being told through a typical novel format, this work of fiction is told both in a “kaleidoscopic fiction” format and through multiple narrative media forms. Foer tells the story of a Jewish family, spanning several generations, and how they adjust to the changing cultural structures in modern America.

“In the Darkroom” — Susan Faludi

A nonfiction addition to the list, “In the Darkroom” is a very personal journey for Faludi that she’s put into book format. “In the Darkroom” explores the journey of her transgender father, who left her family to move to Hungary and transition to a woman. Not learning this until her father was 76, Faludi goes through her past to discover the true story of Stefanie.

“Homegoing” — Yaa Gyasi

In “Homegoing,” Yaa Gyasi writes about the 18th century black experience from the perspective of two half-sisters living in West Africa. One goes on to marry an Englishman while the other is shipped to America to become a slave. Born in Ghana, Gyasi explores the racial history of America and Africa while painting a portrait of characters who are individuals as well as examples.

“Known and Strange Things” — Teju Cole

“Known and Strange Things” is a collection of over 50 essays that cover a wide variety of subjects. Within the pages of this book, Teju Cole discusses politics that affects us all. Each essay is written with passion and precision, and readers can enjoy the engagement that this book brings. It’s definitely something to add to your summer list if you’re one for thinking, not just reading.

“Swing Time” — Zadie Smith

Finally, we again revisit West Africa with Zadie Smith. “Swing Time” first discusses the friendship and path of the unnamed narrator and her friend Tracey. Both are biracial and both wish to be dancers, though only Tracey has the talent for the skill. Their friendship eventually crumbles, though the two never forget each other — especially when Tracey travels to West Africa and discovers her roots.

These are only five books of the millions you could pick up this summer. Don’t forget to pad out your reading list and broaden your horizons with books covering a wide range of topics and including many genres. What books are you going to crack open this summer?

NEW! SOB Episode: DJ Iceberg – Hot 107.9 Atlanta, Monopoly Music & Shade 45

DJ Iceberg shares some great music industry and general advice on how to achieve your goals. Originally from New York, the DJ/Producer picked up the turntables in Atlanta while attending college. The Hot 107.9 DJ gives us some priceless tips on how to get ahead. Connect with him on Twitter @TheDJIceberg

NEW! SOB Episode: Tenzin Seldon – CEO and Co-Founder of Kinstep

Tenzin Seldon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kinstep – a company focused on matching immigrant talent to great job opportunities and improving the employment rights for immigrants to the United States. Be sure to check out this episode to find out what spurred Tenzin into action. For more information on Kinstep, visit the company website at www.kinstep.com Connect on Twitter at TenzinSeldon_ and Kinstep.

NEW! SOB Episode: “Bring Your Creative Game to the Table”

Welcome back! Check out my two cents take on the powerful use of creativity. Everyone has the ability to create – use this power to your advantage.

3 Ways to Stay Spiritual When You Have a Full Schedule

The life of an entrepreneur, businesswoman, wife, mother…no matter how many job titles you have, you’re likely extremely busy. The more jobs you have, like balancing work while also taking care of a family, the more likely you are to have very little time to yourself.

With so much of your time devoted to stress, focus and work, it leaves little room for any spirituality in your life. No matter what your belief system may be, staying spiritual can help to keep us all grounded and thriving in life. When you lose touch with this spirituality, stress can quickly consume you and a piece of your life you once cherished will begin to fade away.

The good news is that spirituality doesn’t have to take up a large chunk of your time. You can stay spiritual no matter how much you have going on, as long as you keep your spirituality within your heart at all times. Still, acts of spirituality can help make us feel loved and complete, so consider these three methods for keeping spirituality in your life, even if you’ve got a full schedule on your hands.

  1. Spread Love and Kindness

Sometimes exploring your spirituality isn’t something you do directly — it’s the reflection of your spirituality in how you react to and treat others. These themes of love, peace and acceptance shouldn’t stay within you, but instead should be shared with everyone you know.

Take time out of your day to share kindness, no matter how small. Compassion is something that the world is lacking, and injecting this kind of understanding and support into the lives of others will make you feel more connected to your values.

In a perfect world you would have time to volunteer, but don’t feel bad if you can’t make grand gestures of charity happen. Small acts of kindness can still have a big impact on someone’s life AND your own.

  1. Shower Spirituality

Hopefully you still have time every day to take a bath. Even if you can only spare 10 minutes for a quick rinse off shower, that’s all you need to reconnect with yourself spiritually.

Being alone in your bathtub also creates an atmosphere of relaxation and serenity. Let the steam gather around you and think about your spiritual path while you shower. Utilize this time for inner reflection, as it may be the only time you get to yourself during the day. Keeping in tune with your inner self can sometimes be what you need to stay spiritual.

  1. Assess Negativity

Spirituality shouldn’t be something negative — it should be kind, accepting and positive. Still, it’s easy to get frustrated when you’re stressed. You’ll say things you don’t mean and be unnecessarily critical of yourself and others.

Stay in touch with your spirituality by examining these instances before you go to sleep. Make a pledge for positivity, and ask that someone help you stay on this positive path. Figure out ways to stay grounded so that you continue to inspire beauty and kindness in others instead of letting negativity cloud your spirituality.

NEW! SOB Episode: David Azeez – CEO of Airge International Ltd, Salt Square & others

Speaking with the incomparable David Azeez – CEO of Airge International Limited, a parent company that caters to the various lines of products and services he runs – Cheers with David Azeez, Bonds and Beauty Management Company, The Red Letters, Salt Square and Kayfets Foods. A powerful message of persistence and perseverance in this episode. Don’t miss it! Connect with David on Twitter at @DavidAzeez_

NEW! SOB Episode: “Find Your Own Place In Your Own Space”

This episode gives a few words on the importance of self-activation/self-starting. When opportunities seem to be slim to none — use what you have and start exactly where you are. There’s no guest dishing the goods this episode, just a quick spill to sum up the following words, “Find your own place in your own space.” – Keetria

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