Latest / Power Moves Media / Power Moves Ep. 11: Business Growth, Succession & Community Impact

Transcript

Power Moves Ep. 11: Business Growth, Succession & Community Impact · Power Moves Media

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Welcome to PowerMoves on Lit106, where we explore the ideas, strategies, and stories shaping business, entrepreneurship, and economic growth across Prince George's County, the DMV, and beyond.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Alexander Austin.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm Rose Johnson.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for joining us.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_02: And here's what's ahead on today's show.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_02: Today, we're talking about what it takes to keep your business ready for its next opportunity and the decisions owners are making as they look toward to the end of the year.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_02: Guys, we are in Q4.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_02: You hear me?
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_02: Later, we sit down with Sanjay of Sanjay Productions, and she's going to share how her career in television and radio helped shape her company, the lessons she learned getting started, and how she's navigated change along the way.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_02: And stick around until the end because we'll wrap things up with On Our Radar, where we share business and community events happening around the DMV that you'll want to add to your calendar.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_02: And so, Alex, with that, you know, what's been on your mind?
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like uh the last episode was a special one.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_02: So we didn't really get to chat too much about what's going on.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_02: And folks, if you're not following Alex on LinkedIn, he has a series called The Owner's Lens, where he shares some of some of what's been going on in his head, some of his thoughts.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_02: And so with that, Alex, tell us what's been on your mind lately?
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, Rose, I got quite a bit.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, one of the things you you we talked about, you mentioned earlier, was, you know, decisions owners are making when they look toward the end of the year.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: And um one of the perspectives from the owner's lens um is thinking about how we help companies accelerate their growth and reach their their goals through succession and transitions, right?
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: And um one of the things I want to talk about is how when you're trying to grow, how you hit a ceiling, right?
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: So when growth hits a ceiling, like what do you do?
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_01: How do you plan?
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: And that's a really, really deep topic because many owners don't realize that they're in a ceiling.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: They can't figure out what's going on.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: They may feel stuck.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_01: They're trying to find answers, maybe it's through more revenue or they some new project.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: But the reality is they've just outgrown the space that they're in.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_01: They're outgrown the business that they've run successfully for however long, and can't really pinpoint it to say, okay, now's the time to transition to something else.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_02: So when you're saying ceiling, you're not talking about a ceiling as far as scaling the business or growth.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_01: You're talking about I think I think part of the answer sometimes is that, you know, hey, I need to make more money.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: But it's not gonna solve what you really want to do.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's not gonna solve the thing that is calling you, but you you have to separate yourself from something that you've known for forever.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and sometimes it is, hey, we're we're maybe it's the wrong product or the wrong client, or you know, we're doing things that will keep us at a plateau.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but now we got to pivot to something else that is gonna take us to the next level.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_01: And for owners, in a lot of cases, particularly those that have been in business for, you know, 10, 20 years, they haven't realized that the issue is not the business.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_01: The issue is that they've just outgrown it and they're now being called to do something else that they don't want to accept.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and so when we talk about freedom, and you know, I'd ask you this question, Rose, like, what are you what are the reasons that are you're doing your business work?
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_01: What's the main motivation?
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: And for some, when we started, it could have been, hey, I want to make as much money, I want to help as many people.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_01: But what does that look like 10 years from now?
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: What does that look like 20 years from now?
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_01: Are you gonna have the same motivation?
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_01: Are you gonna have the same desires, right?
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_01: I just recently talked to uh uh a client who has run a successful practice is now doing something totally different.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_05: Totally different, right?
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: Because you just don't know, you know, where you'll want to be in 10 years and it will happen lightning fast.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, and you know, I think a part of that also just comes with what is happening in the world, right?
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_02: Because when we're having this conversation about outgrowing something, you know, that could be with your business, it could be if you have a nine to five job, it could be if you're volunteering, it could literally be with anything in life because I feel like, especially when it comes to like business and jobs and things like that, we have been, some of us, and some of us that are a certain age, have been groomed to believe that once you start this thing, this is going to be it.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_02: I used to see people that would start all these different businesses, and I think they're crazy.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_02: Like, why they keep starting all of these different businesses?
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_02: There is no way that they could be managing, starting this and starting that and starting this.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_02: But now that I'm in it, I I get it.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_02: I absolutely get it because you have to pivot along with what is happening.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_02: And sometimes it might not even be that significant of a change happening in the world.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_02: However, right now, the solution that I'm providing maybe it's not needed in the way it was needed when I first started.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_02: So, is there something else that I could start that would make me now feel a little more motivated, a more a little more passionate about my work?
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_02: And so, Alex, to that point, like what when someone is feeling like that, like what are some things that they could do about that?
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I mean, I I think that's a that's a good point.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_01: You know, that what you mentioned were reminds me of the term reinventing, reinventing yourself, right?
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_01: When we often hear, you know, this person reinvented their image or reinvented themselves or started something new.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_01: That's exactly it.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, because you you get a chance to open new doors.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we can we can look at um one example is Beyonce, right?
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: Where Beyonce moved into country music.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_05: Right?
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_01: Same, she's still an artist, but she tried something different that would challenge her just to kind of reinvent, and then she brought it back, right?
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, with just kind of new perspective.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_01: And I'd say one thing that I would look at and what I try to tell business owners is to think about succession or a transition plan.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: And sometimes it can be alarming because when you think succession, you're thinking, okay, I'm retiring, right?
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_01: And you may not be retiring, but you have to redefine what freedom looks like.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_01: You know, for many of us, having money provided freedom, which is why we went after money, right?
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: Which is why business owners are in business, because they want the freedom.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_01: They want the, you know.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_01: But then at a certain point in time in life, what exactly is freedom?
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's not money driven.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's serving your community, maybe it's teaching, maybe it's just traveling, right?
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: Or doing something that your creative side of your brain can now bring forth that you you've never really tried because you've been so focused on driving forward, you know, building a legacy, building into business, which is very time consuming, and or building your family.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_01: But at some point, there's more to that than just those end goals, right?
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so I think that's where we when we talk about reinventing yourself and rethinking and when growth hits a ceiling, it's what is the plan?
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: What is what does 2027 look like in 28, 29?
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and to your point, what else is happening around the world that's gonna influence my decision?
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_02: Mm-hmm.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_02: Mm-hmm.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_02: But you know, what I do want to talk about is kind of how this looks when we're talking about economic development, right?
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_02: Because, you know, a lot of what we talk about is the development that is happening here in Prince George's County.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_02: And the county is really ripe for opportunity when it comes to economic development.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_02: And so I kind of think about a town hall meeting that happened recently regarding Bowie Town Center, and you know, with Saras closing and it was the anchor store for years, that and just retail changing in general.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um people have had to, well, developers have had to think about what how they want to develop, what is it that people want in a community?
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_02: And then also the community has had to look at their priorities because in the past, you know, buoy is in the suburbs, and the the suburbs wanted to stay suburbs, sprawling space, and drive to where you're going, but now development is not happening in that way.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_02: However, the people in the community still kind of want it to be that way.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_02: But then at the same time, they are they are unhappy that the stores are closing, we're not getting new stores.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_02: So, what does that look like when there is that descent in economic development?
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and you know, and part of it is who we who are we developing it for, um, and who are we trying to attract.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: And many times I think we lose sight of that because you do have residents who have been staples in the community, have nestled themselves, raised their families, been there for a long time, and have a say, rightfully so.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_01: But also you have new demographics and new generations that are now thinking about where am I going to settle, where am I going to invest my resources and my time and build my family?
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: And you have to be thinking about what does that college student who's going to graduate in four years want?
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_01: Right?
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_01: Where do they want to live?
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_01: Where are they going to start thinking about planning their family?
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: What are those preschoolers, not preschoolers, but those uh middle schoolers who will be in a short time going to college and in 10 years, you know, from from eighth grade or from sixth grade to twelfth grade, right?
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: Then four years of college in about 10 years, they're gonna be full adults.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_01: What are they gonna be thinking about when they have to make a life decision of where they're gonna live, where they're gonna invest their time and money, and that's what we have to be building it for.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um and the residents also have to be adaptable.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um I mean, I think I think there's also things that residents need to be in a viable community, but we also have to be adaptable, and I think that's where our our elected leaders and and business organizations like the chamber bring everyone together to advocate for the things.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_01: And obviously, you have some agree, don't agree, but ultimately we have to be thinking about what is the future gonna be for the place we live.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_01: And if you have young kids, what is their future gonna be?
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_02: Mm-hmm.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, you're you're speaking to me with that because I'm all about getting people activated in their community.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_02: And so what does that mean?
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_02: That means showing up for the things that you believe are essential for your community.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_02: Because if you live here, if you're paying your tax dollars to be here, if you are sending your kids to public school, if you are shopping in this area, you are investing in that community and therefore you have a say.
• 11:35
  SPEAKER_02: And so it's so important to make sure that you are giving your vision as well and participating in that.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_02: And so, Alex, what is one thing you can uh folks can put in place now to make sure that their business is ready for its next opportunity?
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I go back to the to a transition or succession plan, right?
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and thinking about who is gonna be the next, if you are president, CEO, or founder.
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um, who is gonna be, who are you gonna task to run the company in a period of time?
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: Or what area of service are you gonna lean into, expand into where you see there's opportunities for you to fill a gap?
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um whether you decide to sell your company or to transition your company or not, it's much like anything else.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_01: When you have a house or you put a house on the market, the best house gets the best value.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: Your business is the same way.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, something that you can transition.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, whether you decide I'm gonna take three months off and travel the world uh and it will still run without me, you're grooming that transition.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_01: But also, what if you never sell?
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_01: You just say, again, I just want to make sure that my team and my employees can run this efficiently.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_01: And not only that, if they decide to go somewhere else, that they elevate up.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_01: Right?
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: As leaders, our job is to make sure that you lead people up and out.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_01: That should be the goal if you're a leader is to build new leaders.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_01: In every in every capacity.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_02: Our guest today has spent almost 20 years building, creating, and curating experiences.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_02: Sanjay Dakaras is the CEO of Sanjay Productions, a Baltimore-based event production company that has worked with organizations and brands ranging from BET and Under Armour to BWI Marshall Airport Radio One and Visit Baltimore.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_02: When we attend a great event, we experience the finished product, but creating something people will remember and building a successful business around doing that is a whole nother story.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_05: We got to talk about.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_02: So today we are going to talk about it.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_02: We're talking about taking a client's vision and bringing it to life and managing the business decisions that happen along the way.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_02: Sanjay, welcome to Power Moves.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_02: I need to have Rose write all my intros.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_03: I'm like, she's going to intro me.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_02: Listen, it's easy to do.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_02: I enjoy talking to the people that come on here so much because they have long records of producing, of producing at a high level.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_02: And baby, when I tell y'all the first time I met Sanjay and worked with her, that was the 100th anniversary.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_05: 100th?
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_05: Wow.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_02: The gala, yes.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_02: So that was 2024.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_02: People still talk about that galaxy.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_02: Yes they do.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, they do.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, they do.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, that was.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_03: We try to make trying to create memories, you know.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_03: People, you know, remember, and that's that's you know, that's the joy I get out of the job.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_03: You know, people still sing, like, I remember that event, this happened, I was there.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_03: You know, and it's just it's just a moment in their in their time, right?
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_03: That they they hold dear to themselves.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, exactly.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_02: And so you were not always in the event industry, in the event industry.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_03: But I was in the entertainment industry for a very, very long time.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and I started in college uh interning for MSNBC.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_03: Uh was one of my first kind of like production.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_03: So, you know, it was a capacity of co-production.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_03: And I threw my first party when I was 17.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_05: Oh, wow.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_03: Like, you know, the precursor, the foreshadowing of like what?
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_03: So uh uh I grew up in New York.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I went to school at St.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_03: Francis Prep and DJ Envy.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and he and I were best friends at the time, and we were just kind of like, what are we gonna do?
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_03: No, it's turning 16.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_03: It wasn't it, it was my 16th birthday.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_03: And we were like, what are we gonna do?
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, it was like I'll throw a party.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_05: Wow.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_03: And he was still building his career as a DJ, and we would go on Jamaica Avenue and pedal his tapes um to get his mixtapes, because mixtapes are like big that time.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_03: DJ Clue, Envy, all these folks.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_03: Anyhow, so we were like, yeah, let's, you know, let's throw a party.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, all right, I'll organize it, right?
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_03: And so we I found a venue.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_03: Now we're 16, okay.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_03: Found a venue.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_03: This guy rent, I don't know why he would rent it to 16-year-olds.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_03: 16-year-olds there was no adult, okay?
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_03: It was just us.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_05: I love that.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_03: And it was not too far from where our girlfriend lived.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_03: I think it was off of Jamaica Avenue, matter of fact.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_03: And it was just this hole in the wall, and we brought in the sound and the equipment.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_03: We made flyers, we charged at the door, and the party was lit.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_03: We had a great wow.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_01: That's very enterprising.
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_03: We made money.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_03: We divvy it up, like, will we take this, you take that, and we made no formula, but just we just knew what we wanted to do.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_01: We just knew what we wanted to do.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_03: Sanjay was turning 16 years old, and it was like, let's have a party.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_03: And it was, it was like, all right, that's what we did.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_03: And we had an amazing, it was, it was great.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_03: We had a good time.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_03: Everybody had a good, everybody had a good time.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_02: I love that.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_02: Let me tell you, I'm I'm so terrified of having a party because I was like, what if nobody could?
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_02: What if nobody could be?
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_03: That happens, girl.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_03: And this, I could tell you times when I was like, where is everyone?
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_03: I even cooked somewhere and I had a party when I first moved here in Baltimore, and I threw it around Thanksgiving, you know, and I wasn't really a party promoter.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_03: I was just on the radio.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_03: And he, you know, he DJ'd and it was not a lot of people in there, you know.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_03: But, you know, you continue, and I realize I'm not a party promoter.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_03: I'm not a party promoter.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_03: But I am able to produce, I'm an event producer, right?
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_03: So hire me and I'll produce the event.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_03: But a party promoter, like, hey y'all, come, like that's not my, that's not my that's not my my gift.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_03: But in reference to, you know, throwing a great experience for folks and curating that experience for folks, yeah, hire me all day.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_03: I got you.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I love that.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_02: Well, kind of take us through that, you know.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_03: 16, you threw your party, you um worked at MSNBC.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_03: Intern to MSNBC, and I started doing um a lot of uh the fashion shows and pageants and all kinds of stuff at school.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_03: And then from there, the MSNBC kind of, I got, I was a political science major.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_03: I was gonna be entertainment lawyer.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_03: So I was going into entertainment, entertainment school.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, some path.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_03: At some path.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_03: Um even at 17, I was um, I was a bad, bad girl street team.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_03: So that was a year of the bad boy.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_03: I know that people don't want to talk about Diddy now, but at that time, Diddy was enterprising, and you know, and we were just like in awe of him, especially me at 17 years old, um, to see a this is the first time I ever walked into an office and saw all black people working in the city, you know, and I used to, you know, my mom worked several different places, but for me to actually walk into an office in the middle of the city, and it's to be an all black, you know, team, yeah, executives, I was just like in awe of that, right?
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_03: Because I never never experienced it.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_03: But it was inspiring to me because like I want that, you know what I mean?
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_03: Like it put that bug in me, that you know, drive of like, oh wow, this is achievable.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_03: I can do this.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_03: And um, so you know, from there I was in the entertainment space.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_03: And um, when I graduated college, my mom had moved down to the outskirts of Philadelphia.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, I I want to be a producer now, right?
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_03: Because I fell I fell in love.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_03: I I interned for the Donna Imus show on MSNBC, and I was, you know, take initiative, you know, as I always tell people if you're intern wherever, like you have to take the initiative.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_03: You have to go the extra mile to make yourself stand out from all the other interns.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_03: So that's what I did.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_03: I was saying, hey, it was the person leaving, one of his sports guys was leaving, and I was like, I'll produce the recap of his career here and put it together.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_03: And they were just looking at me like, you know, I was like, I don't know, 19, 18, 19, no, no, probably was like 20, 20 at that time.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_03: And they were like, Oh, yeah, I was like, Yeah, I'll stay behind, I'll get all the tapes and I'll I'll put it all together and I'll do the work and do it.
• 20:20
  SPEAKER_03: And they were just kind of like, all right, you know what I mean?
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_03: And it wasn't that great, but I had but he they pieced it together for me, and then I had I had an earred piece, you know, at 20 years old on MSNBC.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_03: And that was to me, I loved that.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_03: I loved that.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_03: And I um just fell in love with that aspect and started working um after graduate college, got a job at Fox Philadelphia.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_03: Started working as a production assistant, then I started, as I said, taking initiative and doing other um segments.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_03: Like I started doing segment producing, right?
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_03: And then like when you when you work in if you I don't know if you ever know anyone who's ever worked in kind of like the news portion of like local news affiliates, it's people are there for years, 30 years, 20 years, right?
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_03: And they have they go through like these different ranks.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_03: Like you have to start off as a production assistant, assistant, then go to or being a writer, then eventually if a segment producer leaves, then you'll go move into the you know, like it's just this long journey, right?
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_04: That sounds that sounds good.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_03: No, seriously, there's people that are still, I I left.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_03: Like I was there when I was 21, and they're still working there.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_03: Wow, wow, wow.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_03: In the same position.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_03: But that is that is how sometimes local affiliate TV works.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, I got time for that.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 21:46
  SPEAKER_03: I was on a trajectory, you know what I mean, out of there.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, I was gonna ask, yeah, my question was gonna be how did you go from political science to event production?
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_01: But what I'm hearing is it sounds like the industry chose you.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_01: That's a good way.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, because I I was, I said, I was taking on my pillow.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_03: I was gonna be and then I just met this woman who was uh one of the first female TV directors, and her father has helped start CNN, and she was like, You want to do, you know?
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_03: And she just kind of I met her and she was wonderful, and I fell in love with, I said, they it kind of chose me, as you said.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_03: Like I was not even, it wasn't even on my radar.
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I guess we can wrap up the interview now.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_02: No, but I I love that.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_02: And I love the whole take initiative piece.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_02: And especially like in a time like now, where entertainment industry is changing, right?
• 22:43
  SPEAKER_02: And you don't have to go through all those ranks anymore because we have the YouTubes and the Ticka Shops, yes, social media where you can kind of build your own thing.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_02: You can even build your own app in 24 hours these days.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: So it's changed so much.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_02: Which is good and bad.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_02: Listen, because it's like there's no guardrails anymore, right?
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, anybody can pick up a mic.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_02: Hi, guys.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_02: But but that is the dangers of it.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_02: But you know, you got you busted down the door doing your own thing.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_02: And so did you see, like you were saying you didn't have time for that.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_02: Like, what did you see in your future and in your path?
• 23:27
  SPEAKER_03: But I knew that it's it's funny that you say that.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_03: I have a plaque, right?
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and uh, you know, I eventually got to radio.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and we'll talk about that path, but there's a plaque that the Flywhite magazine was a magazine in Baltimore, right?
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_03: Um for a very long time.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_03: Marcy Crump, she is the founder of that magazine.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_03: And when I was on the radio, probably my first year, you know, they they did a photo shoot of me and then they asked, like, what is your future plans?
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_03: And my future plans said to own an event production company.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_05: Wow.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_03: And I look at that plaque and I'm like, I didn't think, you know what I mean, like all of this, right?
• 24:05
  SPEAKER_03: And that I was probably at that time 28.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_03: I mean what I mean.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_03: At that time when I said that.
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_03: And I had no idea.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_03: I just I just knew what I wanted to do and I knew what wasn't for me.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_03: So that that I think people get stuck right in jobs and places or whatever.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_03: They know that they are, they don't want to be there, they're unhappy, but then they have a fear of just jumping and and and taking to the initiative to do something different.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_03: And I and I know, I knew at that time, like with certain things, like I would this is this is a glass ceiling for me, and I I can't no longer stay here, like I have to do something else.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_03: And I would take that that plunge, like I moved to Baltimore.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_03: I didn't know it was really here, but the opportunity provided uh me the opportunity to come here.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, I love DC, and DC's close to Baltimore.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_03: Because I went to Hampton and put and and Hampton, we would always come up to DC as our place of a more cosmopolitan place because Hampton, Virginia was Hampton, Virginia, you know, and we needed like a city life, and we just love that.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_03: And I just fell in love with that whole Maryland, DC area.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_03: So when it was like moved from Philly to to Baltimore, I was like, all right, bet, say less up there.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, there's a uh there's a cost of to indecision.
• 25:24
  unknown: Oh yeah.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_01: Right?
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_01: We we talked about that on the last um episode, and many times when you stall or you're not sure, you're not confident in in what's ahead of you, then you will wait.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_05: Yes.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_01: And and then you'll wait.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_01: And you'll wait.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_01: And time goes by.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_03: Um And then you you know, you you're comfortable or you you become resentful, you know, because you have not really achieved what you wanted to achieve.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I've always, you know, as I said, I I didn't I I knew that's what I wanted to do, and I didn't know exactly the path, right?
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_03: And that's up to God, right?
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_03: So help me navigate that type of path.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_03: So I'm a very deep faith person, right?
• 26:06
  SPEAKER_03: Understanding like, because it's this stuff gets scary.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_03: Entrepreneurship is scary.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_03: And me catapulting from having being in a radio and working there at number one morning show, producing number one morning shows.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_03: And I got calls like, hey, they're hiring down, you know, in Atlanta for Frank Ske, or they hire, you know, there's looking for a producer here.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_03: Like after I two times in radio, we were let go for syndicated, right?
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_03: So this is when syndication was a big thing right now.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_03: It was like during the recession, we end up losing um Mark Clark and the Big Fat Morning should end up, you know, having Ricky Smiley become syndicated, and we were all, we were in the middle of negotiating our contracts.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_05: Oh, wow.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_03: So it wasn't like, you know, things were, you know, we knew it was coming.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_03: We were, I'm having meetings like this is what I want, da-da-da-da-da.
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_03: You know, talking about salary and stuff.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_03: And then the next week later, they're like, hey, we decide not to renew, you know, and we're moving in a different direction and we're bringing in Ricky Smiley.
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_03: But I had already started my company a year before that happened because I really knew that I wanted to do something else.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_03: And I was working with um Russell Simmons group, um the Simmons Lathan group, which is a group that was formed with uh Russell Simmons and Stan Lathan and another guy named Will Griffin, who was kind of like the more, he was the more um, he was a silent partner, but he was the more progressive futuristic thinker of the group.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_03: And he had a um an idea around uh on on demand, right?
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_03: It was a new technology that was forming at that point in time in 2007.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_03: And he was like, Comcast has launched this thing called on demand, and it's gonna be the next big thing.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he was on it.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_00: He was on it, right?
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_03: And it was he's like, We wanna we have a channel called Hip Hop on Demand, and we want to provide content for that.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_03: And you work at a radio station so you can help us get content because all of the celebrities come through your show.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_03: And he's like, But you gotta start your own company because we gotta pay you, you know what I'm saying, for helping us do this.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_05: That's right.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, Well, how the hell you do that, right?
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_03: And he's like, You gotta get your EIN number, you got to, you know what I mean?
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_03: And he kind of helped me form the you know, foundation for my business.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_03: And and then lo and behold, you know, the morning show got syndicated.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, I just remember walking out of the morning show and being like, I'm never working for someone again.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: Right?
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: I remember that feeling.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um You remember that feeling too?
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: I remember that feeling, yes.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_03: I did not want to have my future in anyone's hands.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, absolutely.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_03: Right, to dictate to me, you know, we're going along.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_03: And radio was such a weird time and you know, turnover, entertainment industry, period, it's just a weird turnover with talent and so forth.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_03: And I just was just like, I wanted to own my own destiny.
• 28:56
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_03: And I was just kind of like, you know, I said I was getting offers and you should do this, you should do that.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_03: And I was just like, you know what?
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna try to figure this out here.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_03: And I had, you know, and I just worked my butt off and I formed relationships and I just marketed and branded myself.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_03: There was this thing called constant contact at that time, right?
• 29:21
  SPEAKER_03: So direct mail was like, you know, direct email was a big thing at that point in time.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_03: And I would just take all, I would throw these events and I would just take the best pictures.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_03: I would walk around with my photographer and I'd say, take a picture of them, take a picture of that, capture this, capture that.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_03: And I I lumped all every single contact that I knew from LA to New York, everywhere I've gathered, and put them all in my constant contact list, and then just would email everyone, like, look what you missed.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_05: Love that.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_03: Like Assange Productions, look what she missed.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_03: So I would get calls from LA, so people being like, dang, that party look good.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_03: That looked that looked amazing.
• 29:59
  SPEAKER_03: That looked like so much fun.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_03: And people from you know, all over.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm like, yeah, that's happening here in DC and Baltimore.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm doing, you know, and that just started people like, okay, well, let me give her a shot here.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_03: And let me give her that, looks she can you do that for me here?
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_03: Can you do that for me there?
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_03: And then it just became word of mouth.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_03: And then, of course, you know, you get into the whole I'm in DC, Maryland, Baltimore.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_03: You gotta make, you gotta, you know, take advantage of being able to have your M MBE and your GSA.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_03: And I started getting into the government contracting stuff because that's where you make your money.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_03: And I remember being at the Grammys.
• 30:35
  SPEAKER_03: I was producing something at the Grammys, and uh this girl was like, Well, why are you just staying in Baltimore, DC?
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_03: Like, you should come out to LA and like produce here.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, the government pays.
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_03: Listen.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_01: Well, not now, I don't know, but now at that time.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that's real.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_03: That's real.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_03: Uh-huh.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_01: That is real.
• 30:59
  SPEAKER_03: Steady.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_01: And most people don't think about it that way.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_02: And not just government either, corporations, corporations.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_03: And state, you know, yes, almost all like between federal, state, you know, and city, and all the corporations that are here, tied to that, you know, who are making money.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you know, all you as I said, this whole Trump thing, right?
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_03: Whatever.
• 31:25
  SPEAKER_03: But when you were able to see that how many companies do business with the government.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 31:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_01: But also uh market share.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_01: So when you started, can you go back to how many minority-owned event production companies were actually doing what you were doing at the time?
• 31:43
  SPEAKER_03: Great question.
• 31:43
  SPEAKER_01: Compared to now.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_03: Well, let me tell you, this is what happened with the industry.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_03: So the industry was happening, right?
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_03: And yes, there was not a lot of there was a few event production companies here and there, right?
• 31:58
  SPEAKER_03: But it still was saturated with people who considered themselves event planners or whatever it was.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_03: COVID happened.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 32:09
  SPEAKER_03: Now, COVID was the best thing that happened to my business.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_03: And we I say that because COVID knocked out everybody who wasn't doing real business.
• 32:22
  SPEAKER_01: Let's unpack that.
• 32:23
  SPEAKER_01: Let's let's unpack that.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_01: So you say you weren't doing real business.
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_01: Let's let's talk about it.
• 32:28
  SPEAKER_01: Are we talking about financials not together, business not together?
• 32:33
  SPEAKER_01: All of those things.
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_03: All of those things.
• 32:35
  SPEAKER_03: So period, though.
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_03: You it it washed cleaners, you're right, folks who did not have a relationship with cleaners, event planning companies.
• 32:44
  SPEAKER_03: What I mean, it it was a wash.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 32:46
  SPEAKER_03: A lot of businesses failed or closed, A, because there was no customer demand, but B also that they they didn't have all the things that you needed for your business, right?
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_03: Their financials were not together.
• 33:00
  SPEAKER_03: They did not have a working relationship with their bank.
• 33:02
  SPEAKER_03: You know, all taxes, all of those things that you needed to prove to the government for them to help you sustain your business.
• 33:11
  SPEAKER_03: All of those paperworks and all those things that you should have been doing to, you know, to show to document like I'm a real legitimate business, help me, you know, give me, you know, money, whatever, was not there.
• 33:24
  SPEAKER_03: Of course, people faked a lot of stuff and turned things in, but the fo the folks who were not savvy like that, who were legitimate, you know, just trying to work, whatever, but they just didn't didn't have like they just weren't they not saying they weren't legitimate as far as being crooks, they just weren't legitimate in reference.
• 33:42
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, the acumenary business aspect of it.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_03: So it wiped out a lot of people.
• 33:47
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_03: So my clients had to depend more heavily on me.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_03: A, I came from a TV background, so I knew how to translate making a live event virtual.
• 34:01
  SPEAKER_05: Now that.
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_03: So important.
• 34:03
  SPEAKER_03: That component, not not a lot of people have had, but I had that on my resume because I knew from TV, I knew what was going to be entertaining for folks working watching virtually and to make it, you know, um, still entertaining for folks, right?
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_03: So I had that in my in my background.
• 34:21
  SPEAKER_03: But it it made people be like, oh, I can't call Joe Schmo over here who said that they do a little event plan, you know what I'm saying, because they no longer exist.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_03: You know, now they're doing something else.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_03: I, you know, they had to rely on people who are really experts, help them navigate to still keep their consumer base and you know, to still touch, you know, teach touch and get through the COVID.
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 34:46
  SPEAKER_03: So it really ingrained folks and got them a little bit more um, I said, invested in me and my company, and it really elevated, you know what I mean?
• 34:55
  SPEAKER_03: But now we're back to oversaturation again.
• 34:58
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 35:00
  SPEAKER_01: Well, well, so let's let's let's unpack that, right?
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_01: So one of the things that I that I heard is one, God prepared you at 16 to start making these moves, right?
• 35:11
  SPEAKER_01: You bet on yourself.
• 35:12
  SPEAKER_05: Yep.
• 35:12
  SPEAKER_01: So you already knew where you were headed.
• 35:14
  SPEAKER_01: But you're through your relationships and getting more access and insight to on-demand prepares you for something no one knew was coming.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_01: Uh-huh.
• 35:21
  SPEAKER_01: And you were ready to pivot and navigate.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 35:24
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 35:24
  SPEAKER_01: But on demand, the on-demand.
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_03: The on-demand technology, right, prepared me to have my own business.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_03: And then the, you know, so it was a recession at that time, 2008.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_03: I started my business in the recession.
• 35:37
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 35:38
  SPEAKER_03: I started my business like in the recession.
• 35:40
  SPEAKER_03: And I was able to navigate 20 through 20 years later, right, for it to be um sustainable, you know, in still in this space.
• 35:49
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, you get frustrated because you're like, you're hiring that person.
• 35:52
  SPEAKER_03: But, you know, people, I always tell my staff when we get to staff, right?
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_03: You know, growing and scaling your business.
• 35:59
  SPEAKER_03: I always tell my staff, I'm like, I'm not gonna fight that person.
• 36:02
  SPEAKER_01: If they want to hire, you gotta go up to the next line.
• 36:07
  SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_03: I have to go to, you know, I know what I bring to the table.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_03: I know the I know the value that I bring to the table.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_03: I know people are gonna remember my events and what we do and how we did it and whatever it is.
• 36:18
  SPEAKER_03: It is what, you know what I mean?
• 36:20
  SPEAKER_03: Like it is, it is what it is.
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_03: And usually comes back full circle, right?
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_03: And like, hey, can you do it with us again?
• 36:26
  SPEAKER_03: After they've been through all of the, you know, all of the business, all of the stuff, and they come back and say, Do you mind doing it, you know what I mean, again or whatever?
• 36:34
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, it's timing.
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_03: And I I said, You, you, you have to take your ego out of this business sometimes.
• 36:40
  SPEAKER_03: People take things a lot really personal.
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_03: And I just take a personal, your feelings get hurt, like, you know, you're something you know, like what?
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_03: But then I realized that God may have something else down the line that I didn't even know.
• 36:53
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_03: That He's taking that away and I'm holding on to it.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_03: But then it's like something way bigger.
• 36:58
  SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes.
• 36:59
  SPEAKER_02: And to that point, you know, telling the story now, 20 years later, and you know, you uh you got help in setting up your business.
• 37:08
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, the way you tell it, of course, it's like this beautiful thing that happened.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_02: But I want us to get real because I do understand that you are, I you know, I can hear from you talking that you are a person, like you said, you have a lot of faith, and you knew when things were not for you, you wanted to keep it moving.
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_02: But what was that like going through those things, like the early days of sending out those email lists and the pictures, and maybe nobody's got horror, I got horror stories.
• 37:40
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, it's it's all lessons though, right?
• 37:44
  SPEAKER_03: And it's like you sit there and you laugh, like, oh shit, I almost burned down that school.
• 37:49
  SPEAKER_03: Sorry, can I curse the answer?
• 37:53
  SPEAKER_03: I'm like, oh that they forgot the fire engine, or you know what I'm saying, or oh my God, this fell apart over here, you know what I mean, or no one showed up, or whatever, you know, like all of those stories.
• 38:05
  SPEAKER_03: And you you go home and you cry your eyes out, and you're like, I'm a failure.
• 38:10
  SPEAKER_03: This is, this is, I don't know.
• 38:11
  SPEAKER_03: I want to pack up my stuff, my my, you know what I mean, and go home.
• 38:16
  SPEAKER_03: But you get up, you dust yourself off, right?
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_03: You you have that, that I I I literally remember we had an incident and I was just so deflated.
• 38:28
  SPEAKER_03: I just was like, I did everything to make that right.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 38:31
  SPEAKER_03: Everything, everything, everything.
• 38:33
  SPEAKER_03: And some people can't see your vision at times, or it's just circumstances that happen, but all the way after just learn lessons, right?
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_03: Like I'm like, do you know, you know, make sure you partner with a per person who is like on your level or above.
• 38:48
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 38:49
  SPEAKER_03: Like, don't partner with somebody who's gonna drag you, you know what I mean, drag you down or whatever it is on certain big projects, right?
• 38:56
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, they they they've, you know, my mentors have told me those stories along the line.
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_03: And or, you know, when it's like this, you know, this, this just change in leadership, right?
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_03: And leadership doesn't think that they want to bring their own people in, right?
• 39:11
  SPEAKER_03: And you're just like, what?
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I've had this contract for this umpteen years, and it's just like the rug is pulled out underneath, and you have to kind of rebuild and and refocus or adjust your and that and that's it.
• 39:24
  SPEAKER_03: That's what I think what's great about my company is that we are not just one track, right?
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_03: We just don't do weddings, we just don't do corporate galas.
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I'm saying?
• 39:32
  SPEAKER_03: We are able to do festivals, we are able to do corporate galas, conferences, sporting events.
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 39:39
  SPEAKER_03: You can run down to gamut a pre uh a restaurant opening.
• 39:44
  SPEAKER_03: You know, you run down to gamut and we are, we have done, we've touched it in some capacity of doing those type of events.
• 39:51
  SPEAKER_03: While some people are more siloed and and you know, they just do weddings or they just whatever, whatever it is.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_03: And um I said, tell my staff, you know, they know when they come to my company, they're like, oh, we learned everything.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_03: They've learned everything, you know.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, it is it it teaches you character.
• 40:12
  SPEAKER_03: Your staff teaches you character.
• 40:13
  SPEAKER_03: I I mentor people.
• 40:16
  SPEAKER_03: I mentor, I talk to people all the time who are just coming up and they're like, I don't want to hire no staff.
• 40:20
  SPEAKER_03: I said, listen, they're like your kids, they're gonna teach, they're gonna you know what I mean?
• 40:25
  SPEAKER_03: You are going to learn so much.
• 40:28
  SPEAKER_03: I've had people try to scam me, break into my account.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, wow.
• 40:34
  SPEAKER_03: Uh you but you as you learn, or this whole this, this now this person who works for you saying doing this, and you're just like, damn, I didn't even think about that.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I put that into my contract or my club.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_05: Right.
• 40:45
  SPEAKER_03: But those lessons make you tighten up your contracts better, your business better, your employee guide better.
• 40:53
  SPEAKER_01: So let's talk about that.
• 40:54
  SPEAKER_01: SOTs.
• 40:55
  SPEAKER_01: Get in there, Alan.
• 40:57
  SPEAKER_01: Get in there.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_01: So, all of the the different types of events that you do, how did you develop your blueprint to say, okay, this is the standard for how we produce?
• 41:07
  SPEAKER_01: Right?
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_01: So it's just like we we talked about the franchise model.
• 41:10
  SPEAKER_01: When you when you buy a franchise, the McDonald's in Prince George's County, Maryland, and the one in Germany, they flip the burger the exact same way.
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_01: They fry the fries the same way.
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_01: So now I'm I'm a new kid on the block.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_01: I'm coming to work for your company.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_01: I know nothing about events.
• 41:27
  SPEAKER_04: You ain't working events.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_01: But I gotta pass it.
• 41:31
  SPEAKER_01: Let's say I gotta pass.
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_01: What is the bootprint?
• 41:35
  SPEAKER_01: Like, is there a manual?
• 41:36
  SPEAKER_03: Is there a it is, you know, we are always fine-tuning our systems and processes.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_03: Um, but I just had an interview today with a young lady I'm bringing on board.
• 41:46
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, let me just, you know, because I said all of the lessons that I've learned within the last, especially six years, right?
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_03: As I've scaled up my staff.
• 41:56
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, um, let me just tell you right now, just lay it out right now.
• 42:02
  SPEAKER_03: Sanjay Productions is a brand.
• 42:05
  SPEAKER_03: I said, and we have a certain way of the way we do things.
• 42:10
  SPEAKER_03: And that's what makes us different from any other event planning company.
• 42:13
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 42:14
  SPEAKER_03: I said, so you may come in here with your own ideas, which we welcome.
• 42:19
  SPEAKER_03: Creatively, we welcome those ideas, but those ideas have to work within our system and process.
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 42:26
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 42:27
  SPEAKER_03: And I was just like, so I said, we do things from A to Z.
• 42:31
  SPEAKER_03: We don't just do event design or we just don't want to make it look pretty, but then all the logistics are jacked up.
• 42:37
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I'm saying?
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_03: Like, I was like, so we're I'm sitting here, I just wrote a script last weekend, right?
• 42:42
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, we're writing whole scripts.
• 42:45
  SPEAKER_03: We are um putting together the event design and concept.
• 42:50
  SPEAKER_03: We are creating, you know, an event resume.
• 42:52
  SPEAKER_03: We are create like for the clients, certain clients just, you know, want a certain certain level of detail.
• 42:58
  SPEAKER_03: Some people, you know, every every client's crazy.
• 42:59
  SPEAKER_03: All my staff, sorry clients, but my staff is like your clients are crazy.
• 43:04
  SPEAKER_03: I said, because they are it's more high-demand events.
• 43:08
  SPEAKER_03: So everyone's gonna be crazy because they want everything to be perfect, right?
• 43:11
  SPEAKER_03: I said, we are dealing with high profile people, and you're gonna find people who are gonna be like, so-and-so needs to, you know what I mean?
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_03: Like they're people that are people, you know, there is gonna be it's gonna be crazy.
• 43:21
  SPEAKER_03: I said, we are planning events for the governor, we are planning against for the mayor.
• 43:25
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, these are high profile folks here, right?
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_03: So the stress level and the demand level is here.
• 43:34
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 43:35
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, you know, I said, president, you know, that then you go into the governor, like, oh yeah.
• 43:41
  SPEAKER_03: We right there.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_05: Oh yeah.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 43:43
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, so I said, so it it's gonna be higher pressure, right?
• 43:48
  SPEAKER_03: You know, and and and and uh the the prior um protocols are gonna be, you have to follow those protocols.
• 43:54
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, so you have to create a system that makes separates you from other folks, right?
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_03: So they can tell the difference.
• 44:01
  SPEAKER_03: Like, okay.
• 44:02
  SPEAKER_03: I walked into this.
• 44:03
  SPEAKER_03: This looks with her the way her team handled A, B, C, and D.
• 44:06
  SPEAKER_03: And I've and I pride myself on the folks that have been with me for many years.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_03: So my staff, majority, 80% of my staff has been with me for at least three years and up.
• 44:18
  SPEAKER_03: Oh wow.
• 44:18
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 44:19
  SPEAKER_03: Congrats.
• 44:19
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 44:21
  SPEAKER_03: So it was like 12 years to three years, right?
• 44:25
  SPEAKER_03: My staff has been with me and they have learned so much.
• 44:29
  SPEAKER_03: And they've learned and they've taught me so much, right?
• 44:31
  SPEAKER_03: About just being a better leader, being a better um communicator with them, them understanding.
• 44:38
  SPEAKER_03: You know, I'm not, I'm not easy to work with because I I say it, I'll say it to you, and I'll say it to you, and then then I'm mad.
• 44:46
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 44:47
  SPEAKER_03: I think because like I'm like fine.
• 44:50
  SPEAKER_03: He said he always I'm cool on pressure.
• 44:52
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, ask my staff.
• 44:53
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 44:54
  SPEAKER_03: Behind the scenes, I'm like, what in the hell is that, you know what I mean, going on there?
• 44:58
  SPEAKER_03: But you know, because I I feel that, you know, I try to talk to people and get them to understand how to be leaders themselves.
• 45:09
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 45:10
  SPEAKER_01: That's right.
• 45:10
  SPEAKER_01: Develop leaders.
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 45:12
  SPEAKER_03: And I talk to them about, okay, why are you, I have one person on my team who is great, but she doesn't like to be in the limelight, right?
• 45:21
  SPEAKER_03: And I said, don't ever shrink yourself, you know what I'm saying, from your skill set and your leadership and what you uh you stand up, you know, you don't second guess yourself.
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_03: I said, you're you're great, you know?
• 45:32
  SPEAKER_03: And I was like, you're gonna make mistakes along the way.
• 45:34
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, we've coached through that, we've worked through that kind of stuff.
• 45:38
  SPEAKER_03: But I try to and I support my staff with any of their endeavors, you know what I mean?
• 45:44
  SPEAKER_03: That they're I don't stand in the way of that.
• 45:46
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 45:46
  SPEAKER_02: Um if you've enjoyed the conversation so far, make sure you're tuned in next week for part two with Sanjay Takares.
• 45:53
  SPEAKER_02: We're talking leadership, setting boundaries, and the power move that changed her business.
• 45:58
  SPEAKER_02: Catch us next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
• 46:01
  SPEAKER_02: right here on Lit 106.
• 46:03
  SPEAKER_02: And now it's time for On Our Radar, where we spotlight upcoming events, opportunities, and experiences happening across the DMV and beyond.
• 46:13
  SPEAKER_02: Whether you're looking to grow your business, celebrate your community, or discover something new, here's what's on our radar.
• 46:20
  SPEAKER_01: Well, first up, Rose, the Prince Georgia Chamber of Commerce, our next Coffee Connections is Tuesday, November 3rd, which is also election day.
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_01: And that's a place where you can come meet fellow business owners and professionals who share and share what you're working on.
• 46:35
  SPEAKER_01: And not only that, but you can make some meaningful connections in Prince George's County and beyond.
• 46:39
  SPEAKER_01: We had about 80 people in the last Coffee Connections.
• 46:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 46:42
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and you can find more information at www.pgcoc.org, and you can check the events calendar for the location and details.
• 46:51
  SPEAKER_02: And this Saturday, October 24th, the Blue Line Corridor Coalition is celebrating its first anniversary with a family-friendly night market.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_02: Enjoy music, performances, art, food, and activities for all ages.
• 47:05
  SPEAKER_02: Shop with local businesses and artists and learn more about what's ahead for the corridor.
• 47:11
  SPEAKER_02: Visit blue linecc.org and look for BLCCs of belonging.
• 47:16
  SPEAKER_02: And for entrepreneurs looking for support with their next steps, SeedSpot is accepting applications for its DC launch camp.
• 47:23
  SPEAKER_02: This free one-day in-person program takes place Thursday, November 12th in DC and it's from 9.30 a.m.
• 47:30
  SPEAKER_02: to 4 p.m.
• 47:32
  SPEAKER_02: Visit SeedSpot.org to learn more and to apply.
• 47:36
  SPEAKER_02: The application deadline is October 30th.
• 47:40
  SPEAKER_02: And guys, check out uh the conversation that I had with the SeedSpot on YouTube to talk about this amazing resource.
• 47:48
  SPEAKER_02: I promise you, if you are an early entrepreneur and need clarity on your business, this is a good place to get it.
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_01: Very dope conversation, Rose.
• 47:59
  SPEAKER_02: Thank you, Alex.
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
• 48:00
  SPEAKER_02: And guys, what we have been waiting for, the Sandlot in downtown Largo.
• 48:06
  SPEAKER_02: We'll be hosting Love My Largo Farmers Market Thursday, November 12th for Unplugged Thursdays and Saturday, November 14th for DIY Saturdays.
• 48:17
  SPEAKER_02: These gatherings happen on the second Thursday and second Saturday of the month with the final dates of the year coming up in December.
• 48:26
  SPEAKER_02: So make sure you're following Sandlot Largo on Instagram and also Largo's Farmers Market on Instagram so that you can stay updated with all the details and what else is coming.
• 48:37
  SPEAKER_01: I think I'll be at the Thursday and the Saturday just to experience it.
• 48:42
  SPEAKER_01: It sounds really dope, really cool.
• 48:43
  SPEAKER_01: And that's my birthday week.
• 48:45
  SPEAKER_02: So why not?
• 48:46
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, oh, I forgot about that.
• 48:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you should definitely come out on Thursday.
• 48:50
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe you could do a um, they have open mic.
• 48:52
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe you could do a party.
• 48:54
  SPEAKER_01: Listen, I go out there, I can I can spit a little something, you know.
• 49:00
  SPEAKER_01: Speaking of, though, one thing um that I do want us to mention, you know, it's been a lot of talk around the biggest project in in almost two decades, and that's the sphere.
• 49:09
  SPEAKER_01: And recently, um, the Office of Procurement and the Prince Rhodes Economic Development Corporation have partnered on the construction mentor protege program.
• 49:18
  SPEAKER_01: And you can find out more information at www.pgedc.com.
• 49:24
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and the application deadline is uh October 28th.
• 49:28
  SPEAKER_01: And again, this is the one of the biggest projects,$1.4 billion that we've seen in almost two decades.
• 49:36
  SPEAKER_01: And so um there's a there is an expectation.
• 49:39
  SPEAKER_01: And also the county exec has also set a vision for participation.
• 49:44
  SPEAKER_01: We want to see all of our local businesses uh and uh general contractors, subcontractors, I mean anyone who supports construction trade or sphere project, um, please register.
• 49:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um this is a good, good thing for Prince George's County, and we're happy to see uh programs like this happen.
• 50:00
  SPEAKER_02: Awesome.
• 50:01
  SPEAKER_02: Guys, make sure that you visit PGccedc.com to learn about that program and apply by the deadline.
• 50:11
  SPEAKER_02: Do not miss out.
• 50:13
  SPEAKER_02: And so that is what is on our radar.
• 50:17
  SPEAKER_02: And that'll be it for today's episode.
• 50:20
  SPEAKER_02: Make sure you stay connected with us on social media.
• 50:23
  SPEAKER_02: Alex, drop the socials.
• 50:25
  SPEAKER_01: All right, here we go.
• 50:26
  SPEAKER_01: Here we go.
• 50:26
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so yeah, we have uh on Instagram, it's underscore power moves media, Facebook is PowerMoves Podcast, YouTube, the PowerMoves Media.
• 50:38
  SPEAKER_01: And of course, uh you can find the chamber uh at Prince George's Chamber on uh Instagram.
• 50:45
  SPEAKER_01: You can find me.
• 50:46
  SPEAKER_01: Uh uh my Instagram is AlexanderKAustin.
• 50:50
  SPEAKER_01: My LinkedIn is AlexanderKAustin.
• 50:53
  SPEAKER_01: My website is AlexanderK Austin.
• 50:56
  SPEAKER_01: Uh you can reach out to me anytime.
• 50:58
  SPEAKER_02: And guys, stay connected with me on at the Spotlight DMV on all social media and my website as well.
• 51:06
  SPEAKER_02: And you can find everything that you need to know about what's going on in the DMV.
• 51:13
  SPEAKER_01: All right.
• 51:13
  SPEAKER_01: You can catch us every Tuesday, 3 o'clock on Lit 106.
• 51:18
  SPEAKER_01: And until next time, keep making power moves.