Dear BLK CEO: Recent Episodes

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It feels like yesterday that the idea for this podcast came to me. I was still in my corporate job and met with the decision of whether or not to go down the entrepreneurial route. Ultimately, I chose to go solo, and I haven’t looked back. In this season finale, I want to reflect on the journey so far and how minority-owned businesses can build and maintain a competitive edge in the market. I’ll also talk about the show's future and how we’ll be shifting gears to get more focussed on creating bridges to fuel growth.

Let’s dive in and start thinking about the bridges we need to build between corporations and minority-owned businesses to drive more equity and better results for everyone.

Key Highlights:

• You can take those corporate skills into the marketplace as an entrepreneur.
• What do you do when the corporate cycle fails you? You need to ask yourself if the money is worth your time and freedom.
• This show will be refocused on helping minority entrepreneurs navigate the ins and outs of the corporate process.
• Season two of the talk show will focus on connecting minority-owned businesses to corporations and vice versa to create growth opportunities.
• There is a need to connect minority-owned businesses to corporations and vice versa to create opportunities for growth.

Tweetable Quotes:

"We cannot remain a competitive power if we do not engage and do business with one another.” - Karl Sona

“We’re going to look to create a bridge between both [the corporate world and minority-owned businesses] so that we can really see more inclusive and more equitable decisions.” - Karl Sona

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LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! You can find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Entrepreneurship is about moving; it's about taking that risk. Let’s continue with our topic about leaving the corporate job to get into the ownership space. It can be done when you understand there is a definite learning curve and that you need to plan for it. In this episode, I talk about breaking the corporate thought process so you can strategize your entrepreneurial journey without the mental barriers, all while bringing your learned skills along with you.

To those who aspire to be successful, jump in, and let’s talk about how to overcome corporate conditioning.

Key Highlights:

• Corporate conditioning can be a challenge to overcome when starting a business
• Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship can’t be done without good planning
• Having cross-functional skill sets is essential for entrepreneurs to carry into business
• Time blocking can help entrepreneurs stay organized and focused
• It is important to stay positive and have a clear vision of why you’re starting a business

Tweetable Quotes:

“You are not expendable.” - Karl Sona

“There's a definite learning curve. There's some planning at that point that you should definitely take into consideration that can definitely help your transition from corporate to entrepreneurship.” - Karl Sona

"When you quit your corporate job, have you put together a business plan? This is something that I think all too often we skip because it's not sexy." - Karl Sona

Sign Up for the Dear BLK CEO Executive Board Room Meeting!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! You can find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Are you burned out or just generally unhappy with your workplace? It's time to start finding some significance and meaning in your work! We're going to continue talking about leaving your corporate job and how to take the leap of faith in a way that will help you find success. In this episode, I break down 10 specific questions to ask yourself or to think about to determine whether or not you are ready to leave the job. Today is all about digging deep and answering the deeper questions we may have been avoiding.

Dive in, and let's unpack the 10 questions everyone needs to answer before becoming an entrepreneur.

Key Highlights:

• You should only quit your job if you have a solid plan in place for what comes next.
• Figure out your north star
• Don't be afraid of the risks associated with leaving your job, but be realistic about the potential rewards.
• Make sure you're taking care of yourself physically and mentally before making any major changes.
• Consider all of your financial needs and obligations before making a decision.
• Seek out guidance from professionals or those who have been through a similar situation before making major changes.
• Leaving your job is not for everyone; some people can do their job and build their business.

Tweetable Quotes:

"What is 'north star' for you...? For me, my goal has always been to run my own company." - Karl Sona

"Entrepreneurship, this idea of building a brand within an organization that allows you, the flexibility to do so is a very valuable way to feel and to connect with a level of significance and purpose." - Karl Sona

"It's pretty difficult to leave a high, mid-six-figure paying job and expect to make that your first year in entrepreneurship... I think that the way to overcome the dark days is not to be afraid of them." - Karl Sona

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LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let's connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don't have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Consumers want to do the right thing if only manufacturers would give them the opportunity. Today’s guest is stepping in to fill the gaps! We have Hassan Pierre, CEO, and co-founder of Maison de Mode, a luxury ethical fashion retailer! In this episode, Hassan discusses sustainable fashion and how his company is leading the way in this growing industry. He shares how he is creating things that make an impact greater than itself, how to penetrate the market, and how he's bringing sustainability to the luxury fashion space.

Dive in, and let’s learn how to create a brand that doesn’t just impact the environment but gets people rushing to the check-out counter!

Key Highlights:

• Hassan shares his experience becoming a co-found and CEO of a luxury ethical fashion retailer, his background in organics, and how he started “upcycling” vintage clothes.
• The ten pillars brands have to have to be considered sustainable.
• How Hassan got the conversation going with major retail brands by framing his concept as innovation from a marketing perspective.
• Hassan’s education and how a diverse cultural influence played a huge part in his success.
• How Maison de Mode's company shot up 161% last year and what led them to be chosen to host the Sustainable Style Awards in La.

Tweetable Quotes:

“People who have different cultures and different views thrown at them make the best leaders because they can really understand a wider view of the population as opposed to just being so tunnel vision.” - Hassan Pierre

"Sustainable fashion is anything that has a social, environmental, or economic impact that's greater than their aesthetic.” - Hassan Pierre

“I think being flexible is your path to achieving your goal. What’s been really instrumental to me is not being so rigid in my ways because I do have an end goal, and I can achieve that end goal if I move slightly left or right.” - Hassan Pierre

Want to connect with Hassan? You can find him on Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin. If you’re looking to combine luxury fashion with ethical and sustainable business, look no further than https://maison-de-mode.com/.

Sign Up for the Dear BLK CEO Executive Board Room Meeting!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Leaving your corporate job can seem like a daunting idea, but it doesn't have to be, not if you know what's at stake. If you're prepared for the challenges and are willing to put in the work, you can build a successful business and achieve the financial freedom you've always wanted. In this episode, I share my thoughts on the importance of taking the time to understand the process and some of the challenges you may face along the way. At the end of the day, you need to be honest with yourself and live a life that is true to you.

So dive right in and let's talk about what it takes to leave that corporate job, whether or not it's right for you, and the promise that's yours if you're willing to take the leap.

Key Highlights:

-Quitting a corporate job can empower people to build a nest egg and work towards some financial freedom and flexibility

-In order to be successful as a business owner, one must be willing to wear many hats and take on many responsibilities

-Quitting a corporate job can symbolize the death of one version of oneself in order to create a rebirth of a greater version

-The process of quitting a corporate job and becoming a business owner is not for everyone and should not be taken lightly

-It is important to question whether or not you actually like your life before making the decision to quit your corporate job

Tweetable Quotes:

"Quitting a corporate job can symbolize the death of one version of you. In order to create a rebirth of a greater version of you." - Karl Sona

"One of the best things about leaving the corporate world Is just the freedom that it provides. Life is too short to not be yourself. Life is far too precious to never come to terms with who you truly are, what excites you, what revs you up, and what you're here for!" - Karl Sona

Sign Up for the Dear BLK CEO Executive Board Room Meeting!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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When I stopped caring and stopped being motivated, I knew it was time to leave. If you're not putting your all into your job, it's time to move on. In this episode, I talk about my experience leaving my corporate job to become an entrepreneur. I believe if you're no longer happy in your job, it's probably time to consider moving on and start making decisions like an owner.

Let's dive in and look at knowing when it's time to go, the importance of thinking like an owner.

Tweetable Quotes:

"I think that's something a lot of people can relate to. They're not fulfilled in their job and they're not really doing what they want to do." - Karl Sona

"Think like an owner, don't just think like an employee... Think like someone who adds value to the marketplace." - Karl Sona

Key Highlights:

1. How I recently exited my corporate W-2 job and decided to go off on my own as an entrepreneur.
2. If you're no longer happy in your job, it might be time to consider moving on.
3. If you're going through the motions, you might not be motivated anymore and it's time to wake up.
4. Thinking like an owner can help you make decisions that are best for your career.

Sign Up for the Dear BLK CEO Executive Board Room Meeting!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

Remember, you don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Did anything ever change by staying comfortable? There are things happening in society today that, until we recognize and plan for, we will never break the cycles of. In this episode, me and my good friend, Trey Johnson aka Uncle Trey, have a very candid conversation about the current state of society, and future opportunities for minorities and people of color. Trey is the owner and operator of TREYD LLC, a cryptocurrency investment company. Trey believes within the next ten years cryptocurrency will facilitate the biggest wealth transfer America has ever seen.

Let’s dive in deep and start asking the difficult questions and talk candidly about what is happening in the world around us!

Asking the Difficult Questions; An Uncensored Talk About Our Society:

[00:01 – 05:34] Opening Segment

• I welcome Trey Johnson to the show
• Trey gives us a look into his background
• • Born and raised in Sacramento
  • Tried a little bit of everything in the job space
  • Now going into entrepreneurship
  • Trey’s story about building a relationship with his dad

[05:35 – 26:22] A Look at the Current State of Society

• Trey shares his perspective of the role fathers play in their children’s lives
• • “It takes a man to raise a man”
  • There’s something different about having your own father with you
  • You need to find a mentor
  • “Old man for council, young men for war”
• How finding mentorship ultimately plays into your success
• • Trey talks about his experience with his mentors
  • You can get mentored by people you’ve never met
  • We need to be more receptive to paying our success forward
• How we need to engage with other black folks in business
• • We need to get comfortable with doing business with each other
  • “Your enemies look like you” - the preconditioning of competition
  • We’re craving black brotherhood
• Getting rid of the excuse that “this was the hand you were dealt”
• • Look at yourself in the mirror and be honest
  • Then you act - what do you want to change?
  • Be hard on yourself and do the work
• Trey and I unpack the difficult conversation around what it takes to be a high achiever
• • You have to unplug - how our algorithms are working against us
  • Social media is engineered to create certain types of people
• Trey talks about how we’re undergoing the biggest wealth transfer in modern history
• • Pretty soon there will only be rich and poor
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[26:23 – 38:06] Asking the Difficult Questions

• Trey shares his thoughts on what is happening right now in society
• • There will only be rich and poor, no middle class
  • The time for people to step up is now
• We take a look at the biggest companies and how we should engage with them
• • Get back to the basics - S.T.E.M.
  • We can put our dollars back into the community
  • We need to move away from begging for things
• Unpacking the misconceptions in politics
• • We can’t keep looking for a savior
  • There are people in the community that can actually make a difference
  • It’s within our control to be on the right side of history
• A look into the next 10 years
• • Wealth is transferring
  • The government is becoming more authoritative
  • It’s up to us to create a plan and carry our community forward
• Exposing the reality of poverty
• • It’s not just a financial problem, it’s a mindset problem
  • A lot of people are asleep to it
• Trey talks about how people are waking up to reality and making shifts
• • A lot of people are unplugging from social media
  • Now more than ever people are investing in crypto
  • Maneuvering out of jobs and going into entrepreneurship
  • Tech is the future and you need to pay to play

[38:07 – 52:39] Turning Things Around for Yourself

• Trey gives his insights on leveraging capital
• • You don’t get anywhere by being realistically
  • Thinking is free, so think big
• Tapping into your creativity to make things change
• • Going back to the concept of unplugging
  • Get into books and build yourself up
  • It comes down to becoming intentional with your energy
  • What can you create that can be of value to others?

[47:41 – 52:39] Closing Segment

• We need to keep getting candid with these conversations
• • Audit your conversations with your closest units
  • Are you expanding or contracting?
• You deserve to be the best person you can be
• • It takes doing the work
  • Do the things that others aren’t willing to do
• Do what you can do to get closer to your target
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“What things do I want to change about myself? What things can I change? What things can’t I change? Write down the list, then attack it!” - Trey Johnson

“You don’t get anywhere by thinking realistically… What I want to do in the next two years is unrealistic.” - Trey Johnson

Want to connect with Trey? Go show Uncle Trey some love over on Instagram.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

To reach equality and diversity in the workplace, it takes brilliant minds like Nikki Lanier to make sure black and brown talent thrive once they’re there! Nikki is the CEO of Harper Slade, a racial equity advisory firm focused on “helping organizations advance equity for some and equality for all.” A Chief HR Officer for three companies, Nikki, takes a more collaborative approach to leadership that has proven successful for over 25 years. She is responsible for driving accelerated cultural change and creating and implementing innovative organizational development.

Get ready for a power-packed episode where we’ll explore the urgency of the racial equality mission, how organizations can get involved, and why this nation’s future depends on it!

Equity for Some, Equality for All:

[00:01 – 04:16] Opening Segment

• I welcome Nikki Lanier to the show
• • Bio
• Nikki talks about the role of faith in her incredible journey
• • Acting out a divine assignment
  • A mission to build racial equality in the workplace

[04:17 – 12:06] Operating From a Divine Downloading

• Nikki shares about her vision and “divine downloading”
• • Righting wrongs and resetting narratives
  • Her experience as a Louisville native during the Breonna Taylor murder
  • Fasting to ask God to illuminate the path to racial equality
  • Deciding to build a company/asset around this mission
• Nikki talks about her time in the Federal Reserve
• • Confidence in being carried by intellect
  • “Presumed deference” - feeling like you have to work to prove your position
  • Drop the assumptions and know that you deserve your role

[12:07 – 21:40] Equity for Some, Equality for All

• How Harper Slade is disrupting the DEI space
• • The presumptions of marginalization of darker citizens
  • Being darker in this country has significant ramifications
  • Being afraid to offend the ones in control
  • So what are we doing to fix the problem through DEI?
  • Unearthing the culture and climate, you’re cultivating
• Making sure black and brown people can thrive in the workplace
• • Amplifying the talent that comes from diversity
• Nikki explains the missteps organizations have been making
• • We have inherited this race issue, not created it
  • It’s our generation’s responsibility to unpack this
  • It’s not about blame; it’s about restoration
  • It’s going to take a collective resetting
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[21:41 – 33:41] Operating the Mission of Racial Equality with Urgency

• We need to speak the right language
• • Arguments have a place, but they don’t move capital
  • Minorities are already the majority
  • Understand the health of the middle class
  • We will be relying on black and brown people to bolster the economy
  • Holistically, “It’s not a black or brown issue, it’s an American issue”
• The main call to action for organizations to start doing the right thing
• • Compliance has its place, but commitment also has its place
  • Choices made vs. choices had
  • Realize that change and disruption doesn’t feel safe
  • Staying the same is truly what’s unsafe
• Opportunities to get on board with this mission
• • Launch discussions around the country
  • How to get involved
  • • Links below

[33:42 – 38:48] Closing Segment

• The legacy Nikki is leaving in this world
• Does Nikki have a pre-speech/pre-talk ritual?
• • Cutting loose with a little Proud Mary
• One stereotype that needs to be done away with?
• • The idea that anger needs to play a major role in equality
• Nikki’s favorite wealth-building strategy
• • Enacting this mission to create equality for future generations
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“When we think about the workplace, it is a microcosm for the entire society at large. And our society has conditioned itself to presume marginalization, stunting, muting, diminution, of darker citizens.” - Nikki Lanier

“I’m not interested in helping you devise a recruiting plan. I’m more interested in understanding and unearthing what kind of culture and climate you’re cultivating in the workplace to ensure that, once recruited, black and brown talent can thrive.” - Nikki Lanier

“Arguments still apply, but they don’t move capital.” - Nikki Lanier

Resources Mentioned:

• Black Enterprise: Black Business Development

Want to connect with Nikki? You can find her active on LinkedIn. Advance racial equity and equality by visiting https://www.harperslade.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

We live in a world that is constantly programming us to go fast. The problem entrepreneurs face when they adopt this mindset is that we quit far too soon when we don’t see quick results. In this solo episode, I’m going to challenge that view, explore what it means to play the long game, and unpack going from “6-figures in one month” thinking, to 7-figures in the long term!

Are you willing to stay in the game to make sure you get the win? Dive in if you want to learn how to play the long game by combining optimism with realism.

[00:01 – 04:30] Opening Segment

• Welcome to the show, I talk about our focus over the last couple of weeks
• I talk about my past experience with podcasting
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • Bringing up the concept of “the long game”
  • Challenging my own short-sighted views
  • The temptation is to think our business has to grow fast

[04:31 – 07:53] Stop Chasing Exceptions to the Rule

• Identifying the noise that makes us think we need to move fast
• • Ex: “how I grew my business in 30 days”
  • Going from 0 to 6 figures in a month is the exception, not the rule
• When things go slow, there is nothing wrong with you
• • Don’t give up a 7-figure opportunity chasing a 6-figure exception

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[07:54 – 12:07] Play the Long Game; Combining Optimism with Realism

• It’s time to adopt patience
• • We need to become more realistic
  • Combine optimism with realism
• Monitor your self-talk
• • Plan for the best-case scenario AND the worst-case scenario
  • Turn over every stone possible
• Underwrite what you’re willing to invest
• • How much time and money are you willing to invest?
• Set yourself a realistic time frame to avoid dropping out too early
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“‘It should take me half a year to go from 0 to 6-figures, right…?’ The consequence of that thinking is you end up quitting on an opportunity that could have gotten you to 7-figures had you just stuck with it long enough.” - Karl Sona

“It’s awesome to plan for the best-case scenario, but when you’re just starting out, how do you underwrite the worst-case scenario…? Think about what you’re willing to invest from a time perspective.” - Karl Sona

Sign Up for the Dear BLK CEO Executive Board Room Meeting!

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Today I open up with a question I want you to have on your mind as we dive in: why did you get into Business? Whatever your reasons may be, I believe that a strong “why,” the reason for your business’ very existence, is the driving force behind your impact in the market. In this episode, I’ll break down the importance of understanding your value in the marketplace and challenge us to deepen that value to figure out how to create opportunities for minorities.

Tune in to the conversation, and let’s start deepening our value in the marketplace.

[00:01 – 05:55] Opening Segment

• Welcome to the show; I talk about our focus over the last couple of weeks
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • Why did you get into Business?
  • Everyone may have a different answer, simple or complex
  • I go through potential reasons why someone may do Business

[05:56 – 16:01] Deepening Your Value in the Marketplace

• At the end of the day, we are in pursuit of happiness and life
• • That happiness can be connected to generating revenue
  • Getting services and solutions into people’s hands
  • For many, it’s about freedom
  • Customer satisfaction is another driver
• The importance of defining your value in the marketplace, questions to answer
• • What problem do you solve, and who are you solving it for?
  • What is the magnitude of that problem?
  • Where does your market value derive from?
• I give an example from Black Enterprise
• • 85% of black-owned businesses are single owned
  • We need to grow to the level of creating jobs for other minorities
  • Framing it as an American Perspective/Problem
  • What if we created more opportunities? What would happen?

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[16:02 – 30:21] Tapping into the Opportunity to Build Up Minority

• We have an opportunity to build strength in numbers
• • Black businesses are rising exponentially
  • How we can help each other scale
• We need to start challenging our mindsets
• • We need to shift our mindset - we are thinking too small
  • We are doing too many things and losing time to focus on building
  • We focus too much on lack instead of what we can create
• Find things in your control and maximize them
• Going back to your “why”
• • It’s not about having the answers but finding them
  • You need to have the resilience to stay in the game
  • Where are you positioned to give strength to the market?
• When the dust settles, what side of history are you going to be on?
• • Will you be the Business that finds the gaps and fills them?
  • If not you? Then who?
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I feel that for too long we have thought far too small… Our mindset has been so focused lack versus opportunity; so focused on what we don’t have rather than what we can create.” - Karl Sona

“Business is not about having all of the answers; it’s about being willing to stay in the game long enough to go find the answers.” - Karl Sona

“Are you going to be the business that never was willing to shift your business model, or are you going to be the business that was daring enough to say, ‘You know what, there is a real hole and gap in the marketplace.’” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• How to Remain Optimistic About the Year Ahead - Episode
• Black Enterprise: Black Business Development

Sign Up for the Dear BLK CEO Executive Board Room Meeting!

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

Sales and revenue are the lifeblood of any business. Today, you’re going to learn how to set up your sales structure for long-term success! Christopher Miller, CSL, MBA, is a former Air Force Officer and corporate executive. Now, he is the Founder and President of Elevate Sales Advisor. Through his company, he helps build sales infrastructures that drive breakthrough sales results for businesses. By working with the sales team on site, he leads the team, provides proven sales strategies, and coaches the team through the whole process.

Dive into this insider’s look into Christopher’s journey and expertise as we explore proven sales philosophies that drive results.

Leading Sales: How to Deliver Ongoing Success:

[00:01 – 05:09] Opening Segment

• I welcome Christopher Miller to the show
• • Bio
• Christopher talks about his background
• • Starting as a program manager running a business line
  • Getting enjoyment out of the sales process
  • Coming up with solutions to solve problems

[05:10 – 23:16] From Selling to Solving, From Quotas to Coaching

• Christopher talks about his philosophy around sales
• • Change the focus from “selling” to “solving”
  • If you can’t solve the problem, you don’t have to keep pushing
• How to approach your clients correctly
• • Walk into the room knowing very little
  • Be willing to listen and observe
• Core competencies on how Christopher got to the level of VP Business development
• • Developing people’s confidence in you through relationships
  • Taking on opportunities as soon as there’s an opening
  • Partnership and credibility is more valued than capabilities
• How to hold yourself accountable when you get into a higher position
• • Never be the smartest person in the room
  • It all centers around your team
  • Sales leaders mentor and coach, they don’t chase quotas
• What to focus on as sales leaders
• • You need to get a process in place to gauge performance
  • If your team is earning lots of money that means your org is growing
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[23:17 – 36:16] Leading Sales: How to Deliver Ongoing Success

• Christopher talks about his move away from corporate and into sales leadership
• • Always a desire to have his own business
  • Making the decision when the barriers are removed
  • Seeing the need to help companies with their sales processes
• The kinds of organizations that need help building out sales infrastructure
• • All of them!
  • The ones who are not are the ones that can’t be worked with
  • Companies who are looking for an exit plan
  • • Your business needs to be more than what it is today
  • It depends on the structures you have in place
• Start building the long term strategy today to get the payoff later
• • You have to start somewhere

[36:17 – 39:43] Closing Segment

• Stay tuned for more content from Christopher
• How to connect to Christopher
• • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“If you change the concept of selling a product or service and go to where you actually solve problems… you create solutions for clients that are easy to resonate with.” - Christopher Miller

“When you’re in a room with a team of people, never think that you’re the smartest person in the room. If you ARE the smartest person in the room, then you need to find a new team.” - Christopher Miller

“You’re not going to remember 10 things. But, if you walk away with 2 or 3, then at least it’s a start.” - Christopher Miller

Resources Mentioned:

• Xceleration Network

Want to connect with Christopher? You can connect on LinkedIn. Feel free to send an email to chris@elevatesalesadvisors.com. It’s time to grow. Take your company to the next level by checking out https://elevatesalesadvisors.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

For this mashup episode, let’s look back on these words of wisdom from The Caldwells, Kara Sax, LaVonne Idlette, Daniel Mangena, & Courtney Samuel.

If you want to check out their full interviews, head over below for the links to the episodes.

On this episode:

• Let’s revisit our conversations with these world-class CEOs for their most impactful moments.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Greatest Engine of Jobs and Wealth Creation for the Beauty and Barbering Industry with the Caldwells
• Listen to the Notes that Aren’t Being Played with Kara Sax
• Creating Wealth Through Olympian Level Discipline with LaVonne Idlette
• Abundance is Your Birthright - Make it Your Mindset with Daniel Mangena
• The Path to Your Purpose is Perserverence with Courtney Samuel

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

With the last couple of years we’ve had, I can imagine so many are skeptical about what’s ahead. That’s why we’re going to flip things around and frame things positively! That said, we can’t just hope and wish our year to be great then sit back and wait. I’m here to tell you that you CAN take control of your future. In this episode, I’ll be breaking down what is required of us to make this year great, how to identify potential barriers to our goals, and walking us all the way to December 31st, 2022.

Let’s jump in and get some practical insight around how to remain optimistic about everything ahead.

[00:01 – 03:36] Opening Segment

• Welcome to the first solo episode of the New Year
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • Remaining positive about the year ahead
  • • What’s required of us
    • Identifying barriers
    • Looking back on 2022 with hindsight

[03:37 – 17:20] Drop the Grind, Surrender to the Process

• I talk about my goal for the year and how they can apply to all of us
• • Work less but be more productive
  • Long term success take sustainable models
• You don’t have to put in 18+ hours to find success
• • Ex: My friend who scaled to $13M on less than 5 hours a day
  • The science of why it’s better to work less hours of the day
• Remember you are responsible for everything about your business
• • The strategy, culture, and model are on you
  • It comes down to becoming a good leader
  • Give yourself a learning curve to build these skills
• Surrender to the process
• • If you want the promise it requires the process
  • Let yourself struggle at first
  • Once you master the process it can be scaled

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[17:21 – 13:20] How to Remain Optimistic About Year Ahead

• Define your hopes and what you want to achieve
• • This is how you make you vision a reality
• The importance of awareness
• • Do a deep dive and uncover the stuff you aren’t seeing
  • Do you have a plan in place?
  • • 3 to 5 small things you can do NOW
• How to build up the skills to achieve your goals
• • Repetition, get your habits in place
  • Don’t rely on your subconscious to carry you
  • Plan down to the details
• I give an example of how to put goal achieving into practice
• • 5 small things you need to get done each day
  • Show up and hold yourself to it
• Facing potential pitfalls
• • Discipline yourself around where things can go wrong
  • Take the time to air our weaknesses and threats
  • Plan with purpose
• Put yourself in your future shoes
• • Envision the end of your 2022
  • What does a successful 2022 look to you looking back?
  • On your worst days, think about December 31st, 2022
  • Think about how it would feel to skip the things that are required
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“The process is required to get the promise.” - Karl Sona

“On the days where you don’t want to do the work… I want you to think about December 31st, 2022, and I want you to think about what life looks like…” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• Three Simple Steps by Trevor Blake
• Mastering One Word

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

For this mashup episode, let’s look back on these words of wisdom from Ashley Nicole Kirkwood, Keenan Beasley, Sebastien Thuriere, Perry Jeffries, Kenia Mattis.

If you want to check out their full interviews, head over below for the links to the episodes.

On this episode:

• Let’s revisit our conversations with these world-class CEOs for their most impactful moments.

Resources Mentioned:

• Don’t Quit Your Day Dream with Ashley Nicole Kirkwood
• The Leap to Freedom with Keenan Beasley
• The Necessary Jump To Build Your Vision and Stability with Sebastien Thuriere
• Build Your Business and Create Legacy with Perry Jeffries
• Leverage Storytelling to Create Social Change with Kenia Mattis

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Happy New Year to everyone listening to this episode! It’s been a wild one, but you made it. Well done! For those of you who are going into the new year wanting to bet on yourself and make the leap, it’s time to define your “One Word.” This is that one word that will define your goal for this year. Today, I’ll break down the impact this technique can have and how your word needs to be simple enough to execute but powerful enough to be bigger than just you.

So let’s open our minds, dive in, and learn how to master this “One Word”.

[00:01 – 04:30] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • A technique to ground yourself when it gets tough
  • “One Word”

[04:31 – 07:26] Mastering the "One Word" Technique

• Reflect, pray, and meditate on one word that is a seed you want to plant
• • Keep it simple and chunk it down
  • One word to define your intention and goal
• The example of my one word
• • “Surrender”

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[07:27 – 13:20] Your One Word is Bigger Than You

• How this technique has benefited me
• • Using the word to relinquish my sense of control
  • It’s not about me
  • • It’s a reminder that it’s all about impacting others
• Advice for those trying to take the leap
• • It’s okay to recognize that this shit is scary!
  • The future is full of uncertainty
  • You’re not in control, God is, let Him work
• Finding your word
• • Lean into surrender and uncertainty
  • Remember it’s a greater mission than you
• A final prayer for you for the end of this year
• • The victory is ALREADY your’s
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Not only am I not in control, but it’s not about me, it’s not about what I want.” - Karl Sona

“You may have a deep, underlying sense of knowingness, you may have a strong sense of confidence, but you don’t have a crystal ball… you’re not truly in control… Surrender.” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• One Word - book

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

So many people are trying to break the code of generational wealth and time freedom. Maurice Philogene has done both and he’s here today to break down his story and how you can do the same through the four freedom principles: financial freedom, time freedom, geographic freedom, and relationship freedom! Maurice is many things, a Senior Executive, Real Estate Investor & Entrepreneur, Restaurant Owner, Philanthropist, and Lifestyle Design/Wealth Coach. He is also the founding Managing Partner of Quattro Capital, a real estate investment firm built on the foundational pillars of People, Property, Profits, and Philanthropy.

Jump in, let’s eradicate the misconceptions of wealth and freedom, and adopt the four freedom principles.

Four Freedom Principles: Cracking the Code to Financial Freedom:

[00:01 – 05:09] Opening Segment

• I welcome Maurice Philogene to the show
• • Bio
• Maurice talks about his beliefs around financial freedom
• • It is NOT one set of blueprints
  • The four principles of freedom
  • Passive income vs. expenses is the key to FE

[05:10 – 19:40] Four Freedom Principles: Cracking the Code to Financial Freedom

• Getting clarity around what you want to build
• • The example of real estate and development projects as a tool
  • Creating time freedom through passive income
  • Discovering the misconceptions around how to find success
• Maurice’s philosophy on time
• • You don’t have “more time”
  • • Behave like it’s limited because it is
  • Time is proportional to the energy you put into it
• How investment deals can actively benefit others
• • Predicated on freedom and helping people
  • Build a better income by giving people a better quality of life
  • Growing your assets can be a better way to drive impact
• How Maurice managed his time to exit the corporate world
• • Maurice explains his story
  • Becoming a full-time cop and full-time exec
  • You do it because it’s meaningful
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[19:41 – 37:17] How to Exit the Salary and Enter into Freedom

• Maurice speaks about facing the backlash against cops
• • The impact of the few negative forces
  • There is good happening every day
  • The light shed by body-cameras
  • 99% are doing the right thing but it goes unnoticed
  • The incentive to be a good person is going down
  • Things are turning around
• “The exit” - knowing when to leave
• • Understand you will take a shot to your identity
  • Everything corrects itself
  • Maurice talks about why he left a $350k active salary
  • “I got other shit to do”
• What it feels like to wake up in Freedom
• • Releasing your head from all the W-2 stuff
  • Getting the space to have more creativity in your thoughts
  • Freedom to go impact the world for the better
  • How Maurice builds experiences for his family
• Maurice shares advice around relationship freedom
• • We are humans and we are social
  • • We need people in order to grow
  • Collapse the learning curve through relationships

[37:18 – 42:07] Closing Segment

• How to connect with Maurice
• • Links below
• What is your favorite spiritual exercise?
• • Getting up at 4 am
  • It creates time
• Favorite country and why?
• • Turkey: resonating with the culture
• Maurice’s nomination to be on the podcast
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“As long as you have more passive income than you have expenses you can be financially free.” - Maurice Philogene

“Once you have the resources to have an impactful life towards your family and towards your community, you’ve done something good, you’ve got to capitalize on that.” - Maurice Philogene

“People need people to grow.” - Maurice Philogene

Resources Mentioned:

• Personal Finances for Dummies

Want to connect with Maurice? You can connect on LinkedIn and Instagram. Check out https://www.thequattroway.com/ if you want to invest with people in mind!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

On this show, we talk a lot about pivoting away from corporate and into ownership, but what you don’t always hear is how to deal with the fear that sometimes comes with following a purpose bigger than yourself. The more I talk to these successful entrepreneurs the more I realize that there are certain phases that all of them go through before they make the transition, and part of that is having faith! In this episode, I talk about the level of faith required to make your shift as well as knowing when it’s time to do it.

Dive in and learn how to build up your faith so you can make the jump.

[00:01 – 04:41] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • Knowing if and when you need to make the jump
  • Realize that it takes building yourself up again
  • It takes faith

[04:42 – 10:26] Having the Faith to "Make the Jump"

• How to put faith into action
• • Having to battle fear and uncertainty
  • Faith is fighting the doubt you have in yourself
• Making the “Exit” make sense
• • Our faith in God needs to be in place
  • Think of your “why”
  • • Make it bigger than yourself
  • Your goal should be so big you can’t do it without God
• Remember your ideas are based on faith
• • There are resources ready to help you to move forward

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[10:27 – 16:20] Faith Requires Action

• Don’t wait to take action
• • You don’t need permission
  • You’ve run the numbers, now it’s time to execute
  • “Time waits for no man”
• You’ve been given a gift
• • Use it to serve while you can
  • Don’t let your gift die with you
• Navigating the unknown
• • You don’t need to know
  • Have faith that you have everything you need
• Lean into your faith over your fear
• Merry Christmas!
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Faith is a huge lever that needs to be pulled and that needs to be put into motion when you inevitably look to step away.” - Karl Sona

“When you focus on your true ‘why’ rather than the superficial things… That ‘why’, if you really get down to the root of it, is something that has been planted by God.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

“You can be great by mastering the fundamentals.” These words, said by Bennie Fowler really made an impression. Growing up selling eggs door-to-door, you could say he has built a legacy off of mastering the fundamentals. Bennie W. Fowler is a c-suite level executive with more than 40 years of leadership experience in developing strategy and is the President and CEO of Bennie W. Fowler LLC. Even though he grew up when the South was still segregated, he’s never been one to shy away from the importance of responsibility and personal work ethic. Bennie also knows he wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for faith and family.

Such an incredible story filled with incredible lessons and wisdom! Let’s dive right in and start mastering the fundamentals.

Mastering the Fundamentals to go From Knowing to Having to Sharing:

[00:01 – 09:02] Opening Segment

• I welcome Bennie Fowler to the show
• • Bio
• Bennie gives us a bit of his background
• • Born in 1956 in the deep South, Georgia
  • Born and educated during segregation
  • Instilled with a heavy work ethic from a young age
  • First work permit at 15 working as a janitor
  • Preparing for corporate work as a teen

[09:03 – 22:34] Mastering the Fundamentals

• Bennie shares his experience going from segregated to integrated
• • Dealing with riots in the early days
  • The timeline of integration
  • Not as much violence as one would think
• Bennie talks about his first job in an entry-level position
• • “I just wanted to eat”
  • The experience of leading others that have more seniority
  • From mentorship to leading on his own
  • The importance of mastering the fundamentals
• The fundamentals you need to master
• • You have to be willing to move - adaptability
  • • Prepare yourself for change
  • Manpower
  • Material
  • Methods
  • Machinery
  • Have the right people help move you through the process
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[22:35 – 34:34] The Only Way Forward was Through Faith

• Bennie talks about his journey through Ford
• • Becoming the COO
  • Relocating and working in the UK
  • The process of creating a massive turnaround
• How the experience created character
• • Getting to the point of exhaustion
  • Becoming an ‘industrial athlete’
  • The importance of scheduling your life
• Getting the strength and resilience from God
• • Walk by faith, not by sight
  • People will try to bring you down along the way
  • Stay hungry for opportunities
  • When things aren’t going well, are you still in faith?
• Bennie talks about working through fear
• • Be concerned, not afraid
  • Look for the challenging things, that is where the reward is

[34:35 – 43:13] Closing Segment

• How to connect with Bennie
• • Links below
• Last advice from Bennie
• • Wake up every day with a purpose
• Bennie talks about his favorite Ford models
• Balancing business and family
• • Make your home a permanent one no matter where you are
  • Take care of your family, you only have one of them
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Becoming an industrial athlete; you gotta play just like you’re playing a game… if you make it to the top… it WILL take an emotional toll on your body.” - Bennie W. Fowler

“I don’t look for all of the easy things today. Actually, I look for the things that are the most challenging because that’s where most of the reward will be.” - Bennie W. Fowler

Resources Mentioned:

• The American Icon

Want to connect with Bennie? You can connect on Facebook and LinkedIn or contact bennie@benniefowler.com. Transform knowledge into successful business results by checking out https://www.benniefowler.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Any owner dreams of landing that high ticket contract that leads to massive revenue, partnerships, and opportunities. The problem is all too often we cut ourselves at the knees by avoiding the top of the organization and starting from the bottom, or the “safe” position. I want to tell you right now, if you know that you are providing value and hitting major pain points, then you are doing yourself a huge disservice by not starting at the top. In this episode, I’m going to unpack a real story of someone I met who went for the top-down approach and landed his target with a finesse I just can't keep to myself!

Dive in and check out these strategies from a real MBE that aimed high and won a life-altering contract with a major retailer.

[00:01 – 04:07] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• • Thank you for taking the time to listen in
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • A look at a success story towards winning a big contract
  • Story from a real MBE

[04:08 – 11:16] Winning a High Ticket Contract by Aiming for the Top: Case Study

• A bit more about this company
• • Incredible business model
  • Understanding stakeholder’s pain points
  • Utilizing LinkedIn
  • Starting at the top of the organization
• How this company began reaching out
• • Getting in contact with the VP of Supply Chain
• Lessons to be learned from his strategy
• • 1. He started at the top
  • • And dealing with a closed-door
  • 1. Make sure to come prepared with value
  • • Beat the BS Meter
    • Cut through the noise

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[11:17 – 20:46] Get to the Top and Lead with Value

• Breaking through to the top
• • Get to the visionary of the organization
  • Do your homework and know the pain points
  • “I’m not selling you anything, I’m making you more money”
  • Top-down referral
• Recapping the success strategy
• • Start at the top
  • Understand the 5 love languages
  • Break down the risk vs. the ROI
  • Understand what the C-Suite cares about
  • • Speak their language
  • Ask if they are the right person to bring the request to
  • • Craft your message
• Lead with value rather than certification
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“We do ourselves a disservice by not starting at the top of the organization.” - Karl Sona

“He never once mentioned he was a minority-owned business… He, rather than leading with, ‘Hey, I’m certified,’ led with, ‘Here’s the value I can offer to you.’” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• The 5 Love Languages

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

Entrepreneur, business leader, creative: all words that describe Elzie D. Flenard III, but one thing he is not - someone who you could ever fit in a box! Elzie Flenard is also a storyteller who hosts several podcasts where he unpacks topics from unexpected directions, weaving a myriad of influences into his music, speaking, and coaching. He’s even been deemed the ‘Mayor’ of Podcast Town by his own community. Everyone has something to offer and Elzie has made it his mission to help cultivate people’s message through podcasting, the best way to get ROR: Return on Relationships! In this episode, I get to dig deeper into Elzie’s story and pull out some incredible wisdom I think we will all benefit from if we put it into action.

So dive in and let’s get a firsthand account of what happens when enough is enough and you finally say, “I have decided!”

I Have Decided: From Corporate Drop Out to the 'Mayor' of Podcast Town :

[00:01 – 06:59] Opening Segment

• I welcome Elzie Flenard the show
• • Bio
• Elzie gives us a bit of his background
• • Getting sold the “American Dream”
  • Always a deep desire to start his own business
  • “I never had a job that I liked”
  • Deciding to build an internet radio station
  • Refocusing on podcasting and creating great content

[07:00 – 15:52] I Have Decided

• Elzie talks about his journey through the corporate world
• • Venturing into electronics and electrical engineering
  • How he became an operations manager
  • Quickly seeing the limitations put on corporate workers
• The jump from corporate into ownership
• • The issue with building a side hustle while working
  • Getting to the ‘cross-road’
  • Have the mindset and make the decision
• Adopting the “Mamba Mentality”
• • Strategically unpredictable
  • No matter what happens I WILL succeed

[15:53 – 25:32] Understanding Your Runway

• Elzie talks about the evolution of his business
  • Switching to the “I’m the owner” mentality
  • Thinking through how to move forward
• • The impact of mentorship and building relationships
  • Step 1: “What is the number you need to hit?”
  • Step 2: What does your runway look like?
  • You don’t need the perfect plan, you need staying power
• The initial strategy to drive revenue
• • Knowing how to allocate your dollar
  • Over-deliver and get referrals
  • Networking by adding value
  • Resources to figure out your runway
  • Stay hungry and stay in a “learning mentality”
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[25:33 – 34:34] Becoming the 'Mayor' of Podcast Town

• Elzie shares why he honed in on podcasting specifically
• • ROR - return on relationships
  • Building on relationship/social capital
• Setting youth up for success by teaching skills for life
• • Helping other people cultivate their voice
• The power of podcasting and opportunities
• Elzie shares his experience being a podcaster himself
• • Learning how to iterate
  • Learning from others
  • Leveling the playing field with conversations

[34:35 – 38:04] Closing Segment

• How to connect with Elzie
• • Links below
• Elzie’s nomination for the show
• Best tips for storytelling
• • Listen and be open to where the conversation goes
• Negative stereotype of black culture that needs to be done away with
• • That we’re “not excellent”
• Wealth creation strategy for listeners
• • Revenue above income
  • Create revenue as opposed to earning it
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I had to mentally make that shift. I think a lot of times people straddle the fence and they don’t commit.” - Elzie Flenard

“I have decided… and no matter what happens, I WILL succeed.” - Elzie Flenard

“I think when you have the learning mentality people will be drawn to you to teach you.” - Elzie Flenard

Resources Mentioned:

• Podcast Town w/ Elzie Flenard
• SCORE

Want to connect with Elzie? You can connect on LinkedIn or email mayor@podcasttown.net. If you got a story to tell be sure to go on over https://www.elzieflenard.com and begin cultivating your message!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

There’s something that all the CEOs and executives that I’ve interviewed have in common. Something they all share that seems to propel them and drive them to trust themselves even when it’s “not safe” or contrary to the status quo. In this episode, I want to unpack that ability and encourage us that this is something we can all do. It may not be easy, but if you are willing to lean into your own gifting and ideas, I believe you will find success.

So dive in and let’s talk about the value behind YOUR perspective.

[00:01 – 04:12] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• • Thank you for taking the time to listen in
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • The value behind your perspective

[04:13 – 08:12] They Won by Not Playing it Safe

• A look into one of my conversations with a C-Suite executive
• • Her story of sending out an RFP
  • Getting an answer for something that wasn’t even asked
  • • Positioned as a thought leader that one the RFP
• Do you play it safe?

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[08:13 – 14:08] The Value Behind Your Perspective

• Value what it is that you know
• • It can be a game-changer for yourself and others
  • Lean into your own ideas
• Be okay with “throwing it out there”
• • Overpreparation is sometimes the enemy of new ideas
  • Be flexible and nimble with your prospects
• We all have seeds of greatness within us
• • They need to be nurtured into something fruitful
  • Find opportunities to allow the harvest to take over!
  • You have greatness inside you, don’t rob yourself of it by staying safe
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“We all have those seeds of greatness within us… but you also need to find the opportunities to allow harvest to take over.” - Karl Sona

“What makes us truly successful is when we can lean into our own thoughts, and our own ideas, and our own approaches even if they’re contrary to status quo.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

When your passion becomes your mission, it’s impossible not to show up as your best self every day! It’s with this attitude that Irish Burch became the President & CEO at the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. Irish, who has 27 years of experience working with child abuse victims, came into DCAC after serving as an investigator with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Since then, she’s worked tirelessly to build strong, positive, and collaborative relationships with agencies and communities throughout Dallas. In this episode, we’re going to unpack how she overcame self-elimination, cultivated her passion, and translated it into an incredible resource serving over 8,000 children within the last year alone!

Let’s dive in and get empowered by Irish’s story to learn how to translate passion into a resource to serve others.

Translate Your Passion into a Resource to Serve:

[00:01 – 06:23] Opening Segment

• I welcome Irish Burch to the show
• • Bio
• Irish talks about her background and experience
• • Daughter to a social worker mother
  • Irish’s “Aha Moment”
  • Pursuing psychology and counseling
  • “How do you show up every day?” How do you not?
  • The honor of earning trust

[06:24 – 17:18] Building Trust Through Collaboration

• The process of gaining trust with a child
• • Abuse thrives in secrecy
  • Building collaborative relationships
  • Understand the state the other person is coming in
  • Setting up the system in a holistic way
• We all have a responsibility to the children in our community
• • Be aware and get educated
  • Perpetrators look like all of us
• Signs everyone should be aware of and what to do
• • Be intentional about your surroundings
  • Notice changes in behavior

[17:19 – 28:02] Translate Your Passion into a Resource to Serve

• Irish talks about her journey into becoming a CEO of the organization
• • It was never the starting intention
  • The journey up the ladder
  • Realizing the gift of bringing together diverse people
  • Creating Irish’s role to build a successful model
  • Leaving the agency to pursue something else
  • Going full circle again in faith
  • Facing and overcoming self-elimination
• The acceptance vs. the assignment
• • The assignment does not end after the acceptance
• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[28:03 – 38:47] Impacting Entire Households Nationwide

• Irish’s encouragement to kids facing painful situations
• • You are not alone
  • There is a way out
  • There are people who CAN and WILL help
• How adults can overcome abuse they faced as kids
• • Awareness of the importance of mental health is rising
  • Taking care of your mental well-being
  • You are not alone and it is not embarrassing
• I talk about my journey of facing my trauma
• How Irish’s work impacts the entire household
• • Receiving resources and comforts
  • How people who can get involved or donate
  • Overseeing the DE&I process
  • Ensuring the best service for children
  • Becoming a national leader

[38:48 – 42:42] Closing Segment

• How to connect with Irish and the Agency
• • Links below
  • Make a difference and get involved
• Irish’s recommendation to come to the show
• Advice for people to keep pursuing their dreams
• • You are worthy
  • It is YOUR assignment
• One negative stereotype that needs to be done away with
• • The negative connotation of seeking mental help
  • It is a sign of strength not weakness
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Every child deserves to be safe in their own home.” - Irish Burch

“It’s not a dream that I knew I had… I literally went into this field saying, ‘I want to do right by these kids,’ and I never thought about what my journey would be.” - Irish Burch

“You can find someone more qualified than me on paper… What you can’t find is somebody who loves this agency more than I do, and you can’t find someone who can’t just walk away if it messes up.” - Irish Burch

Resources Mentioned:

• DCAC Get Involved
• Diary of an Insecure CEO

Want to connect with Irish? You can connect on LinkedIn, or email her directly at iburch@dcac.org. Help save the lives of children facing abuse by going to https://dcac.org/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

3 out of 4 startups fail. That can be a very daunting statistic for anyone looking to start a business. So what is going to set us apart? What I’ve learned on the path to ownership is that effective planning is what ultimately takes the concept in your head to become something tangible people will pay actual dollars for. So, In this episode, I want to get very practical and break down some actionable steps you can take into your week to begin laying down the foundation for your business’ success.

Get pumped, get energized, and dive in to unpack how to create an effective business plan!

[00:01 – 05:40] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • Creating an effective business plan
  • Prepare for practical steps and takeaways
  • 3 out of 4 startups will fail
  • The difference is in planning
• Let’s be honest about the idea of planning
• • It very rarely ever goes that exact direction
  • We need to be flexible and nimble in the game
  • Failing to plan is negligent and lazy
• Remember you’re not alone

[05:41 – 15:08] Foundations for Success: How to Create an Effective Business Plan

• First, Start off with an executive summary
• • Why should people invest or subscribe to your business?
  • What is the market opportunity?
  • Figure out the problem that you’re solving
  • Make your customers elated to work with you
  • Feel free to reach out for more ideas: karl@dearblakceo.com
• Figure out how much money/capital you actually need
• • Stay in the game long enough for the home run
  • Maximize your dollars to prove out your concept
• Write down your business description
• • Describing why your idea will win
  • How you are fulfilling a critical need
• Move to your marketing strategy
• • Prepare to iterate
  • Take a look at the market for competitors
  • Think about your pricing and market share
  • • Premium or entry-level?
  • My current model as an example

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[15:09 – 27:19] Creating an Effective Business Plan - Continued

• Think through manufacturing and distribution if you have a physical product
• • Break down costs and responsibilities
  • Knowing turn around time is key
• The organization of your company
• • Build out your ideal team
  • Structure with intent to scale - think big!
• SWOT - what are your critical risks?
• • Understand the risks and the opportunities
• Your financials
• • Estimate expenses and revenue
  • Understand your profit margin
  • Predict cash flow
• Stay tuned for my upcoming workshop for more info
• • Connect with other like-minded people
  • Email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
  • • Subject: Business Planning Session
• Think through your early milestones
• • Attach a timeline to it over a 3 year period
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think one of the reasons startups fail is, quite frankly, they can’t stay in the game long enough to connect with the home run.” - Karl Sona

“Thinking is free of charge. So if it’s free, why think small? Why not go big?” - Karl Sona (Inspired by Sujimoto)

“Take the time to exercise some patience and some discipline, and to humor yourself… It’s going to end up opening your mind to a different set of opportunities that you’re probably not considering.” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• Secrets to a Successful Startup

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

For this mashup episode, let’s look back on these words of wisdom from Jerome Williams, Erin Person, Anthony Trucks, Sivonnia DeBarros, and Fredrick Bussey.

If you want to check out their full interviews, head over below for the links to the episodes.

On this episode:

• Let’s revisit our conversations with these world-class CEO’s for their most impactful moments

Resources Mentioned:

• Recognize and Monetize Your Intellectual Property with Jerome Williams
• Impacting Others and Winning Together with Erin Person
• Reset Your Rhythm and Make The Shift with Anthony Trucks
• Reaching Success by Operating Within Your Purpose with Sivonnia DeBarros
• Understanding Your Gift to Live with Purpose with Fredrick Bussey

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Happy Thanksgiving ya’ll! In the spirit of gratitude, I’d like to say a huge thank you to you for tuning in and helping make this podcast what it is. Let’s keep breaking the barriers of who can be a CEO and achieve ownership with today’s episode. I want to focus in on how important it is to understand the value of stories. Stories of those who have gone before us can open your mind to possibilities you never thought achievable. And remember, you can be one of those stories!

So dive in, wake up the inner beast (more on that in the show), and let’s talk about the power of stories.

[00:01 – 03:33] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• A big thank you to our listeners
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • The power of story

[03:34 – 06:50] The Power of Story

• How I’ve been inspired by stories
• • Hearing how others broke through the impossible
  • Waking up the inner beast
• The stories of how people of color are changing what can be achieved
• • What was once not in our cards is now possible
  • You can be one of those stories

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[06:51 – 11:12] Willingness to Embrace Struggle

• Thank you to all those who dare to jump into their dreams
• Announcement for next Tuesday
• A word to those struggling with doubt
• • You don’t need to beat yourself up
  • Look to the stories of the others who made it happen
  • Being comfortable with struggle is essential for growth
• Here is your call to wake up the inner beast!
• jump into the dialogue and email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Way before I ever thought business was something I wanted to take on, I was listening to other people’s stories. I was hearing roadblocks that they’ve encountered, I was being inspired by how they navigated some of those challenges…” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

What if you trusted yourself enough to break the addiction to the paycheck and realize your dreams should be real? I hope you’re ready because this episode with my friend Jerome Myers could change your life if you let it. Jerome is the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of DreamCatchers and The Myers Development Group. Through these entities, he helps people manifest the things they imagine and creates social proof that dreams should be real! Jerome is well aware of the temptation of the ‘golden handcuffs’ of corporate and left that world to build a multi-million dollar multifamily real estate portfolio. Today he helps others through his two podcasts, DreamCatchers and Multifamily Missteps.

Jerome Myers is like a big brother to me and a huge inspiration to my own process! So let’s dive deep into this real, raw conversation and learn how to go from a dream chaser to a dream catcher by taking the “red pill”.

From a Dream Chaser to a Dream Catcher:

[00:01 – 08:00] Opening Segment

• I welcome Jerome Myers to the show
• • Bio
• Jerome talks about his background and revelations
• • “Taking the red pill”
  • Your life is your choice
  • The environment Jerome grew up in
  • How DreamCatchers started up
  • Dreams should be caught, not chased

[08:01 – 28:12] Taking the Red Pill: From a Dream Chaser to a Dream Catcher

• Making your dream something attainable
• • This hustle culture is a perpetual grind that burns you out
  • The idea of ‘never finishing’ is not complete
  • Where is it you want to go?
  • Putting the right strategy and guides in place
  • Recognize your wins and rest on the way to the promised land
• Jerome shares his journey through corporate and realizing there is more
• • Falling for the American dream
  • Realizing that time is short and life is precious
  • The lies we start to believe
  • We have a responsibility to our ancestry
• The overwhelming force of freedom
• • Not everybody is ready for it
  • The addiction to the paycheck is why people bury their dreams
  • Will stand up and step into your greatness?
• Jerome’s advice about using your gift
• • You’ve been beaten down by the system
  • We are taught to repress our gifts
  • You are unique and that is why you are here

• Book your free consultation at The Kas Company

[28:13 – 51:24] Framework for a Centered Life

• Jerome shares his experience sacrificing to get to where he is now
• • Having everything and hating your life
  • A day in Jerome’s life today
• What happens when you trust the process
• • You don’t have to give up your passion
  • An opportunity to make a difference
• Overcoming the challenges of believing in your gift
• • We tend to undervalue our gift
  • The true meaning of ‘help’
  • The action leads to the outcome
• What is next for Jerome Myers?
• • Freeing 100 people from something they’re not passionate about
• Jerome breaks down the six levels of the red pill
• • Self-image
  • Relationships
  • Work
  • Health
  • Prosperity
  • Significance
• The importance of matching actions with your words
• How to learn even more from Jermone
• • Jerome’s long term vision
  • Links below to connect

[51:25 – 54:27] Closing Segment

• My encouragement and gratitude to Jerome
• Jerome’s last words of advice
• • Your dreams should be real
  • You are now responsible for that promise
  • Take action today
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think there are so many people living their lives based on what’s been dictated to them instead of being deliberate about what they’re going to make with their life” - Jerome Myers

“Who am I still to be here, and even more, who am I not to make the most out of the time that I do have?” - Jerome Myers

“Don’t let your actions betray your words, because if they do, then the very person you’re trying to guide will look at you and say, you don’t have credibility with me.” - Jerome Myers

Resources Mentioned:

• Multifamily Missteps Podcast with Jerome Myers
• DreamCatchers Podcast with Jerome Myers

Want to connect with Jerome? You can find him active on Instagram. Ready to take the read pill? You can start here at https://www.jeromemyers.co/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Picture that big, audacious dream in front of you. Then allow me to add one caveat to that image: a powerful and loving support system surrounding you! Can you see them? In this episode, I want to talk about the importance of allowing the right people to come around you and how it can set you up for success. This journey is an arduous one, but it doesn’t have to be walked alone. And what better place to start than here, with the Dear Black CEO community?!

So jump in, and let’s talk about setting up a support system around your dream.

[00:01 – 03:50] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• I introduce the topic for today’s episode
• • A reminder of my personal journey up to this point
  • Becoming the face of the organization
  • It’s a big task that can’t be taken on alone

[03:51 –08:31] Your Dream Needs a Support System

• In the game of entrepreneurship - it is a leap of faith
• • The feeling of starting as a young infant
  • Remember God has got you by the hand
• The journey into the unfamiliar is not easy
• • You need support
  • Who lifts you up when you can’t stand?
  • People are out there who want to lend a helping hand

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[08:32 – 14:15] Be Willing to Open Up to the Ones Around You

• Dedicating this episode to my fiancée
• • I talk about how she supported me during my low point
  • “What’s the point of me if you can’t open up to me?”
• My advice to you in setting up your support system
• • Be willing to open up to the safe people around you
  • This path doesn’t have to be traveled alone
• Remember the purpose of this show is to bring a community together
• Dare to believe that the average can do something great
• jump into the dialogue and email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Having a strong support system is definitely a way to bolster that journey into the unfamiliar.” - Karl Sona

“It’s amazing how lonely it can be… it doesn’t have to feel that way, even if you are the only one building the business from the beginning.” - Karl Sona

“All great things that we revere and that we are in awe of came about as a result of an average woman, or an average man, who dared to believe in their ability to do something great.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

James Furman went from a man falsely accused of crime to the living embodiment of the word entrepreneur! When he launched his company, Mission4Media, he was able to lead his team in building a 7 figure ad agency from the ground up in only 1 year. When he’s not innovating and creating, James spends hours each day learning the newest ways to market businesses online, while utilizing leadership-based sales techniques that bring success. What makes him unique is that James has mastered the art of creating offers that no one can resist and following it up with inclusivity! With that, James now helps other agency owners and coaches with a ‘Done-For-You Program’ that boosts their sales processes.

Tons of value and wisdom in this episode, so if you want to learn how to create an irresistible offer, tune in and let’s learn with James.

How to Create an Irresistible Offer:

[00:01 – 04:55] Opening Segment

• I welcome James Furman to the show
• • Bio
• James shares a bit on his background
• • The experience of getting falsely convicted for a crime
  • Using the time in prison to getting educated
  • Motivated to use adversity as a win instead of a hinderance
• James talks about how to get unstuck from the current situation
• • Be open to the opportunities and positive outlooks
  • It starts in the mind
  • Put a plan in place

[04:56 – 15:43] Adversity to Triumph

• James talks about how to get unstuck from the current situation
• • Be open to the opportunities and positive outlooks
  • It starts in the mind
  • Put a plan in place
• How James left a 7-figure business
• • A growing desire to help businesses thrive
  • Building a marketing agency
  • Working with the wrong people
• James talks about building up his own business
• • How he realized 8 hours working for himself would generate more revenue
  • Jumping in right at the proof of concept
  • You need to map everything out beforehand

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[15:44 – 29:26] How to Create an Irresistible Offer

• Getting the confidence to get yourself out into the market
• • What are you passionate about?
  • Get education around your passion
  • Hone in on one thing
• James talks about creating a new business model
• • Losing 70% of business to COVID
  • Pivoting to solving the problem sales process
  • James’ model
  • Working with different clients
• How to achieve ‘irresistible offer status’
• • Make it an offer you know you can fulfil first
  • Lead with the biggest, scariest offer
  • • Ex: “I can guarantee a ROI in one month”
  • Create interest and then make it affordable
• How to hedge your big offer
• • It’s ok to get paid while you build your program
  • “Escape and arrival”
  • • What are you helping clients escape from and arrive at?
  • Make sure you have the knowledge and expertise beforehand
  • Bill something someone actually wants
• What’s next for the 7-Figure Growth Solution
• • The benefit of having things done for you
  • Support and coaching along the way
• How to get connected with James
• • Links below

[29:27 – 32:47] Random Round

• James’ nomination to come on to the show
• Best tip or strategy for Lead Gen?
• • Don’t be scared to have a regular conversation
  • People want to work with people they like
• Favourite mistake when starting out in business?
• • Talking before having the full idea
• One stereotype of that needs to be done away with?
• • That we all smoke weed and listen to hip hop!
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“If you’re putting all your eggs in one basket and you have proof of concept then you gotta believe in yourself at some point and just jump and make it happen.” - James Furman

“You always want to lead with the most irresistible, the biggest… the scariest offer but also something that you can fulfill, to get people in and that everyone can afford.” - James Furman

“Obviously you have to be professional, but business people are real people and people want to work with people that they like.” - James Furman

Resources Mentioned:

• Think and Grow Rich
• Journey to 7-Figures

Want to connect with James? You can find him active on LinkedIn and Facebook. For proven returns on YOUR marketing dollars, head on over to https://www.mission4media.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on iTunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

When push comes to shove in the entrepreneurial space, our knee-jerk reaction tends to be to push back harder. I’ve been learning more and more that not only does this not serve us, but this mindset actually invites more opposition to come our way. So what’s the alternative? In this solo episode, I really want to unpack the value of setting our intentions up BEFORE we hit opposition in order to combat the discouragement that inevitably comes with it.

Tune right in and let’s learn how to overcome discouragement by setting intention.

[00:01 – 03:30] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• We’re in this together
• • My goal is to give your perspective based on my experience
  • What I want to focus on today
  • • How to not get discouraged

[03:31 –07:44] An Intro to the Concept of Setting Intentions

• How our intentions set us up for long term success
• • The findings of Trevor G. Blake
  • Machismo may not be the way to break through resistance
• I share a story about my journey launching a new project
• • Going from excitement to disappointment
  • The battle in the mind that triggers when things go wrong

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[07:45 – 13:44] Overcome Discouragement by Setting Intention

• My advice for those stepping out as Independents
• • Discouragement is easy to fall into
  • Everything comes to ‘energy’
  • Know that things will happen outside of your control
  • • You CAN control your mindset and attitude
• It matters how we manage ourselves and set our intentions
• • What happens when things knock your energy out?
  • Recognize the frustration but stay upbeat
  • • It’s part of the journey
  • It’s not a straight path to independence
  • “Today’s frustration is tomorrow's triumph”
  • Set intentions for what it is you want
  • • Stay tuned for more on intentions in future episodes
• jump into the dialogue and email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Realize that the staircase we’re climbing is not straight and narrow, it’s not straight up and down.” - Karl Sona

“Today’s frustration is tomorrow’s triumph… the more we can get used to the ebbs and the flows the better you will be.” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• Trevor G. Blake

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

Have you ever heard someone say that you should never tell someone your business idea? In this episode, we’re going to flip that low level thinking on its head with Kimberly Archuleta. Kimberly is the CEO, Founder and visionary behind Avance Learning Solutions LMS. She has been leading the e-learning industry since 2000 and has a wealth of experience in professional, academic, political and corporate teaching. What makes her unique is that Kimberly focuses on unique methods of instructional design and development that provide strategic recommendations to enhance time-management and profits. It’s this high-potential thought process that has helped over 40,000 business employees around the globe excel.

Kimberly is a huge ball of energy and positivity, so dive right into the conversation and let’s talk about manifesting your vision through excitement and relationships.

Manifest Your Vision Through Excitement and Relationships:

[00:01 – 07:06] Opening Segment

• I welcome Kimberly Archuleta to the show
• • Bio
• Kimberly shares some background on herself
• • The origins of Kimberly’s energy and attitude
  • How Kimberly helps execute people’s vision
  • The value of sharing your vision with others

[07:07 – 22:47] Cultivating Excitement Towards Your Vision

• Kimberly talks about overcoming the doubt that comes with ideas
• • Real world example from Kimberly’s experience with the Pandemic
  • Getting the idea for another company during the waiting period
  • Having a positive mindset of ‘I can do this’
• You need to build up and ride out the momentum
• • Get excited even about the small opportunities
  • Let things progress naturally
  • Create space for yourself to innovate
  • ‘Never eat alone…’
• Kimberly talks about her path to entrepreneurship in learning and development
• • Leaving the sales world
  • A desire to teach people
  • Climbing the corporate ladder then leaving it all
  • • ‘I can do this on my own’
  • Getting her first investor
  • Risk = reward
• The importance of your level of excitement towards your vision
• • Weighing out the pros and cons
  • Are you happy?
  • Passion grows when it’s cultivated
• A secret to educating your clients/customers
• • Information is lost within a half hour of learning it
  • Engagement is key

[22:48 – 30:29] The Power of Relationship Building and Focus

• Kimberly talks about cultivating relationships
• • How she landed Toyota as her first client
  • It should be fun!
  • People who like you will refer you
• The power of focus
• • Every day is a new day and new challenge
  • Planning the next day in advance
  • How to be a ‘Doer’
  • • Make it a habit
    • Get excited about what you do

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[30:30 – 50:07] New Ventures, Visions and Manifestations

• Kimberly talks about her newest venture CBD Sea Salts
• • All purpose, all natural cooking salt
  • The health benefits that come along with it
  • Himalayan salt mixed with CBD
  • Current competition in the market
• Launching plans for the new product
• • Jumping into something completely new
  • Working with a tangible product for the first time
  • Distribution plans
  • Becoming the ‘Pepsi’ of Sea Salts
• How to connect with CBD Sea Salts
• • Links below
• The power and definition of manifestation
• • Orchestrating something within yourself to become reality
  • Envisioning the things you pray for
  • Get into the midst of what you want in your minds eye
  • Release it instead of holding onto too tightly
  • Kimberly’s example of manifesting in her own life
• The importance of Kimberly’s work as a female minority in the workforce
• • Giving back a voice to the voiceless
  • Using networking to break patterns
• How to connect with Kimberly
• • Links below

[50:08 – 53:35] Random Round

• What is your favorite healthcare practice?
• • Breathing and transcendental meditation
• Favorite mistake in starting a business?
• • Not understanding marketing
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I like the idea of never eating alone. Always have a networking meeting with someone that you don’t know… and just talk to them about what you’re doing and listen to what they’re doing.” - Kimberly Archuleta

“When you take risks you get really big rewards if you believe in yourself, if you have that mindset.” - Kimberly Archuleta

Resources Mentioned:

• The Awakening Series - YouTube Channel
• CBD Sea Salts Website
• Insta: @cbdseasalts

Be sure to connect with Kimberly over on LinkedIn and Instagram. Check out https://avancelearning.com/ - the future of learning is here, and you can be a pioneer.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on iTunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Let’s be honest, it’s not easy to break the handcuffs of the corporate world and set out on your own. You will face disappointment, discouragement, and disillusionment; and it’s when things get tough that those golden handcuffs start looking pretty good again. Maybe you’re grappling with something like this; having freedom for the first time - but I promise that freedom is worth the fight and if you stick it out, you will reap the benefits of resilience.

Sound easier said than done? Then jump right into the episode and be encouraged around what it takes to stay in the fight even when things get tough.

[00:01 – 06:01] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• A reminder of my exit journey and what made me decide to go to the next level
• • Why I decided to Exit
  • The reward was not worth the risk
  • • The full-time job got in the way of progress
  • Doing something new requires all your creativity
  • A shift to living out my dreams
• Today’s focus: Stay in the fight

[06:02 –10:09] Stay in the Fight

• You will face challenges and distractions on the way
• • I share the obstacles that came in my way
  • Getting a tempting offer that would cut my progress
• I talk about how I’ve been pushing through the difficulty I’m facing
• • Realize when something just isn’t sitting right with you
  • Reminding myself of my own prayers and desires

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[10:10 – 19:35] Freedom is Worth the Fight

• Building the mental fortitude
• • Independence is not an easy lifestyle
  • Remember that you need to build your dream not someone else’s
• How do I close the door for good?
• • What happened when I tried to say ‘no’
  • Taking the easy way out would be like killing the baby prematurely
• Freedom is not easy but it is good
• • It can be uncomfortable
  • Are you willing to pay the price?
  • Freedom takes responsibility to drive results
  • It is worth fighting for
• Identify the real enemy and fight
• • Comfort is the enemy of freedom
  • Stick it out and you will get the reward
• Email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I can’t help but feel that if I were to take the easy way out that I would regret it for the rest of my life.” - Karl Sona

“Freedom is worth it, it’s worth the fight… We need to live for these moments that are challenging, because they ultimately equate to the price that we pay to become familiar and comfortable with what it’s like to truly live free.” - Karl Sona

“There is a land abundant of milk and honey if you’re only willing to stick it out.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

Creating the life that you love and building something you believe in with people you enjoy; does this resonate with you? Then today’s episode with Daniel Oppong is exactly what you need to be tuning into. Daniel is the Founder, voice and heart of the Courage Collective, an initiative that solves the problem of diversity and economic inclusion in organizations by aligning with leaders who are actively trying to transform their workplace. Daniel believes that it’s only through courage that we will be able to embrace our humanity and the humanity in others to create a beautiful world.

Jump into this episode and learn more about leaning into your courage to create the change and life you want to see.

Leaning into Courage to Create the Life You Want:

[00:01 – 06:20] Opening Segment

• I welcome Daniel Oppong to the show
• • Bio
• Daniel gives some background to his story
• • Impacted by the events of 2020
  • What is justice?
  • A need to create culture and conversation

[06:21 – 24:10] Leaning into Courage to Create the Life You Want

• Daniel’s thoughts on acting on justice
  • Symbolic vs. systemic
  • Justice is about addressing the systemic
  • Symbolic gestures lose energy after time
• Should we be educating our counterparts?
  • While we have access to information, story has power
  • “We all come from somewhere”
• Daniel’s upbringing and family influence
  • Breaking away from a traditional path
• Daniel talks about his exit from the corporate world
  • What risk looks like to you is important
  • Daniel’s journey of navigating his identity
  • A growing desire to create impact
  • Betting on creating a life that you love
• How you have to lean into courage to overcome adversity
  • If the vision is still the same the strategy can change
  • Letting go of the image to create the thing you want
  • The role faith and spirituality played in Daniel’s path
• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[24:11 – 48:02] Your Ideas Need to Solve a Problem

• Daniel shares about the purpose behind the Courage Collective
• • Diversity and economic inclusion
  • Tailoring the human experience in the workplace
• What leaders need to learn and how we need to partner with them
• • There is a disconnect between them and the actual minority experience
  • They need to be willing to take risk and have courage themselves
  • Change is going to take intentional action
  • Find people who align to your values
• The lesson Daniel learned going into entrepreneurship
• • A good idea is not a good idea unless it solves a problem
  • You know your solving a problem if people are willing to pay for it
  • Don’t be afraid of the minimum viable product
  • Just start - get feedback - iterate
  • Be a steward of energy
• Leveraging contractors
• • People invest in what they care about
  • What are you co-creating?
• What the Courage Collective offers
• • Liberation Conversations
  • Courage and Community - launching 2022
  • Links below
• Daniel’s nomination for an interview on the show

[48:03 – 51:37] Random Round

• Favorite mistake when starting out in entrepreneurship?
• • Giving away too much of yourself
• Stereotype that needs to be done away with?
• • That we are monolithic - one representative of the whole
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“If I’m waiting for the people who don’t share my experience to lead me in this work, I’ll be waiting a long time… I need to be the one to create the conversation I want to have.” - Daniel Oppong

“Am I willing to invest in the unknown path even if it means I’m absorbing all the risk, all the cost, all the things that go into it and figure it out? For me the answer was yes!” - Daniel Oppong

Resources Mentioned:

• Liberation Conversation
• Create and Orchestrate

Be sure to connect with Daniel on LinkedIn or by emailing daniel@thecouragecollective.co. Check out https://thecouragecollective.co/ and start leaning into YOUR courage.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on iTunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

I get it, I really do. I walked the path of corporate success, seeing 6-figures put into my hands and the doors opening to a new lifestyle. But I had to ask myself, do I want to keep putting even MORE money into someone else’s pocket or do I want to realize my true worth? If you are in a similar situation, let me tell you, you are worth far more than what you think you are; and if you’re even so much as contemplating about getting into the ownership space, this episode is for you.

Jump in and join me on my exit journey. This is how I got out of the corporate world and into ownership without looking back.

[00:01 – 05:23] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• The focus for this episode
• • Exit strategy
  • The background behind my own exit
  • “What do I want to do next?”
  • Multiply your income and THAT’S what you’re worth

[05:24 –10:02] Take Stock of What You Have and What You Want

• Getting out can be hard when you have a lifestyle
• • Check out my story
• What do you feel called to?
• • Moving the needle while doing what you love
  • You don’t need to put off your dreams
  • You can make an economic impact
• Keep your worth in mind
• • As a minority
  • You are more than a job title
• Things to keep in mind if you want to exit
• • You may have to step back from the familiar

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[10:03 – 19:27] My Exit: How I Got Out of Corporate and Into Ownership

• Bringing my corporate experience out into the world
• • Putting my old identity to death
  • Corporate was preparation for me to step out
  • Valuable skills I learned in corporate
• Realizing it was time to move on
• • Called to be a solution
  • Going all in on my company
  • Stifle the noise and jump into the deep
• The next steps after putting in my notice
• • Making new partnerships
  • One door closes, another opens
• Tune in to next week for the new opportunities that are opening up
• Email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Even the best jobs that pay you handsomely well and allow you to travel the world - they end up putting you in a corner where you’re really just focused on you, yourself and you. They handcuff you.” - Karl Sona

“There’s more to you than just the fancy job title.” - Karl Sona

“When one door closes, if it’s the right thing, and if it’s the right time, the good Lord provides you with the opportunity for another to open.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

For those who are thinking through next steps in your family business, or even if your just starting to build up generational wealth for your family to take over in the future; this episode will be vital in your journey. Nike Anani is an entrepreneur and a consultant. She was rated as a top-100 Family Business Consultant globally. She’s known especially for helping her clients bridge the gap between the senior and younger generations. With over 10 years as both a business founder and a NextGen, Nike is able to uniquely empathise with both generations and act as a connector. Nike is passionate about diversity, and celebrates the uniqueness in every individual, family and business.

Dive into Nike’s story and expertise as we learn more about building a sustainable legacy family business model.

Building a Sustainable Legacy Family Business:

[00:01 – 07:07] Opening Segment

• I welcome Nike Anani to the show
• • Bio
• Nike gives some background to her story
• • Lived in Lagos, Nigeria and UK
  • A dad who ran the family business in Lagos
  • How she took the path of economics
  • Joining Deloitte
  • A desire to have agency and ownership
  • Transitioning to a mindset of legacy

[07:08 – 24:39] Building a Sustainable Legacy Family Business

• The disparity family businesses face
• • Lack of succession planning
  • Lack of knowledge and estate transfer
  • A need for collaboration
• How Nike filled the need in her country
• Nike’s perspective on first generation entrepreneurs
• • Seeing her dad without liquidity
  • Many have assets but it needs balance with liquidity
  • Nike’s role in the family business structure
• The advantage of next gens to operate in non-executive roles
• • Opportunities to play more strategic roles
  • Second Gen comes with different needs than first
  • Think about your investments
  • Moving from Me to We
• What it’s like navigating the emotional side of operating a family business
• • “We are emotional beings who occasionally think”
  • The importance of gaining self awareness
  • Try to divorce the emotions from the logic
  • There is value in using a coach

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[24:40 – 42:02] The Responsibility of Legacy

• Nike talks about being an effective change coordinator
• • It’s time to adapt in a fast moving world
  • Transformational business leave transformational legacies
  • The impact you make is beyond just you
• Thoughts on ‘lifestyle entrepreneurship’ vs. the responsibility
• • ‘To each their own’
  • Legacy has two components
  • • Time
    • Space
  • Legacies can be lived in our present time
  • Entrepreneurs have a responsibility to make a lasting impact
  • The world needs your mind to sustain success
• It’s time for the world to learn from our culture
• Nike’s words of wisdom for the Next Gen
• • Be patient, it’s a process
  • Understand the perspectives of those around you
  • Be selfless and protect the legacy
  • Be intentional about social capital
• How to connect with Nike
• • Lifetime to Legacy
  • • Coming soon
  • Links below

[42:03 – 44:12] Random Round

• Nike’s recommendation to come on the podcast
• What is your best tip for doing business with your family?
• • Empathy
• Favorite mistake when working with family?
• • Not separating emotions from logic
• What industry or sector would you recommend for family businesses?
• • Don’t just pursue financial, pursue social impact
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think the world needs to learn from our culture. We’ve imported so much, we need to export and teach.” - Nike Anani

“You’re moving from I, Me to We… You don’t want individual rulership, you want collective leadership.” - Nike Anani

“Businesses that are transformational leave transformational legacies… As an owner, the impact you’re making is beyond you.” - Nike Anani

Resources Mentioned:

• The Connected Generation Podcast

Be sure to connect with Nike on Instagram and LinkedIn. Visit https://nikeanani.com/ for more award winning business strategies.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on iTunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In this episode I have some exciting news to share with you guys. I’ve always been open about my own journey through the corporate world versus the ownership space and today is no different. It’s the start of some new things and I hope that whoever tunes in is encouraged that when you surrender to the process and step out in faith, you make room for some incredible things to happen.

[00:01 – 02:11] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• Ownership is the true path to equity

[02:12 – 4:42] A Shifting Perspective to Ownership

• Challenges in the C-Suite space
• • Working where no one looks like you
  • Thoughts about climbing the corporate ladder
  • 1% to 2% of minorities sitting in the executive space
• Choosing to pivot away from the corporate world
• • Entering a space of ownership

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[04:43 – 07:59] I Fired the Man

• Update on my exit strategy
• • I QUIT MY JOB!
• Announcements coming up soon
• • I’ll break down the full story
• A reminder to surrender to the process
• Email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“When you are audacious enough to step out in faith, and you are willing to surrender yourself to the process, and acknowledge that you are being prepared by the Lord, you end up making room for some incredible things to start to happen.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

While we typically focus on hearing from minority CEOs and entrepreneurs, it’s important we get a three dimensional perspective from all people. As promised, today I’m bringing in two super stylish, super creative executives from the corporate space, Rachel Smith and Matt Joblon. Matt is the CEO and Founding Partner of BMC Investments, boasting a portfolio of over 9,000 multifamily units and over $500M in projects. Rachel is the Director of Partnerships at the Clayton Members Club, an intentionally cultivated community of social, business and creative leaders unified by common values and dedicated to living a more meaningful and impactful life. Both these individuals partnered up to bring the Members Club to life from a place of inclusion and diversity.

You don’t want to miss out on the gems in this episode. Tune in and find out how more companies are thriving on values of relationship building and diversity.

It’s Time to Adapt to More Diverse Business Models:

[00:01 – 08:19] Opening Segment

• I welcome Matt Joblon and Rachel Smith to the show
• • Bio
  • My connection to Clayton Members Club
• The importance of style
• Matt talks about the start of the Members Club
• • Leading with a focus on creating a great team
  • The partnership journey with Rachel
  • How partnership made the difference
• Rachel talks about the driving force behind her motivation
• • Relationships first
  • A core value of impacting people and giving back
  • Making something ‘exclusively’ inclusive

[08:20 – 22:47] Building Business Relationships to Create an Inclusive Community

• Matt shares about the vision and inspiration behind the project
• • Coming in to the market at the right time
  • Identifying the needs no one else is focusing on
  • Looking at the project holistically
  • Creating a diverse and inclusive community
• How to get the community to buy-in
• • Tried and true
  • “Not about me but us”
  • From 40 members to exponential growth
  • Delivering on the promise
• I talk about my view from a consumer perspective
• The ‘horror’ stories of getting the place up and running
• • 2 years to negotiate the building
  • 18 months of pure planning
  • 7 different variances
  • People didn’t know they wanted this
  • The challenges with the building
  • How the pandemic affected the opening

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[22:48 – 42:15] It’s Time to Adapt to More Diverse Business Models

• How a rising minority population will affect business
• • A chance to open up with diversity at the forefront
  • The turn around that business models took
  • ‘Good enough’ isn’t good enough
  • How complacency may come into play
• Matt and Rachel share about the diversity model of the Members Club
• • Making something lasting and sustainable
  • A model that tackles financial barriers
  • • Giving different ways to contribute
• A long term look at the Denver area
• • A thriving culture
  • High quality of life
  • The possible challenges and risks
• Getting people to agree on the problem we’re trying to solve
• • We get solutions when we all agree on the problem
  • It’s time to shift the narrative
• Why diversity is so important to Matt and Rachel
• • Keeping an open world view
  • Communities thrive under true diversity

[42:16 – 47:25] Random Round

• What is something unique about you that is contrary to being ‘white’?
• • Rachel: appreciation for diversity and dancing
  • Matt: always attracted to people who are different from me
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Different things motivate different people and for me it’s the quality of my relationships and the ability to learn from everyone I’m around… personally and professionally.” - Rachel Smith

“Every time you identify a need that no one else is focussed on and you execute at a high and no one can really copy you… that’s a pretty strong business plan!” - Matt Joblon

“You’re not really a global citizen if you’re living in your small world… We all stand to gain when you listen in to other people’s experiences.” - Rachel Smith

Resources Mentioned:

• Members Only: Matt Joblon opening Clayton Members Club & Hotel in Cherry Creek
• Bringing Denver Together with Culture, Style, and Philanthropy with Rachel Smith
• Capitalism in America

Get more from Rachel by visiting https://claytondenver.com/ and learning more about the incredible and diverse community that’s being built.

Reach out to Matt on LinkedIn as well. Don’t forget to check out https://bmcinv.com/ and dive into the real estate space with these visionary leaders.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on iTunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

For so long it’s been ingrained in us that we need to hustle the competition in order to get ahead in business. While having a competitive edge is definitely key, I truly believe we miss out on a huge opportunity to scale long term success when we focus on competition rather than collaboration. Times have changed. The ones who make it in their industry today are not the cut throat tycoons, but the ones who employ empathy and build relationships in their sector. So let’s start getting these relationship building tools in our hands.

Jump into the episode and start learning about the art of building relationships.

[00:01 – 04:09] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• A look at our topic for today
• • An intro to building relationships
  • With other business within your industry

[04:10 – 10:02] The Art of Building Relationships

• Losing the us vs. them mentality
• • Times have changed
  • We are in the partner economy
  • Organizations are looking for long term partnerships
• The path to long term success
• • Relationships are the new competition
  • Finding complimentary values
• Challenges of small and diverse businesses
• • Lack of capacity/bandwidth
  • Overextending yourself on contracts
• Making partnerships make sense in your business
• • Take an audit: Employ the SWOT method
  • • Strengths
    • Weaknesses
    • Opportunities
    • Threats
  • Get exposed to what people are doing around you
  • Get out of your box

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[10:03 – 16:39] Scale with Strategic Alliances

• The benefits of partnerships
• • Scaling your business
  • Winning contracts
  • Building cash flow you can hand down
• It doesn’t have to be hard
• • Keep a look out for the new course
  • Just find compliments in your industry
  • • Where are they strong where we’re weak?
  • Get a piece of the pie
• Quick actionable steps
• • Take a look at your weaknesses
  • What does your industry need?
  • Look for businesses that could be a good fit
• Make it a Triple-Threat Win
• Email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Strategic alliances are something that all of you need to be considering, especially if you want to scale, especially if you want to win those mega-huge contracts…” - Karl Sona

“Having a competitive mindset is a great thing… but sometimes, competitiveness can be scaled to an exponential level when you take a mindset of being collaborative first.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

At the end of the day, people want to partner with people, not your product or your pitch. The best way to show up as a person - serving people! Marlon Gordon is a perfect example. Marlon is the Founder and CEO of the NxtGen Network, a creative marketing agency built on relationships; passionate about telling stories and empowering others through innovation. Marlon is passionate about partnering with some of the biggest names in the industry to impact Child Nutrition and Hospitality. He is also co-creator/co-host of the LINQ’D UP podcast. Marlon has found success and impacts others as a visionary, a team builder, and is man fueled by a faith.

What an incredible heart this man has. Tune in now and learn all about building high-ticket relationships all while solving a problem and serving people.

Building High-Ticket Relationships While Serving People:

[00:01 – 09:48] Opening Segment

• I welcome Marlon Gordon to the show
• • How we met
  • Bio
• Marlon shares his background and being field by faith
• • Learning to let go of control
  • Learning on the job
  • Being called to be a communicator
  • Meeting Tommy Walker

[09:49 – 16:12] Take the Leap of Faith

• Marlon talks about stepping out and making a leap of faith
• • Building relationships through the learning process
• The importance of taking care of your soul on the job
• • Find solid mentors
• Marlon’s biggest pitch
• • First Taste TV
  • Pitching an idea to big names like Kellogg’s
  • Connecting child nutrition with the feel of The Food Network
  • Solving the pain point COVID brought

[16:13 – 29:05] Building High-Ticket Relationships While Serving People

• Marlon’s first hand tips on relationship building
  • Prepare and do your research
  • Be professional and personable
• Moving through high spaces as a minority
  • Marlon’s background as a 1st gen Jamaican American
  • Learning about minority struggles secondhand
• Marlon shares about leaving corporate to start his own business
  • Serving people not stockholders
  • “I do things my own way, not the corporate way”
  • Starting as a side gig

• how to drive revenue as an independent

  • People buy people
  • The process of building partnerships

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[29:06 – 48:16] How to Build Culture and Values

• A look inside the inner workings of NxtGen
• • The timeline
  • The difference between the company Innovators and Network
• Marlon talks about how to lead others
• • Hire people who fit your company culture
  • Build your company’s culture
  • The importance of accountability
  • Get rid of ‘parking lot’ talk
• Balancing building a brand with your life
• • Learning to focus on the goal
• Getting back to the main thing - serving people
• • Figuring out what can serve people that is fun for us
  • Getting manufacturers their ROI
  • Making creative content that solves problems
• Marlon talks about his non-profit NxtGen Cares
• • Taking medical professional to Jamaica
  • Teaching trades to people in tough spots
  • Helping with consultation and equipment
  • Staying grounded in gratitude

[48:17 – 54:23] Random Round

• Favorite loophole/wealth creation strategy?
• • Short term and long term goals
  • A digital currency connected to Child Nutrition
• Negative stereotype of minorities that needs to end?
• • Thinking minorities can’t be intellectual
• Advice for people trying to sell with authenticity
• • Only sell what you believe in
  • Get used to the word ‘no’
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I just knew that I had to surround myself with people that are more experienced, that are wiser than me, who are smarter than me, people that are gonna look out for me and people that are going to keep me in check.” - Marlon Gordon

“People buy people not products… Being able to show that you're a person, but you know your business - I mean, that's gonna give you a head start.” - Marlon Gordon

“A loss doesn't have to be a loss, a loss can be a lesson. If you're not losing, then you're not learning.” - Marlon Gordon

Resources Mentioned:

• LINQ’D UP Podcast
• First Taste TV

Reach out to Marlon on Instagram or reach out to marlon@nxtgen.com. Be sure to visit https://nxtgennetwork.com/ and become part of the NxtGen family.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Let’s be honest, companies that haven't partnered with minority owned businesses before often feel that they are a risk to start. It’s time to put an end to that, but to do this the onus is on one thing: how you portray your brand. Your reputation will speak much louder than your pitch and ultimately that will decide your success in the marketplace. In this episode, I want to give you some very actionable steps that will help clients and organizations see you as a reward instead of a risk.

Let’s dive into these strategies I believe will help you build your brand reputation.

[00:01 – 03:34] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• Your brand reputation determines success in the marketplace
• • Minority owned businesses tend to be seen as a risk
  • We need to help others see our value

[03:35 – 08:19] Build Your Brand Reputation

• Make your own opportunities
• • Be proactive
  • ‘What do you do’
  • Make it about who you do it for
• What is your value proposition?
• • What is in it for the individual asking you
• How to let companies know you’re legit
• • Mitigate the risk to give the reward

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[08:19 – 16:22] How to Gain Others’ Trust and Confidence

• Don’t be afraid to ‘toot your own horn’
• • Give people confidence in you
  • Outline your wins on paper
• Organizations are looking for you - you need to step forward
• • Communicate your value
  • Promote your reputation
  • Make it creative
• Understand how your clients like to do business
• • Who do they make decisions? How do they buy?
  • Every customer is an individual with nuances
  • Show your empathy
• Recap of actionable points to take away from the episode
• • First think about your brand reputation by looking at your presence
  • Think about what it is you do and how you communicate it
  • • ‘What’s in it for me?’
  • Don’t just go for the kill, build the relationship
  • • Get to know what they need and how they think
• Email me at karl@dearblackceo.com
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“The question, ‘what do you do,’ should always be reframed to, not just what you do, but who you do it for; understanding that when folks ask that question they’re really trying to figure out, in a second or two, whether or not you’re really worth their attention.” - Karl Sona

“We don’t give ourselves enough credit, we don’t brag on ourselves enough…Taking the time to build up a portfolio of what you’ve done well and to lead with that… it can go a long way.” - Karl Sona

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

So many people are passionate about creating generational wealth, but a lot of fire and zeal will get you nowhere without a solid plan of navigation and the knowledge to get there. Fredrick Standfield, CFP, CPA, is the Founder of LifeWater, where he shares financial know-how and creates personalized plans to help people avoid financial mistakes and stress so they can achieve the financial freedom to live the life they want. With over 15 years of experience in corporate financial planning, budgeting, analysis and management, he has been responsible for impacting families for generations to come.

Let’s dive in and grab some wisdom from Fredrick on creating generational wealth by passing down, not only resources, but knowledge.

Creating Generational Wealth Through Financial Literacy:

[00:01 – 07:00] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Fredrick Standfield to the show
• • Bio
• Fredrick shares his background and journey into finance
• • Growing up in the rural south
  • Faced with the stark lack of knowledge of money at a young age
  • Seeing firsthand the stress financial illiteracy causes
  • Getting into the right environment to learn

[07:01 – 20:05] Leveling Up Your Conversations

• Fredrick talks about his ‘real-life’ education process
  • Making mistakes early on
  • Starting in with a CPA firm
  • Seeing the wealth while auditing trusts
• Fredrick shares about the lessons learned from working in corporate finance
  • “I want to do what those guys do”
  • Taking away the value and importance of working relationships
  • Vision and planning are critical
  • It takes determination and hard work to get up to the level you want
• Going out and starting your own business
  • Pursuing the essence of purpose and impact

• What happens after you get to the C-Suite

  • More responsibilities and expectations
  • The challenge of shifting your focus
  • An increased importance on building relationships

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[20:06 – 37:29] Creating Generational Wealth Through Financial Literacy

• Fredrick talks about his venture into starting a business
• • Purpose, vision, and impact
  • Seeing the need to bring financial literacy to people
  • Having a plan to get to your goal
  • The importance of timing, yours and God’s
• Fredrick’s advice to people wanting to create generational wealth
• • It all starts with planning
  • Get your capital resources in order
  • Reinvest into your business with your early sales
  • Arm yourself with financial literacy
• Planning a strategy to build generational wealth
• • Remember wealth is in knowledge not just money
  • You have to have intent and focus on what you want to achieve
  • ‘The Johnny Appleseed Approach’ - turning a little into a lot
• What’s next for Fredrick
• Nomination for a guest on the show
• How to connect with Fredrick
• • Links below

[37:30 – 39:48] Random Round

• Who is your dream client?
• • Professional athletes
• Negative stereotype of minorities that needs to end?
• • That we can’t think within a corporate or business setting
• Favorite loophole/wealth creation strategy
• • Estate planning
  • Using the lifetime gift exception
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Vision: where am I going and what’s my purpose? Why was I put here on this earth and how can I make a difference?” - Fredrick Standfield

“A lot of dreams die on the battlefield, if you will, because you don’t have the plan of execution.” - Fredrick Standfield

“You need knowledge to go with the physical wealth so that you can enhance that and then pass it on to future generations… Knowledge is what gives you the wisdom to turn your finances or your cashflow or your assets into wealth for future generations.” - Fredrick Standfield

Reach out to Fredrick on LinkedIn or call 770-800-8432. Be sure to visit https://getlifewater.com/ and connect to a life of financial freedom!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

What is the single biggest challenge you face right now as it relates to getting corporate contracts? As we’ve been touching on in the past weeks, there is a massive opportunity for us to create equitable opportunities for more diverse suppliers to participate in the market. So In this episode, I want to spend some time deconstructing how this show will start bringing in resources and strategies that I believe will help you get your foot in the door, get you a seat at the table, and win those corporate contracts!

Let’s dive in and start the conversation around some of the biggest supplier diversity challenges that you’re facing right now.

[00:01 – 04:25] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• I remind us where we’ve been focusing as it pertains to minority inclusion
• • Creating equitable opportunities for more diverse suppliers
  • Benefiting organizations with long term partnerships
• Remember this is a safe space to access resources

[04:26 – 07:52] The Benefit of Understanding Who We’re Serving

• Opportunities for partnerships coming soon
• • Let’s start hearing from the other side
• Organization have a huge task in front of them
• • Attracting diverse suppliers while also needing to cut costs
  • We need to understand what they are up against
• Creating a frame around our solutions
• • You have the solution to their desired outcome

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[07:53 – 14:01] Biggest Supplier Diversity Challenges

• How to make this beneficial for everyone
• What is your single biggest challenge in winning contracts?
• • Difficulties in discovery
  • Challenges with broken systems
  • Issues within the organization siloing purchasing decisions
• Reach out to me with your biggest challenge - email karl@dearblackceo.com
• • Subject: Biggest Supplier Diversity Challenge
  • Let’s get the conversation started
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think we can all benefit from starting to better understand what some of these organizations are up against… There is definitely a lot to gain by better understanding their world.” - Karl Sona

“Dialogue is the best thing we can ultimately engage in… Active dialogue leads to both sides being heard, and it leads to missing pieces of information being discovered - that once discovered can lead to meaningful action being taken.” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

We have a responsibility to champion our youth if we want to see change. Mai Moore believes that they are not just the future, they are the present! Concerned about the prevalence of poverty-level living environments, the disconnect between society and resources, and the extent of violence among African-American children prompted Mai to take action and become the Co-Founder and executive director of EYEJ, a non-profit organization empowering youth exploring justice. In this episode Mai sheds light on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as gaining the necessary support to drive it.

Let’s dive right into Mai’s incredible story and how she is being a voice for change while empowering youth to do the same.

Empowering Youth to Become Advocates for Change:

[00:01 – 07:11] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Mai Moore to the show
• • Bio
• What drives Mai to become part of the solution
• • Originally from OH
  • Background in the Tech industry
  • Seeing a toxic environment among women in corporate
  • Noticing a divide among communities
  • Feeling called to make change
  • The premise of EYEJ

[07:12 – 19:56] Empowering Youth to Become Advocates for Change

• Navigating the challenges of a Change Maker
• • Dealers of hope
  • Learning to pull each other
  • Empowering the youth is the key to success
• Driving change in communities
• • Let’s be holistic and preventative
  • Gaining support from local governments
  • The truth is here and everyone needs to get involved

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[19:57 – 27:44] Driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Through Unity

• Gaining support from corporations
• • An opportunity to invest back into the community
  • Stipulations that are often interjected
  • The importance of relationship building
• It’s time to unite not divide
• • America is a leader, we need to demonstrate
• Mai shares about the 501C3 funding situation
• • How to move forward strategically
  • Uniting with non-profit organizations
• What keeps Mai going through the struggles
• • Motivated by young people
  • The passion of the team
• How to get connected with EYEJ
• • Links below

[27:45 – 29:11] Random Round

• How to keep your dream alive?
• • Just keep going
• Negative stereotype of minorities that needs to end?
• • Generalizing that minority is ‘negative’
• Advice for non-profit organizations to be proactive
• • Be open and listen
  • Support others in the process
• How to connect to Mai
• • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I never actually thought I’d be working with youth, I never thought I’d be doing anything about social justice, non-profit… but I had a calling.” - Mai Moore

“We need to empower our youth, that’s our duty as humans… Everyone says ‘they’re our future’ - they’re our now!” - Mai Moore

Reach out to Mai on Instagram and Twitter. You can get in touch by emailing mai@eyej.org. Make sure you check out https://eyej.org/ and be a part of driving social justice reform.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on iTunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

How intimate are you with your customer’s experience? I once heard it said that in order to give the customer the best service possible, you need to meet them at their desk. The key is to find that big stack of paper sitting on their desk that YOU are qualified to clear for them. You may have a compelling offer that people need to solve the problems they face. So how do we do this and what pitfalls should we be avoiding?

Take a quick 15 minutes to dive into this episode and learn how to ‘meet your customers at their desk’ and how scaling and building your team will help you do it better.

[00:01 – 05:15] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change

[05:16 – 10:30] Meet Your Customers at Their Desks

• I talk about how organizations have been interested in business development
• • Understanding the problems they face
  • Falling in love with the customer experience
  • Take a look at the desk of your customer
  • What can you take off of their desk?
• Your service should be THEIR solution
• • I give an example of solutions I give
• The importance of building your team
• • It’s never too early to scale

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[10:31 – 16:14] Scale Your Team to Give the Best Service

• Fighting the temptation of going to the market as an independent
• • This shouldn’t be the end goal
  • Think globally, not locally
• Creating opportunities for others and yourself through scale
• • There are people more qualified than you who want to help
  • Save yourself from burnout
  • Don’t just focus on acquisition
  • Focus on team building
• Let me know your thoughts!
• Feel free to get in touch with me
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“You really gotta fall in love with your customers, and you really gotta fall in love with your customer’s experiences.” - Karl Sona

“Find a way to meet your customers at their desk… You want to try to find the stack on their desk that you are qualified to take off… Exchange your value or solution and put that in front of them as a potential opportunity that they can capitalize on.” - Karl Sona

“In order to do a great job… I need more qualified people on my team!” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

View Details

Welcome to another solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

How intimate are you with your customer’s experience? I once heard it said that in order to give the customer the best service possible, you need to meet them at their desk. The key is to find that big stack of paper sitting on their desk that YOU are qualified to clear for them. You may have a compelling offer that people need to solve the problems they face. So how do we do this and what pitfalls should we be avoiding?

Take a quick 15 minutes to dive into this episode and learn how to ‘meet your customers at their desk’ and how scaling and building your team will help you do it better.

[00:01 – 05:15] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change

[05:16 – 10:30] Meet Your Customers at Their Desks

• I talk about how organizations have been interested in business development
• • Understanding the problems they face
  • Falling in love with the customer experience
  • Take a look at the desk of your customer
  • What can you take off of their desk?
• Your service should be THEIR solution
• • I give an example of solutions I give
• The importance of building your team
• • It’s never too early to scale

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[10:31 – 16:14] Scale Your Team to Give the Best Service

• Fighting the temptation of going to the market as an independent
• • This shouldn’t be the end goal
  • Think globally, not locally
• Creating opportunities for others and yourself through scale
• • There are people more qualified than you who want to help
  • Save yourself from burnout
  • Don’t just focus on acquisition
  • Focus on team building
• Let me know your thoughts!
• Feel free to get in touch with me
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“You really gotta fall in love with your customers, and you really gotta fall in love with your customer’s experiences.” - Karl Sona

“Find a way to meet your customers at their desk… You want to try to find the stack on their desk that you are qualified to take off… Exchange your value or solution and put that in front of them as a potential opportunity that they can capitalize on.” - Karl Sona

“In order to do a great job… I need more qualified people on my team!” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

It’s time to stop hiding what you do and be present and unapologetic about it. I can’t think of a better example of this than Brittani Hunter’s story. Brittani is a culture-driven, media-tech entrepreneur that’s passionate about building products that impact, educate, and elevate the Black community. Recently, she launched the platform Mogul Millennial to help Black entrepreneurs and professionals advance in their careers through smart, actionable content, resources, and experiences. This startup has quickly grown to become a leading voice for professionals looking to elevate their careers and/or businesses and as CEO and Founder, Brittani has been listed on the Forbes #Next1000, LinkedIn Top Voice, and PVAMU 40 Under 40 list, in recognition of her incredible work.

Jump into this episode and learn from Brittani how important partnerships are, especially in the digital space, and how to monetize your content by partnering with the right people.

Monetizing Content by Tapping into Strategic Partnerships:

[00:01 – 06:30] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Brittani Hunter to the show
• • Bio
• What drive Brittani to become part of the solution
• • Naturally curious and questioning - ‘But Why?’
  • Seeing problems that needed solving for Black workers
  • Launching her business through LinkedIn at first
  • Creating her own platform

[06:31 – 19:56] Being Unapologetic About Whatever You Do

• Brittani shares about breaking into the workforce after college
• • Graduating early
  • Realizing something isn’t for you
  • Pivoting into media
• Thoughts on how Black workers should be in media and in the workforce
• • Be present and upfront
  • Start telling your story
  • Never be apologetic about what you do
  • Building your brand within the organization
• The process of preparing to exit to go independent
• • Planning and putting things in place
  • Aligning your steps with God’s plan
  • Following the signs

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[19:57 – 31:11] Monetizing Content by Tapping into Strategic Partnerships

• Brittani talks about monetization of an idea
• • Making money through advertising
  • The importance of building traction
  • B2B on the backend
• How Brittani connected with other Corporations
• • Figuring out the right people to go to
  • Surveying the audience
• How to grow and scale to create more opportunities
• • Proper goal setting and KPI’s
  • Connect with your audience more intimately
  • Small but powerful audience
• Brittani’s nomination for a guest on the podcast

[31:12 – 32:28] Random Round

• Critical do and don’t when pitching?
• • Do: quickly Get to the business opportunity for the listener
  • Don’t: spend to much time sharing your back story
• Stereotype about African American culture that needs to end?
• • That Black owners and products should be discounted
• Loophole to create success
• • Using and leveraging your current skill set
• How to connect to Brittani
• • Links below
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“You should be unapologetic about what you do, you shouldn’t have to hide it - and I feel like if you’re at a place where you have to hide it, then you’re probably not at the right place!” - Brittani Hunter

“I felt like this was something that was created for me to do. So I think prayer, bringing in friends that also are believers, was something that was needed in my journey for sure.” - Brittani Hunter

“If you’re not properly setting goals or if you don’t have any KPI’s for your business, then I don’t see how you can properly scale it because you don’t have a clear direction of where you’re at or where you’re going.” - Brittani Hunter

Reach out to Brittani on Instagram and LinkedIn. Make sure you check out https://www.mogulmillennial.com/about/ if you want to get access to resources and content that will elevate your entrepreneurship.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Have you ever felt alone within an organization as a minority or even breaking out of one? I want you to know today that you don’t have to go it alone. More minority entrepreneurs and owners are booming into success every day, and my goal is to help you become one of them. There is a massive opportunity for more diverse suppliers to become more active in the value chain. That’s why I’ll be moving in a slightly different direction with this podcast to start building strategic relationships with people on the corporate side of the equation.

Dive into this episode and find out the big news on how I will be helping you level up your relationships in the private sector!

[00:01 – 03:29] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• • You’re not alone!
  • You don’t have to get stuck in the corporate world

[03:30 – 12:10] Leveling Up Your Relationships in the Private Sector

• It’s time to get to the next level as minority entrepreneurs
• I want to develop more relationships in the private sector
• • There obstacles here to overcome

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[12:11 – 13:52] Where We’re Going Next as a Podcast

• More interviews with corporate workers in the private sector
• • Stories from people who found success from diversity in suppliers
  • Organizations are raising their hands for help
• Let’s bring everybody in the room for a conversation!
• • My hope is to make deals happen
• What to look forward to in the future
• Feel free to start with me!
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“It’s really critical that we shift the lens and the perspective of society and that we shine a light on some of these folks that are doing incredible things in their communities and in their industries.” - Karl Sona

“Organizations understand that they’re missing out on an opportunity to better connect with their customers, or they're missing out on the opportunities to be more nimble… if they’re not bringing more diverse suppliers into the fold.” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

No strong house is built without a firm foundation, and starting a business is no different. Devonée Thaxton is nearing 6-figures on this very principle. Devonée is the CEO and Founder of ProSAvvy Strategic Performance Agency, an agency dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs grow and scale their business through tailored strategic planning. She is a certified online business manager, operations specialist, digital marketing maven, and ‘kickass implementer.’ Devonée is a firm believer in strategy first, implementation later, and she’s here today to impart some of that strategic expertise to the way we do business.

If you want to see your vision not only to become a reality, but to grow exponentially, then tune in with me and Devonée as we dive deep into implementing strategic planning as a foundation for scale.

From Vision to Scale Through Strategic Planning:

[00:01 – 05:39] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Devonée Thaxton to the show
• • Bio
• Devonée talks about the importance of planning
• • What are you doing now
  • Where do you want to go
• Important items to have during the startup phase
• • Content planning
  • Know who you are and what you’re providing

[05:40 – 18:56] From Vision to Scale Through Strategic Planning

• How Devonée built out her vision
• • Aligning herself with a servant’s heart
  • Making organization out of chaos
  • Build dreams through operations
• The pivot away from the corporate world
• • Having an overlap
  • Hitting savings goals
• Don’t approach your goals with a scarcity mindset
• • Add up your privileges
  • You can’t go wrong with planning
• Staying in alignment with what you want
• • Who do you want to be?
  • What do you want to give the world?
• Growing your business from the lens of revenue
• • Knowing your worth
  • Steadily raising rates

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[18:57 – 28:59] Creating the Foundation for Exponential Growth

• Finding your clients
• • Avoiding ads
  • The power of networking
  • Building out your team first
• How Devonée planned out her Scale
• • The importance of delegation
  • Thoughts on hiring a contractor
• Next steps for ProSavvy and how it can benefit you
• • Building out VIP sessions
• Devonée’s interview nomination

[29:00 – 32:28] Random Round

• Who is your dream client?
• • Oprah and her operations team
• Stereotype about African American culture?
• • That black owned business are cheap
• Loophole to create success
• • Hire people to do things for you
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“If you’re always working from a servant's heart you will find more people who may need more help and you provide what you can that aligns with you.” - Devonée Thaxton

“I love making organization out of chaos… I love taking a vision and dream and going, ‘that is awesome! I have fifteen questions…’” - DevonéeThaxton

Resources Mentioned:

• ProSavvy Services

Reach out to Devonée on Instagram and LinkedIn. Make sure you check out https://www.prosavvyas.com/ if you want to grow, scale, and soar as an entrepreneur.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Hopefully those of you who tune into this show have big, audacious dreams you want to achieve. If you see an issue you can solve, or you know you have a talent or ability that could impact the world around you, then you’re in the right place. When you take the next steps closer to your dreams, you need to know that it requires you to live at a higher level; after all, ‘to whom much is given, much is required.’ While I can’t promise it gets any easier, I can guarantee that it will get better!

Dive into today’s episode and let's chat around some questions that I believe will be pivotal for you to answer in order to take the next steps in whatever journey you’re on.

[00:01 – 05:02] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast and my vision for change
• Chasing your dreams requires you to live at a higher level
• • When you first step out you realize there will be challenges
• Today’s focus: It Never Gets Easier, But it Does Get Better

[05:03 – 12:10] It Never Gets Easier, But it Does Get Better

• I talk about the challenges you will face stepping out
• • You will be tested
  • You need to get armored up
• I share a story about getting a gift at the door
• • The Dream Giver
  • I have not graduated from doubts
• There are serious questions we should ask ourselves

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[12:11 – 24:52] Six Questions You Need to Answer to Achieve Your Dream

• What have I always been good at?
• • We focus too much on our gaps
  • What is your strength?
• What needs do I care most about?
• • It’s not about us but what we can do
• Who do I admire most?
• • Find people who are the hero of their own journey
• What makes me feel most fulfilled?
• • This puts meaning behind the process
• What do I love to do most?
• What am I called to do?
• • This is your ‘Why’
• Your Maker is cheering you on
• • No matter how hard it gets
• Feel free to start with me!
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“When it comes to fulfilling a BIG dream, you’re going to get tested… you’re going to get beat up, you’re going to get bloodied.” - Karl Sona

“To get armored up for all those difficulties that are, quite honestly, daily - is just remembering why I got started in the first place.” - Karl Sona

“It’s not about me, it’s not about any of us… It’s about what we can do and the positive impact we can have on the people around us.” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

After this episode, you’ll leave with the kind of motivation that will help you push through whatever you’re going through and reach the other side of your goals. That’s because we have Courtney Samuel in the house! Courtney is a body builder and former football player. Starting out as an awkward kid, he honed in on his love for football eventually becoming the highest recruited athlete in North Dakota State history. When his time as a football player was done, he pivoted into the business world. After pushing through seemingly impossible obstacles he is now CEO of his own business, BBP (Bodies By Perseverance).

In this episode, Courtney will give us a look behind the curtains at his journey into the business world, and how he found success by realizing that the path to his purpose was paved with perseverance.

The Path to Your Purpose is Perseverance:

[00:01 – 07:53] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Courtney Samuel to the show
• • My relationship with BBP
  • A bit about Courtney
• Courtney talks about the struggle that led him to creating BBP
• • The effect Covid had on his family and business
  • Coming to Jesus moment
  • Forced to stop and rest
  • Adjusting and persevering

[07:54 – 19:25] The True Meaning of Perseverance

• Courtney shares about his time in college and football
• • Finding the love for football
  • Accomplishments during his time
  • Struggles breaking into the NFL
• The transition into and out of his corporate career
• • From the field to programming computers
  • “I can’t do this for the rest of my life”

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[19:26 – 36:19] The Path to Your Purpose

• Courtney talks about opening his gym
• • Seeing the signs
  • Having the ‘cheese’ to fund it
• Getting the funds to open up
• • 5 g’s and borrowing against his 401(K)
  • Grinding 9 to 9 for six years to get it up and running
• The path to your purpose
• • Find out why God put you here
  • Instilling the right values and mindset into your kids
  • The influence from mentors
• Courtney talks about the importance of the location of BBP
• • The ‘Red Line’ in Five Points
  • The largest area for black owned businesses in Colorado
• What’s next for Courtney and the gym
• • Driven by competition
  • ‘The Best Gym in the World’
  • Pouring your vision into your workers

[36:20 – 40:27] Random Round

• Courtney’s ideal sneakers
• • Yeezy’s
• Stereotype about black culture that needs to be done away with
• • That we do ‘second-hand’ business
• Favorite loophole/strategy for wealth creation
• • The law of attraction
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“My dad always told me, ‘it’s never as bad as it seems, it’s never as good as it seems…’ Life is perseverance, perseverance is life.” - Courtney Samuel

“Once you find your purpose on Earth, nothing stops you from that… Even if something does stop you, you gotta figure out a way to fix it so you can get back on ‘go’.” - Courtney Samuel

Resources Mentioned:

• Courtney Samuel

Reach out to Courtney on Instagram. Make sure to check out https://www.mybbp.com/ and start looking into getting your body by perseverance.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Here’s the thing: you know you have solutions to problems organizations face, but too often we see ourselves knocking on doors with our hands out rather than creating strategic partnerships. While it’s nice to get a little capital in the pocket, I truly believe it’s time to stop selling ourselves short and think of the long term strategies that will yield long term possibilities. In this episode of the minority inclusion series, I want to focus in on the idea of presenting solid business justifications that support the kind of partnerships that open the door for more minorities to participate in the marketplace.

Be sure to dive right in and get these insights that will help you break down some doors and start presenting business justifications that will actively propel minorities in the workforce and create strategic partnerships.

[00:01 – 05:40] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast show and my vision for change
• Minority inclusion series recap
• • Part IV
• Job creation among minorities
• Today’s focus: Business justification

[05:41 – 19:08] Presenting Business Justification

• Why should someone partner or ally with you?
• • Go passed just philanthropy
  • Think long term possibilities
• How this relates to the value chain
• • Minority Inclusion Part V
• Why you shouldn’t sell yourself short
• • Minorities are quickly becoming the majority
  • Organizations are looking to sell to people just like you
• How to qualify where a business is
• • Do your research
  • Most organizations don’t know who to call
  • Be the disruptive solution
• Noting the differences in generations
• • Things are changing in the business world
  • Learn what the organization cares about

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[19:09 – 33:25] How to Actively Create Strategic Partnerships

• People are motivated more by fear than excitement
• • How can you use ethical persuasion?
  • What is at stake for the organization?
  • What are their competitors doing?
• Closing the Wealth Gap
• • It requires FULL participation of minorities in the workforce
  • We are navigating a broken model
• How to overcome the challenges we face
• • 1. Clear understanding of our value
  • 1. Seek to move further up the value chain
  • 1. Nurture the relationships you make
• Help others BE and DO better
• Feel free to start with me!
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“I truly believe that one of the biggest challenges holding us back… is the fact that some of these decision makers in these organizations just don’t know who to call.” - Karl Sona

“Disruption is everywhere, that’s the beautiful thing about us as entrepreneurs. We look at where organizations are missing the mark and we look at opportunities to improve.” - Karl Sona

“Position yourself to be the key-partner that they’re missing right now or the key consultant that can actually take them to the new level they ultimately want to go to.” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program. Feel free to reach out to me at karl@dearblakceo.com with any questions.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

We’re going to blast away ALL the stories we tell ourselves that keep us from success. If you’re ready to grab your wins, then this episode is for you. Daniel Mangena, ‘the Master of Success’, is a prolific author, public speaker, coach and podcast host with a mission to enable people to choose an abundant, purpose-driven life! Born and raised in London, England - at the age of 27, he was given the revelatory and life-shattering information that he had Asperger’s syndrome. Pushing through a whirlwind of uncertainty and doubt, he persevered to build and lose, and build again, a more than one multi-million dollar fortune, curating valuable lessons the whole way through.

Let’s dive into some of those lessons in this episode and learn how to manifest abundance in our life, how to allow pain to teach us, and how to practically apply microshifts to our lives.

Abundance is Your Birthright - Make it Your Mindset:

[00:01 – 06:10] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Daniel Mangena to the show
• • Bio
• Daniel talks about how his experiences have led to success
• • The reality of growth
  • Stepping into a place of gratitude
  • Without tension and pain there is no growth

[06:11 – 14:35] Pain is The Ally to Growth

• Daniel gives advice around framing pain as growth
• • Take ownership
  • Anything can happen at anytime
  • Resourcefulness and resilience
• What inspired and pushed Daniel into success
• • Wrestling with failure
  • Seeking the problems in his manifestation
  • Turning his life around with the help of a coach
  • Managing the inputs of experience

[14:36 – 23:59] Abundance is Your Birthright

• Daniel talks about the mindset that surrounds abundance
• • Bringing it back to nature
  • Abundance is our birthright
• Strategies to be more proactive in adopting abundance
• • 1. Be easy on yourself - you’re human
  • 1. Question your reality - Don’t reject or resist it
  • 1. Feed your unconscious awareness through your inputs
  • 1. Get collaborative with the voice in your mind not oppositional

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[24:00 – 41:55] The Magic of the Microshift

• Daniel shares the microshifts he utilizes
• • Money DNA
  • Push your edge not your buttons
  • Building ‘asking and getting’ momentum
  • Celebrate wins
• The doorways to the gift
• • Example of an obstacle becoming the win
• Don’t hold back on anything you do
• More resources from Daniel
• • The Money Game
• What’s next for Daniel
• A black CEO to nominate to be on the show

[41:56 – 47:10] Random Round

• Daniel’s dream celebrity client
• • Kevin Hart!
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that needs to be done away with?
• • The self-imposed view of being ‘from the hood’
• What’s your favorite loophole or wealth creation strategy?
• • Microshifts - from $0 to to a Million
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Unless there is tension, unless there is stress, unless there is some level of pain or discomfort, there is nothing changing and there is nothing growing and you WILL stay the same.” - Daniel Mangena

“Abundance is your birthright, it’s a natural thing… It’s what you are.” - Daniel Mangena

“The mind is the gatekeeper to experience. There’s nothing that you can have in your physical reality that your mind does not conceive as being possible…” - Daniel Mangena

Resources Mentioned:

• Micro 2 Millions Course
• Stepping Beyond Intention
• Do It with Dan Podcast
• The Money Game: A Wealth Manifestation Guide

Reach out to Daniel on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Also, check out https://dreamwithdan.com/ and start attracting greater abundance into your life!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

There are major corporations and people at the top looking for us, so it’s about time we start inserting ourselves into the conversation. In the last episode we talked about the value chain and how to participate in it. Today we’re taking it a step further and learning how to actually move up that value chain and get closer to the source. No one can, or even should, build a scalable business on their own, and once you start laying the foundation for high level relationships, you can start getting into high level money.

Jump in and let’s talk more about relationship building further up your value chain.

[00:01 – 05:18] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast show and my vision for change
• Minority inclusion series recap
• • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III
  • Part IV
• Job creation among minorities
• Today’s focus

[05:19 – 12:17] Relationship Building Further Up Your Value Chain

• What happens when you’re closer to the source of the chain
• • More control, more profit
  • Competitive advantage
• Examples of getting further up the chain
• The gaps in our current business networking
• Correcting the issues
• • People are looking for us
  • Take advantage of the competitive edge
  • It’s time to insert ourselves into the conversation

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[12:18 – 24:29] Getting Further Up the Value Chain

• You have to be proactive
• • Example from my experience
  • Disrupt the fear of risk through relationships
  • Start taking initiative
• Connect and build relationships
• • Know, like, and trust
  • Figure out the people you need to know
  • Build interest, and be interested
  • Don’t be afraid to educate
• Getting high level money
• • Build the foundation first
  • Delegation within the organization
  • Start testing the waters - validate the pain points
  • Get your ‘Black Swan’ moment
• People are looking to open and partner up more than ever
• Don’t undersell yourself
• • You have the solutions to problems
• Feel free to start with me!
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“The closer you are to the source, the more you control the value chain the more profitable you can be.” - Karl Sona

“A lot of these corporations are looking to connect with people just like us. So, doesn’t it make sense for us to be part of the way that they create and deliver that value in the market…?” - Karl Sona

“At the end of the day, business is all about building relationships. Getting the sale is all about people knowing you and trusting and wanting to ultimately buy from you because they know, like and trust you.” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• Way of the Wolf

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

Discipline is a mindset that transcends sports, and today you’re going to learn how to adopt the kind of mindset that will lead you to the wealth creation you’re dreaming of. LaVonne Idlette, Managing Member of 1st Class Group, LLC, is an Olympic Athlete who is also an Experienced Executive and Brand Development Consultant & Advisor with a history of building multimillion dollar alternative asset portfolios, and real estate holdings all while vetting and educating the clients for future success. LaVonne is focused on legacy creation, tax mitigation and risk minimization. She has worked with numerous NFL, NBA, Olympic athletes as well as ultra high net worth individuals to reach their lifelong goals.

If you want to learn how to have the same kind of discipline that leads Olympians to victory in business, then jump into this energetic conversation with me and Lavonne.

Creating Wealth Through Olympian Level Discipline:

[00:01 – 05:18] Opening Segment

• I welcome the LaVonne Idlette to the show
• • Bio
• LaVonne shares the discovery of her gifts
• • No such thing as a stranger
  • Natural problem solver
  • How her gifts inform her success in business
  • Who not how

[05:19 – 18:26] Having Olympian Level Discipline

• Confidence: the Antidote to Fear
• • The story behind the snake
• LaVonne shares her journey to the Olympics
• • Analogy of the prom and the piggy bank
  • The training process
  • Race = who’s the fastest, Olympics = who’s the fittest
• When discipline kicks in
• • Pushing through the low days
  • Surrounded by the right people
• Combating inequality in sports and business
• • Shining a light
  • Thoughts on corporate responsibility
• Navigating the transition away from athletics
• • Educating herself while in sports
  • Always hungry to learn

[18:27 – 24:19] Practical and Proactive Wealth Creation

• LaVonne on Legacy Wealth Creation
• • 1 - Transferring capital between generations
  • 2 - Transferring knowledge
  • 3 - Leaving a legacy and impact
• How to buy stable income with your wealth
• • Active vs. passive income
  • The benefits of real estate investing
  • Raising the next generation on smart money

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[24:20 – 36:46] Managing Multiple Businesses and Income Streams

• LaVonne talks about her business streams
• • Breakdown of LaVonne’s business structure
  • Creating solutions through real estate
• How to structure your portfolio from the first step
• • ‘Make more money’
  • Customer development
  • Just get it out there
• LaVonne shares on her networking and education piece
• • Million$Network: Effective Networking
  • • Links below
• How to reach out to LaVonne
• • Links below
• Nomination for a future guest - Joshua Mathis

[36:47 – 39:08] Random Round

• Favorite hype song to get flowing
• • Jeezy
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that needs to be done away with?
• • Poverty - we are flourishing just fine
• What’s your favorite loophole or wealth creation strategy?
• • Accelerated Depreciation
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“It’s all about our decision making to hold people to the standards we want.” - LaVonne Idlette

“Every other day you’re going to feel terrible, tired, sore, other stuff in your life is happening - THAT’S when the discipline kicks in.” - LaVonne Idlette

“Discipline transcends sports, it’s a mindset. I just do whatever’s required.” - LaVonne Idlette

Resources Mentioned:

• Confidence: The Antidote to Fear
• Lean Customer Development
• Effective Networking Master Class

Reach out to LaVonne on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Also, check out https://lavonne.carrd.co/ for even more ways to connect and learn.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

It’s my view that the single most important thing that needs to happen to close the wealth gap and promote economic growth among minorities is our participation in the economy itself. No change comes about by focusing on the problem, so in this episode we are going to dive in on what it means to be part of the value chain, why it’s important, and how to break through and serve an active role within it.

Tune in now and let’s talk more about minority participation in mainstream value chains.

[00:01 – 05:00] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast show and my vision for change
• Minority inclusion series recap
• • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III
• Narrowing the wealth gap
• Today’s focus

[05:01 – 14:34] Minority Participation in Mainstream Value Chains

• What is the value chain
• • Definition and examples
  • Playing a major part in outsourcing
• Why it’s important
• • Increased entrepreneurship in the minority population
  • The issues of not being in the value chain
• The benefits
• • More wealth and job creation
  • Bringing minority role models to the forefront
  • Less tax burden
  • Opportunities to serve

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[14:35 – 25:44] Minority Participation in Mainstream Value Chains - Continued

• What needs to be done to make this happen
• • Education and mentorship
• The roles we can step into
• • Token roles vs. mainstream roles
• Action items to take today!
• • Think about where you sit currently in the value chain
  • Locate and identify the spot you can go after
  • Understand the needs and gaps of the organization
• Let me know your thoughts!
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“In my opinion the single most critical metric when it comes to being able to truly understand the progress that needs to be made towards minorities becoming more active participants in the economy… is our participation in mainstream value chains.” - Karl Sona

“One of the single most sources of jobs being created for minorities is BY minorities… I think about the number of positive influences and role models that stand to be created when more minorities are allowed to participate in the economy.” - Karl Sona

“I think at the end of the day, we all have a lot more in common than we’ve been led on to believe.” - Karl Sona

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

This is proof that entrepreneurs that find success are the ones who see the unmet needs and have the creativity to meet them by seeking to serve. In this episode we have, corporate worker turned influential business owner, Kara Sax. Kara is a thought and business leader who serves as CEO of Sax Agency, recognized as one of the preeminent full-service research, marketing, advertising and activation firms. Ditching the corporate ladder, she fulfilled her entrepreneurial dream, lending her voice and advocacy to underserved communities while working with companies and organizations to give transformative solutions with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Today’s episode is PACKED with value! So tune in as we unravel what it means to create something great by filling those gaps that are going unseen in the marketplace.

Listen to the Notes That Aren’t Being Played:

[00:01 – 06:25] Opening Segment

• I welcome the Kara Sax to the show
• • Bio
• How Kara embodies the Dear Black CEO values
• Kara shares the inspiration behind her creativity
• • How Simpsons of all things comes into play
  • Hearing the notes that aren’t being played

[06:26 – 27:27] Listen to the Notes that Aren't Being Played

• Kara talks about her journey escaping the corporate world
• How Kara navigated her termination
• • “I knew I was going to be okay”
• How the Sax Agency was born
• • Seeing the missing link between edge and analytics
  • The project that led to its inception
• A heart and head to serve any and everybody
• • The experience phase
  • Working with Debbie Allen
  • Shifting to a collaborative experience
• Kara shares how she attracts ideal clients
• • Honoring the people in your network
  • Delusional optimism - be a little crazy
  • The law of reciprocity

• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[27:28 – 44:14] Success is in the Service of Others

• How Kara as a CEO keeps Sax Agency in good shape
• • Don’t chase profitably, define and execute it
• How the industry is changing in this current time
• • Kara’s connection to the George Floyd tragedy
  • Understanding the heart behind a company before doing business
• You don’t need to hide your business’ identity
• Focus on your work not the credit behind it
• Kara talks about her upcoming book - Your Win Within
• How to connect with Kara and her work
• • Links below
• Who inspires Kara to nominate to be on this show

[44:15 – 49:34] Random Round

• What’s your go-to ensemble to dress for success?
• • Designer pins and broach - we ain’t here to play
  • Mixing it up with a jumpsuit/sneaker combo
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that needs to be done away with?
• • That we need to be 10 times better than we are
• What’s your favorite loophole or wealth creation strategy?
• • SEO !!!
  • Get yourself a big digital magnet
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“‘I’m not listening to the notes that are being played, I’m listening to the notes that are not being played’… I actually have to come in with my own flavor and bring some sauce that other people are not bringing.” - Kara Sax

“What we realized is… It’s a collaborative exchange. Clients, plus us; my employees have to be happy… If I can’t service their creativity, their needs, their happiness, then the output is not going to be what it is.” - Kara Sax

“Look to your left, look to your right, look in front of you and look behind you; and also figure out how you can be in service to them. Because this world is about reciprocity!” - Kara Sax

Resources Mentioned:

• Your Win Within: Conquering Self-Sabotaging Behavior

Connect and engage with Kara on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Check out https://thesaxagency.com/ for the best consultation in social media marketing and web design!

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

No matter how big or small your business is, it’s important to prioritize its health. Today’s solo episode is the third part of our Minority Inclusion series. Last week really honed in on ‘scaling your business,’ and in this episode, we’ll do a deep dive into what it looks like to sustain that growth to stand the test of time.

Tune in and grab these 8 principles to sustaining growth in your journey to building a successful business.

[00:01 – 08:04] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion for this podcast show and my vision for change
• Creating ownership
• Minority inclusion series recap
• • Part I
  • Part II
• Today’s focus

[08:05 – 15:54] 8 Principles for Sustaining Growth

• 1st Principles
• • Gain a strategic clarity
  • Understand your core competencies
• 2cd Principle
• • Get the things you hate/not good at, off your plate
  • Focus in on your ‘bread and butter’
• 3rd Principle
• • Financial literacy - managing your cash flow
  • How timing comes into play
  • Episode with Perry Jeffries

If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• See the link below to book your free consultation today

[15:55 – 28:44] 8 Principles for Sustaining Growth - Continued

• 4th and 5th Principle
• • 4 - You need to have control systems
  • How do you track progress in your business?
  • 5 - putting efficient processes in place
• 6th Principle
• • Don’t let your organizational structure get in your way
  • Example of the Hub and Wheel
• 7th Principle
• • Don’t be more self oriented rather than customer oriented
• 8th Principle
• • Have a broad service/product offering
  • Example from my own experience
• Let me know what your thoughts are on this
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com and let’s talk
• Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“At the end of the day we can’t achieve scale if we’re not going to be around for the test of time…” - Karl Sona

“If we don’t know where we’re going, we’re unlikely to actually get there… Having that clarity is key.” - Karl Sona

“Thinking about who it is you serve and how there are additional applications for them to better serve, may give you a little bit more variety in your product offering and how you ultimately position yourself within the marketplace.” - Karl Sona

Resources Mentioned:

• Connect with Perry Jeffries

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to another great episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

Today’s episode is one that’s really special for me, as this is the first time I interview two guests at the same time, but not just any two guests, on this episode we have the power couple Courtney and Dr. Tye Caldwell founders at ShearShare. They share their story on how they created a Startup company that helps a wide variety of barbers, beauty professionals, saloons and barbershop spaces connect with each other in order to turn empty spaces into extra dollars, by providing the opportunity to beauty professionals to rent affordable salon suites, stations of barber chairs near their location or anywhere in the country. ShearShare’s App has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Black Enterprise and more.

Listen as we unroll the challenges of taking a business idea into an app, funding, leadership, couple dynamics, pitching the idea to investors and more as we take on today’s episode:

The Greatest Engine of Jobs and Wealth Creation for the Beauty and Barbering Industry with The Caldwells

[00:01 – 12:24] Opening Segment

• I welcome the power couple Dr. Tye Caldwell and Courtney Caldwell founders at Shearshare.com
• How faith and trust has set the foundation for their marriage and Startup.
• Dr. Tye describes how the seed was planted to create their Startup.
• Courtney talks about her career goals in the corporate world.
• Dr. Tye shares his view on leadership and entrepreneurship within the black female community.
• Courntey’s journey and challenges through the corporate world.

[12:25 – 30:27] Finding a problem to solve

• The power couple explains how the barbershop and beauty salons business work.
• • Clientele and location.
  • First experience at the early stages of their business model.
  • Coming up with the idea for an App to provide their solution.

• Seeking out wise counsel when coming up with their idea.

• Building the MVP.
• Courtney shares how their roles are set up and how they complement each other when running a startup together.
• How God is trying to get your attention.
• I share how in the middle of restless nights I asked myself some tough questions and my mission on this planet.
• Book your free consultation at: The Kas Company

[30:27 – 53:28] Leadership and taking ShearShare to Silicon Valley

• Dr. Tye describes how some experiences in his life have shaped his leadership skills and style.
• • Family influence.
  • People who came across his path.
• How they pitched their idea to investors at Silicon Valley
• • Winning Startup of the year.
• How to approach investors and what they are expecting when looking to invest in Startups.
• Being open to alternative forms of funding and raising capital.
• Courtney explains why they firmly believe in the phrase: “The riches are in the niches”
• ShearShare’s niche, future projects and services.
• Connect with our guests, see links below.

[53:29 – 55:48] Random Round

• What’s the best piece of advice you would give your partner onboard with an entrepreneur venture?
• • Dr. Tye: Honesty, sharing the same vision and never leaning to your own understanding.
  • Courtney: “Feed what you want to live and starve what you want to die”

• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?

• • That we are aggressive people .
• What’s your favorite wealth creation strategy for you and your family?
• • Diversification.
  • Helping people to get to where they want to go.

Tweetable Quotes:

“ The peace that I’ve received since jumping away from corporate America and coming into the crazy world of startup foundership I feel I have much more peace, even if it’s not monetary, just being able to wake up every morning and have that sense of peace in my home and in myself, that to me it’s worth something that money can’t buy. ” – Courtney Caldwell

“I like to look at leadership as a moral thing, as a respect thing and not as a thing where you are putting someone down to put yourself in front.” – Dr. Tye Caldwell.

“We happen to be starting with space as a service because we know that no matter what tool a barber picks up: a pair of clippers or some hairspray that a hairstyle needs. They have to have professional space to work.” - Courtney Caldwell

“Our goal in leaving this legacy is to make sure that ShearShare is the greatest engine of jobs and wealth creation for the beauty and barbering industry ” – Courtney Caldwell.

Connect with the Caldwells at: courtney@shearshare.com, tye@shearshare.com.

Follow them on Instagram with the handle: ShearShare.

Twitter: @ShearShare and Facebook: ShareShare Facebook’s Page

Visit their website: www.shearshare.com

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Today’s solo episode is the second part of our Minority Inclusion series. In this particular episode, I will be talking specifically about how to start with the end in mind, focus on scale, and position ourselves to reach new levels in our business.

Let’s listen and dig more about minority inclusion.

[00:01 – 04:35] Opening Segment

• I talk about my passion and mission for this podcast show.
• Creating ownership
• The book that I am currently reading
• • Minority Business Success by James H. Lowry
• The topic of today’s episode.
• • Some of my takeaways from the book.
  • A few considerations in taking things to the next level.

[04:36 – 11:29] Start with The End in Mind

• How to start with the end in mind?
• The Northstar of what we want to achieve.
• Ensuring your brand is reaching new levels of prestige and notoriety.
• The first 2 phases of business natural trajectories.
• Passing the survival phase.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• Fetch opportunities from offering outsource services.

[11:30 – 18:42] Focus Scale

• Think about how we scale and position ourselves.
• Focus on controlling the controlable.
• Find the way to become more valuable and integral parts of the value chains of the major organizations.
• Showing that we are a business of size and scale.
• Obstacles that prevented us from having the opportunity to scale.
• • Wealth gap
• Work on your business vs. within your business.
• Other ways to achieve the scale.
• • acquisition model.
  • Strategic alliances.
• The points of scale especially for start-up or survival.
• Let me know what your thoughts are on this.
• • Shoot me an email at karl@dearblackceo.com
• What is coming up on next week’s solo episode?
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Getting more sales is the first thing that we need to be the focused on if we want to grow .” – Karl Sona.

“Find the way to become more valuable and integral parts of the value chains of the major organizations.” - Karl Sona.

“The challenge is we don't get those opportunities without showing that we are a business of size and scale.”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

In today’s episode, we are very blessed to be joined by an inspirational CEO that is on a mission to inspire social change through immersive storytelling, her name is Kenia Mattis. She is the CEO AND founder of ListenMi Caribbean, an award-winning Animation & Digital Design Studio that focuses on storytelling for social change.

Her productions of note include a Sesame Street short film called ‘D is for Dress Up;’ the award-winning animation concept The Adventures of Kam Kam, League of Maroons, and Fimimoji.com.

Let’s tune in and dig more about Kenia’s inspiring story in creating social change through storytelling.

[00:01 – 06:00] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Kenia Mattis.
• Kenia talks about how animation creates a profound way for us to identify ourselves in the real world.
• The power of animation
• • Animation allows you to stretch your mind, expand your horizon, and leaves you a vivid image that lives beyond the end of the story.

[06:01 – 15:19] The Spiritual Confirmation

• Kenia shares about her journey from the beginning of her study.
• The process of taking the leap and act of faith to her dream.
• Kenia talks about avoiding the golden handcuff of the corporate.
• • Placing her values in the future and setting the direction of her next step.
• The spiritual confirmation to start the journey.
• Finding the confidence and passion.
• Qualify yourself by doing and learning.
• Perseverance and continuity.
• Building, measuring, and learning.

[15:20 – 23:59] The Sacrifice and The North Star

• The personal sacrifice in starting her business
• • Taking the bet on herself
  • Bootstrapping
• Kenia talks about how she invested herself emotionally, physically, and financially.
• Sacrificing her old self, wellness, and health to drive forward.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• Kenia talks about her north star to strive and grow
• • The value of Jamaican storytelling.

[24:00 – 31:39] Leverage Storytelling to Create Social Change

• Why it is important that the content is being created by the members of the community.
• Two sides of her storytelling business.
• • Helping people to build their business by becoming their thinking partners.
  • Develop original products and projects
• Helps Jamaican companies to be digitally fluent and connect with their audience.
• The values of Jamaican stories and products
• Kenia breaks down the main obstacles for Jamaican cooperation in digital communication.
• Connect with people where they are.
• The caring aspect in corporate communication.
• Building trust and relationships in business transactions.

[31:40 – 41:00] Fund and Revenue Side

• Kenia talks about several ways of funding the capital in the business
• Gaining early customers.
• Grant funding.
• Initial funders.
• Revenue model side.
• • Services and products.
• Kenia talks about self-doubt amongst creatives and entrepreneurs.
• • The quickest way to get rid of self-doubt is action.
• Digital workshops for kids
• • Greater cakes
  • The Adventures of Kam Kam - Space Explorer
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Monique Powell

[41:01 – 43:13] Random Round

• What is your favorite cultural dish that I have got to check out when I come to Jamaica?
• • Ackee and saltfish with roasted breadfruit and fresh green plantain
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Jamaican or Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • That we always know some famous people.
  • Not a business-friendly environment
• What is your favorite character in the league of maroons?
• • Melissa
• Final words from me.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Animation allows you to stretch your mind, expand your horizon, and leaves you a vivid image that lives beyond the end of the story.” – Kenia Mattis.

“The big part of communication is so that people would care about what it is that you are saying.” – Kenia Mattis.

“At the end of the day business transactions are founded on relationships, therefore building that connection through appealing stories is very important.” – Kenia Mattis.

“The quickest way to get rid of self-doubt is action.” – Kenia Mattis.

Find out more and connect with Kenia on Instagram, and LinkedIn.You can also visit her business page at https://www.listenmi.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

Today’s episode is titled: Minority Inclusion, and this will also be the start of a new series on the topic of economic Inclusion of minorities, especially for the black community in America. In this episode, I will be talking specifically about the concept of minority inclusion, the current situation of economic inclusion for minorities. In addition to that, I will also discuss the influence of minority inclusion on the health of the American economy and its future.

Let’s listen and dig more about minority inclusion.

[00:01 – 04:45] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about my vision and purpose for this podcast.
• The number one killer of the black-owned start-up.
• • Lack of mentorships and networking opportunities.
• The topic of today’s episode.
• • The concept of minority inclusion.
  • Economic inclusion for minorities in the US.

[04:46 – 11:09] Minority Inclusion

• What economic inclusion means?
• • A market economy that ensures everyone gets fair and full access to labor markets, regardless of their background, race, etc.
• Powerful statistics of minorities in the American economy.
• The financial risk of a start-up business.
• The wealth gap.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[11:10 – 19:54] Minorities Participation in Value Chain

• The challenges for minority-owned businesses
• • Participate in the value chain.

• I share an example of one of the American value chains.

• The statistics of minorities' participation in the value chain.
• The entrepreneur aspiration of the black community in America.
• The reason why minority inclusion is critical.
• We need to find a way to raise the level within our organizations to develop our skill-set.
• The future of our nation’s prosperity.
• Please leave any feedback or share any topics you would like me to cover in the next episode.
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“The biggest challenge for minority-owned businesses is to be able to participate in the value chain .” – Karl Sona.

“Entrepreneurial aspiration is equivalent in the black community relevant to the white community core competency.” - Karl Sona.

“It's one thing to give philanthropically, but it's another to cultivate a recurring and predictable revenue stream on the back end of that philanthropy that allows us the opportunity to grow as a viable business.”- Karl Sona.

“Our nation's future depends on us as minorities to rise, prosper, and to achieve the American dream.”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by a special guest known and recognized internationally as the “Entrepreneurs CFO” , his name is Perry Jeffries III. He is the president of Diamond Equity advisors. Perry and his team specialize in Consulting six and seven-figure entrepreneurs that are trying to figure out how to create wealth through their businesses. They are one of the few firms across the globe that hold a certified profit first professional certification.

Let’s dig in and learn more about Perry’s inspiring story of how he builds his business and legacy.

[00:01 – 05:44] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Perry Jeffries.
• Perry shares his background and how he was raised.

[05:45 – 16:00] The Start of Entrepreneurship Journey

• Perry’s first introduction to entrepreneurship journey.
• Perry shares the story of when he lost his job in the corporate world.
• The psychology and mindset shift of entrepreneurship.
• Be the most valuable and impactful to the marketplace by helping those entrepreneurs to get in gear.
• Perry breaks down what CFO means.
• Fractional CFO.

[16:01 – 25:33] Build Your Business and Create Legacy

• Perry defines what wealth is.
• Why W2 job is not the most efficient way to create wealth.
• The holistic view of wealth.
• Statistical standpoint.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• The difference between hustle and business.
• • You can pass a business onto your kids, but it has to be structured the right way.
• The key to entrepreneurship piece.
• • You have to build a business, knowing that you're going to pass away one day.

[25:34 – 39:00] The Value of Team

• The origins of Diamond equity advisors.
• Fully licensed investment advisory firm.
• A home for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• What you will get from working with diamond equity advisors.
• • A team of entrepreneurs.
• Build up the systems.
• The market customers of Diamond Equity Advisors
• • Five indicator issues.
• The products of Diamond Equity Advisors.
• The Kash flow club.
• Create the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• How to connect with Perry.
• • See links below.
• Perry shares one key takeaway.
• • The value of a team
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Donna James

[39:01 – 44:02] Random Round

• Who’s going to the playoff this year in the basketball league?
• • Team LeBron.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • The flashiness.
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Create assets that generate income and get more assets.
• Final words from me.

Tweetable Quotes:

“When it comes to the wealth piece, we have to look holistically; it’s not just about the financial freedom but also the time freedom.” – Perry Jeffries.

“You have to build a business, knowing that you're going to pass away one day.” – Perry Jeffries.

“We got to work with each other and build with each other.” – Perry Jeffries.

“you can't go about this entrepreneurship thinking that you are going to do this by yourself; you’re going to have to have a team.” – Perry Jeffries.

Find out more and connect with Perry on Instagram, LinkedIn and his business page https://www.perryjeffries.com/. You can also visit www.THEKASHFLOWCLUB.com to join the club.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I will be talking about where I am at in my journey, which I think would be very helpful for anyone planning to exit the corporate world or having a career change—the difference between starting again vs. starting over, and also how to develop your personal core competency.

Let’s listen and dig more about the perspective of starting again and personal care competency.

[00:01 – 05:29] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I share some ideas of what this podcast is all about.
• • The CEO mindset
  • Having the belief that you are the person of value and have a unique gift to contribute to the world on another level
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • Where I am at in my journey.
  • The perspective of starting again.

[05:30 – 11:29] The Perspective of Starting Again

• Where I am at in my journey right now.
• Impostor syndrome, fear, and anxiety in making the transition.
• The difference between starting over and starting again.
• The perspective of starting again.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• The asset of skills to leverage.
• I share my experience in the transition process and starting something new.
• Leverage the experience in corporate and translate them into the entrepreneurship arena.

[11:30 – 15:41] Personal Core Competency

• The tendency to discount what we know because of the new industry that we are entering.
• Become a problem solver in the new marketplace.
• Remind yourself about the fundamental thing of your past achievement.
• Develop a personal core competency that can be translatable.
• • What are your unique gifts?
• I talk about my personal core competency.
• Please leave any feedback or share any topics that you would like for me to cover in the next episode.
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Think about what is it you do that can be translatable to whatever career opportunity that you want to head into .” – Karl Sona.

“The difference between starting over and starting again is that you got a tremendous amount of assets and skills that you can leverage to help you succeed in the new transition.” - Karl Sona.

“Leverage your experience in the corporate world and translate them into the entrepreneurship arena.”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by a former professional soccer player, Sebastien Thuriere. He represented the Haitian team and the Caribbean cup a number of times and even once in the World Cup qualifiers 2018 in Russia. Despite those epic accolades he retires from being an athlete at the age of 30, went home, and becoming a restaurant entrepreneur in St. Petersburg Florida.

Let’s dig in and learn more about Sebastien’s inspiring story.

[00:01 – 07:09] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Sebastien Thuriere.
• Sebastien shares his background and how he grew up.
• The journey as a professional soccer player.

[07:10 – 19:45] The Necessary Jump To Build Your Vision and Stability

• Sebastien shares about his fast decision to leave football.
• The curiosity to be successful in another career path
• The limiting aspect of an athlete.
• The importance of building a future stability plan.
• Sebastien talks about how he manages the business life after he quit football.
• The preparation to jump into a new dream and venture.
• The vision and concept of his restaurant business.
• The biggest challenges in building a business.
• Finding the right team to build your vision.

[19:46 – 40:14] Pushing Through While Living In The Balance

• Being a minority business owner in the downtown area.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• Always be prepared for the worst to happen.
• Learning through trial and error.
• How he manages the business during the pandemic.
• Focus on the growth despite the circumstances.
• The balanced living mindset.
• Sebastien goals in his 10-year window between the age of 30-40.
• Pushing through but still enjoying the process.
• How to connect with Sebastien.
• • See links below.
• Sebastien talks about many black and immigrant entrepreneurs who inspire him to create something great from the ground up.

[40:15 – 44:57] Random Round

• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Save more than you spend.
  • Be comfortable and stay in your lane
• What’s your recommended drink to have at Copa?
• • Mojino.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • Ratchetness vibe and lack of class.
• Final words from Sebastien.

Tweetable Quotes:

“If you want to jump into something quickly, you have to make sure that you are prepared for it and your dream venture is attainable.” – Sebastien Thuriere.

“At the end of the day, it’s your dream and your vision, so you got to let whoever works for you to bring your vision.” – Sebastien Thuriere.

“When you are happy within, you are going to be able to push yourself harder.” – Sebastien Thuriere.

Find out more and connect with Sebastien on Instagram, visit his business page https://www.copadtsp.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I will be talking about what business really is in the most simple form, something that I wish I understood when I was starting with my businesses—the definition of innovation and marketing. On top of that, I will also be talking about what we can do to overcome the challenges, especially for black business owners.

Let’s listen and dig more about what business really is.

[00:01 – 03:05] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • What business really is?
  • Business = innovation + marketing

[03:06 – 07:29] What Business Really Is?

• Innovation;
  • The opportunity to disrupt the status quo.
• Marketing;
  • The ability to attract the consumers or customers that you want with your innovative solution.
• The benefits of customers development piece in marketing.
  • Understand your ideal customers and their pain points.
• The common obstacles and distractions.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
  • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[07:30 – 12:55] The Challenges of Black Business Owners

• How to figure out the innovation and the marketing side.
• Craft the messaging and take it to the marketplace
• The challenges of black business owners
• • Not having access to opportunities to engage, commerce, and transact with the bigger corporations.
• I talk about what I do with the Kas Company.
• • A business that services minority-owned business owners and helps them create relationships with corporate brands with difficulty diversifying their supply chains.
  • Solve real challenges.
• Take action!
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Get really clear on what you are going to do differently for them and how it’s going to address their specific pain points.” – Karl Sona.

“What is business? It is innovation plus marketing” - Karl Sona.

“The confusion does not need to be there if you can do these two things in the right way.”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by a man who's a shining example of the fact that it is truly possible to make your seat at the table, Keenan Beasley. Keenan has an impressive rap sheet; shortly after graduating from West Point, Keenan crushed it at the consumer marketing executive in Corporate America, where he oversaw several multibillion-dollar brands.

Keenan cut the corporate golden handcuff and has gone on to found multiple sets with companies and brands in both the nonprofit and for-profit space, most notably Venture Noire and Supply Factory, where he focuses on helping launch more successful black businesses.

Let’s dig in and be ready to leap your way to freedom.

[00:01 – 05:59] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Keenan Beasly.
• Keenan talks about the role of generosity in his business and heart for people of color.

[06:00 – 18:49] The Leap To Freedom

• Keenan talks about his life in the corporate world before he pivoted.
• • Impact focus individual
• Cut the corporate golden handcuff and pivot to entrepreneurship.
• The leap to freedom
• • You do not become entrepreneurship for money or comfort.
• Look for the real, meaningful relationship, not a situated relationship.
• What BLKBOX is all about and how it was launched
• Reposition ourselves to market and brand for other audiences.
• • Realizing that success is subjective
  • Success is based on; are you living your purpose and passion?
• Focus internally on your own unique definition of success rather than the judgment of others.

[18:50 – 40:44] Humility Breeds Confidence

• How can people see themselves as an individual vs. part of a pack?
• Embrace our uniqueness and differences
• • What makes you different is what makes you great.
• People’s biases create weakness.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• How he receives the vision for his non-profit program, Venture Noire.
• • The passion and lifelong commitment.
  • Crystalized the mission with the problem and defined the impact.
• Humility breeds confidence
• • When you become truly humble, you know that you don’t have to know the answer.
• Three criteria points of entrepreneurship
• • The quality of your thinking.
  • The effort
  • The passion that keeps you going every single day.
• Purpose breeds passion.
• • If you are clear on your purpose, it’s easy to be passionate about it.
• Managing your headspace while navigating all challenges.
• • Create boundaries for yourself.
• Take your time and prepare yourself for the daily battle.
• The impact of burnout on your performance
• • Self-create chaos.
• Re-set yourself when you are at the point of imbalance

[40:45 – 45:49] Meaningless Flex

• The difference between meaningless flex vs. meaningful flex?
• • Flexing, in general, is meaningless; there is no need to prove anything to people that don’t care about you.
  • Understand the concept of what you want and what you need.
• Black CEOs in Keenan's network that would be influential and a good fit for the Dear BLK CEO Podcast.

[45:50 – 47:36] Random Round

• One tip of advice for anybody who prioritizes the material stuff as a sign of their success.
• • Focus on your authenticity.
  • Understand your purpose and your unique, authentic self.
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Constantly seek information.
  • The accumulation of information creates the accumulation of wealth.
• Final words from Keenan and me.

Tweetable Quotes:

“I was willing to give up the comfort that corporate afforded me to have that sense of freedom.” – Keenan Beasley.

“We are all linked to the purpose and passion that allows us to thrive on making the impact continuously.” – Keenan Beasley.

“My core foundation is about embracing the discomfort and constant evolution.” – Keenan Beasley.

Find out more and connect with Keenan on Instagram, LinkedIn and check his Youtube Channel Or visit his website www.keenanbeasley.com/ and https://www.venturenoire.org/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I will be talking about customer development, something that many entrepreneurs rarely talk about but is critical to overcoming the fear of risk especially in vetting out your business ideas. I will also be talking about a book that I recommend in learning about customer development and why that book has changed the game’s name for me.

Let’s listen and dig more about how to overcome the fear of risk and what is good customer development.

[00:01 – 04:44] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • How to overcome and mitigate the fear of risk in vetting out your business ideas.
  • Customer development.

[04:45 – 09:40] Good Customer Development.

• What is customer development?
• • Take the time to understand what our potential customers want.
• The importance of sharing your idea with the world.
• Good customer development.
• Ways to get in the marketplace and find your potential customers.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[09:41 – 16:32] Five Steps To Get Ready To Launch A Business

• I talk about my book recommendation to learn more about customer development.
• • Lean Customer Development: Building Products Your Customers Will Buy by Cindy Alvarez
• Five steps to get ready to launch a business
• • Hypotheses
  • Find potential customers
  • Ask the right questions.
  • Understand the answers
  • Figure out what to build and how to keep making the small adjustments to get better
• Have a better affinity and appreciation of the process
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Good customer development is being willing to do the unsexy work and going out into the marketplace and talking to people that could be ideal customers and to understand whether or not your idea has legs.” – Karl Sona.

“Asking questions the right way is a very critical skill to have as an entrepreneur to define what the market wants objectively.” - Karl Sona.

“Being able to understand the verbal and nonverbal answers is the key to know what your potential customer wants .”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the dear black CEO podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Ashley Nicole Kirkwood; she’s an amazing example of what happens when you don't quit your Daydream. Ashley is a successful attorney who owns an innovative subscription-based law firm, Mobile General Counsel. Her firm has negotiated and landed several multi-six-figure licensing deals and corporate contracts.

After being consistently asked how her company landed such deals, she launched the 'Speak Your Way To Cash', one of the most unique and successful speaker training programs on the planet. Ashley teaches speakers how to start at the top of their speaking market with a five or six-figure corporate speaking offer.

Let’s dig in and be ready to create success using your own personal brand.

[00:01 – 09:40] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Ashley Nicole Kirkwood.
• Ashley shares her background and how she started.
• She shared her pivotal moment when she decided to leave the corporate world.

[09:41 – 21:00] Don't Quit Your Day Dream

• Ashely shares her experience in building her brand.
• Reaching her personal liberty and authority.
• The mindset of making peace with the unknown
• The currency of confidence
• • Your mind sets your beliefs and your actions
• How to leverage the star power of where you were to where you want to go.
• How she let go of the identity that was tied to such a successful career

[21:01 – 33:15] Sell Your Personal Brand

• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• Ashley shares the story of when she just started to sell her personal brand.
• • Be mindful of how you represent your product
• Some of the early mistakes in sales
• • Know your market and qualify who it is that you are talking to.
• Ashley shares some insights to people who are just starting and begin to start selling their products
• Co-create vision with your client
• Have a good understanding of your materials
• Make your client buy not just your product but your method, which only you can do.
• Competitive advantage.
• Confidence comes from competence; arrogance is based on nothing.

[33:16 – 38:09] Speak Your Way To Cash

• Ashley shares her journey as a speaker and how she launched ‘Speak Your Way To Cash.’
• • See links below for more information about the ‘Speak Your Way To Cash Live 2021 Event’.
• How to connect with Ashley.
• • See links below.
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Her father.

[38:10 – 40:30] Random Round

• One tip of advice for anybody who prioritizes the material stuff as a sign of their success.
• • Money changes; the character does not.
  • Character is the most important currency that you can have that your money can not fluctuate.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • Black businesses can not provide impactable customer service.
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Investing.
• Final words from Ashley and me.

Tweetable Quotes:

“It’s really hard for people to say that you suck when everyone else says you are amazing.” – Ashley Nicole Kirkwood.

“Confidence comes from competence; arrogance is based on nothing.” – Ashley Nicole Kirkwood.

“When you present a product or service to a client, they don't necessarily need to know that they are your first clients.” – Ashley Nicole Kirkwood.

Find out more and connect with Ashley on Instagram and her Youtube channel. Or visit her website www.mobilegeneralcounsel.com/ , www.ashleynicolekirkwood.com/ or www.speakyourwaytocash.com/ .

Visit Speak Your Way To Cash Live 2021 Event for registration or more information about her Three Day Hybrid Experience this November 2021.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I will be talking about something different. I will be documenting my own exit strategy out of the corporate world and managing the transition to break out of corporate. I will also discuss the corporate world’s golden handcuffs that make most of us stuck and not pivoting our way out.

Let’s listen and dig more about my exit strategy out of the corporate world and some of the biggest obstacles in the transition process.

[00:01 – 04:15] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • Documenting my own Exit-strategy out of the corporate world.
  • How I manage the transition to break out of corporate.

[04:16 – 12:54] The Exit Strategy Out of The Corporate World

• The tendency to put less effort into the W2 job when you are focusing on your side business.
• The risk and challenge of pivoting.
• I share my experience on the president club trip.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• The best time to exit and pivot away.
• I talk about the doubt that comes to my mind.
• The golden handcuffs of the corporate world.

[12:55 – 17:37] The Challenges in The Transition Process

• The mental game to overcome the self-doubt.
• Conquering the FEAR = false evidence appearing real
• • Go back and remind yourself of the things that you overcome and accomplish.
• Stop trying to fit in.
• The challenges of stepping into the transition.
• Nurture your potential.
• Normalize the confusion and fear in the transition process.
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Go back and remind yourself of the things that you have overcome and accomplish.” – Karl Sona.

“Your differences, unique identifier, and traits should be embrace to help you make the difference in life.” - Karl Sona.

“The feeling of confusion and fear does not necessarily mean that you are not worthy of living your dreams out.”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the dear black CEO podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Fredrick Douglas Bussey, the author of Breaking Orbit and the Founder of IconStatus, a marketing and branding consultancy. He also coaches entrepreneurs and Executives to unleash the power of their gift and create extraordinary results with the uniqueness that only they can bring to the world.

As a serial entrepreneur and creative with more than 20 years of experience in the Music & Entertainment industry, he has worked as a Songwriter, Producer, Publicist, Marketing Representative, Creative Director, and Artist Manager. Frederick believes that his purpose in life is to use his talents to help others discover and exploit their gifts to impact the world for the greatest good.

Let’s dig in and be ready to learn more about your gift and live with purpose to reverse engineer the life that you want.

[00:01 – 09:41] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Fredrick Douglas Bussey.
• Frederick shares his background and life journey.
• The transition from music creative to business entrepreneur.
• • God doesn’t make people without solutions.

[09:42 – 21:04] What does it mean to have a Gift

• Fredrick unpacks the definition and the meaning of the word ‘Gift.’
• • Words are powerful when you can unpack what they mean.
  • The misconception of gift, talent, and skill.
• How to discover your gift.
• • Your gift is not what you do but how you create the impact that you have through what you do.
• Your identity is not in what you do but comes through in what you do and how you do it.
• Frederick shares how he discovers and truly understands his gift.
• Three categories of gift
• • Transformer
  • Translator
  • Transistor
• Your gift is equal to your Impact

[21:05 – 32:01] Understanding Your Gift to Live With Purpose

• Identify your gift first so you could find your ‘why’ and your purpose.
• • Your purpose is attached to your design, and your design is in your gift, and your gift is about the impact.
• The importance of knowing and understanding your purpose.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• Value vs. Usefulness
• • Values are closer to impact, where usefulness is closer to function.

[32:02 – 49:44] Reverse Engineer The Life That You Want

• Not mistaken our talent and the function of our title in the corporate world.
• How to step into your gift at the highest possible level to activate your impact in a way that brings life and joy to yourself and others.
• The network effect.
• How do we reconcile the difference between our current identity and our potential?
• • Potential is not a fixed quantity but an open ending.
  • Become that person even before you achieve it.
• A goal is not a thing to walk forward but a place to come from.
• The process of creativity to reverse engineer the life that you want.
• Set the goal of becoming and live with intention.
• Fredrick’s definition of success.
• • Closing the gap between who you are today and who you were created to be every day.
• Limitless potential.
• Fredricks talks about his soon-launched The EchelonExecutive Leadership Mastermind for black executives and The 7-Figure Circle Million-Dollar Mastermind for entrepreneurs.
• How to connect with Fredrick and get his book.
• • See links below.
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Irvin Bishop

[49:45 – 55:24] Random Round

• One tip of advice for anybody who prioritizes the material stuff as a sign of their success.
• • Nothing you buy will amount to the joy that you get anticipating buying that thing.
  • All the real joy is the anticipation.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel to do away with?
• • Ignorance.
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Infinite banking.
• Final words from Fredrick and me.

Mentioned Links:

• 212: The Extra Degree by Sam Parker

• The 7-Figure Circle Million-Dollar Mastermind for entrepreneurs.

• Breaking Orbit: Rip Out of the Regular by Unearthing the Power Within
• The Icon Status

Tweetable Quotes:

“Your gift is not what you do, but how you create the impact that you have through what you do.” – Fredrick Douglas Bussey.

“You don’t have to do those things to be this person but be this person to do those things..” – Fredrick Douglas Bussey.

“There is nothing that you buy that ever going to amount to the joy that you get anticipating buying that thing.” – Fredrick Douglas Bussey.

Find out more and connect with Fredrick on Linkedin and Instagram. Or visit his website http://fredrickbussey.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I’ve got a short but very sweet and actual one for you; it pertains to how to build your network outside of work. In this podcast, we always keep it real, and we know that a corporate job is just not ‘the one’ relative to creating time freedom and generational wealth, which is exactly what we are trying to create.

Let’s listen and dig more about building networks outside of work and make your life matter.

[00:01 – 02:56] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • How to build networks outside of work.

[02:57 – 10:09] Build Network Outside of Work

• Start to put an emphasis on being super intentional about getting in a new room and meeting people to put you closer to your goals.
• How to overcome the obstacles and challenges in letting go of the corporate world and.
• The importance of building networks out of work.
• Start to build your audience online and share your thoughts and goals
• I share my experience in gaining a network outside of work and getting on to somebody’s radar.
• People need to know you if you hope that one day they will follow you.
• To get the most out of life, you got to branch out of the pack and swim upstream.
• The significant role of sharing your aspiration in life.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[10:10 – 17:05] Make Your Life Matter

• Simple trick to go out there and take a stand of who you are and what you are doing.
• Be a little unapologetic for who you are.
• • Take the risk to stand for who you are and your aspirations.
• I share my experience of taking the risk to get out there and share my goals.
• Be willing to introduce who you are to the people that you want to connect with.
• Feed the opportunity and the seed of what you want to grow.
• Connect with me and share some of your ideas through my social media.
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“To get the most out of life, you got to branch out of the pack and swim upstream.” – Karl Sona.

“Feed the opportunity and the seed of what you want to grow.” - Karl Sona.

“People need to know you if you hope that one day they will follow you.”- Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the dear black CEO podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Sivonnia DeBarros, the protector of athletes. She is a first-generation lawyer, law business owner, a woman in business and a former track and field Division-I, college athlete. DeBarros has represented pro athletes from the NFL, MLS, and Pro-Table Tennis sports by helping them to properly set up businesses, put proper agreements in place and create legacies that will pay dividends in the future. Additionally, DeBarros is a public speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling published author of What Are You Sporting About?”.

She is incredibly passionate about helping athletes, women, and first-generation business owners because she understands the struggle many have faced by not having the necessary support and guidance to be successful.

Let’s dig in and be ready to tap into your purpose.

[00:01 – 06:35] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Sivonnia DeBarros.
• Sivonnia shares about her current dreams and .the dreaming aspect of who we are.
• • The importance of bringing ourselves back to the basics
  • Dreams that are transitioned and aligned with the purpose.

[06:36 – 24:15]Take Chances on Yourself

• Sivonnia’s advice for the individual that initially quit on their purpose and dreams.
• • Stay consistent and creates boundaries.
• Sivonnia’s study and career journey as a first-generation lawyer and law business owner.
• • Breath and let the process be the process.
• Walk on your purpose and take chances on yourself.
• Sivonnia’s key insight for people who wants to make the transition out of the corporate space.
• • Trust in yourself and know your self-worth.
  • Try volunteering or create a small stream of income through freelancing in the industry that fits your gift.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[24:16 – 47:39] Reaching Success by Operating within Your Purpose

• Identify and step into your gift to be in service for others.
• How embracing her gift affects her career.
• • Take the leap of faith and conquer your fear.
• Sivonnia talks about “What Are You Sporting About?” book and podcast.
• • Operating within your gift and your purpose .
  • Purpose creates income when you live what you are doing.
• You really can't create and operate a sustainable amazing growth business if you haven't dealt with the individual who grinds with it.
• Transitioning straight to your purpose
• The growth process and figuring out what works and what is not.
• The importance of having a purpose in your career.
• Find your purpose and understand that your success might not look like other people.
• • Being content with what you have been given.
• Not putting yourself on a platform that you are not ready for.
• Sivonnia talks about her upcoming book
• • “Athletes Making Moves: Secure Your Future by Protecting Your Name, Image and Likeness.”
• How to connect with Sivonnia and get her book
• • See links below.
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and or a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Ashley Kirkwood.

[47:50 – 50:33] Random Round

• One tip of advice for anybody who prioritizes the material stuff as a sign of their success.
• • Stop, it is a false sense of security that you are sending to yourself and the rest of the world.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • We are uneducated and lazy..
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Education and make sure that your contracts are on point.
• Final words from me and Sivonnia.

Tweetable Quotes:

“You are more than the label that you put on yourself and allow other people to put on you. You are more than what you are currently working in or doing; you have other dreams and gifts; the only problem is you forgot what they were.” – Sivonnia DeBarros.

“You have your own gift so you have to tap into your own to start serving other people.” – Sivonnia DeBarros.

“Make sure that there is a purpose is important because it's the one thing that sustains you when you have nothing else..” – Sivonnia DeBarros.

Find out more and connect with Sivonnia on Linkedin and Twitter Or visit www.prosportlawyer.com/ to get her book and listen to her podcast.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I will be sharing a very timely message that is focused on how we as individuals deal with putting the steps into a divine vision and ideas when we only have a small glimpse or small vision of what that thing is. I'm hoping that today’s message will help you to shift your perspective and empower you to stick with the vision, no matter how small it may feel or how insurmountable it may appear.

Let’s listen and dig more about stepping out on faith and pursuing God’s vision within us.

[00:01 – 05:10] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • The ability to step out on faith and to put courage into practice upon a glimpse of vision from God.
• The Intention of Creativity: A Conversation with Jerry Lorenzo & Pastor Steven Furtick Youtube Video.
• Move towards the divine vision even only with the small details of where it was leading.

[05:11 – 13:13]Step Out On Faith With A Glimpse of Vision

• I share my experience when I receive the vision of my business development agency and the Dear Black CEO podcast.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• I talk about my personal insights of being the host of this podcast and how it changes and motivates me.
• My biggest takeaways from the conversation between Jerry and Pastor Steven.
• • You don't have to put the pressure of creating all the details relative to how you're going to do something that you've been given a small glimpse of all on your own shoulders.
• The understanding of how God plants ideas and vision into us in such a creative way.
• Be open enough to receive the vision from God.
• Acting out on faith and pursuing the vision.
• • The seed of the next move.
• The intention of God vs. our own intention.
• Creativity lies within all of us when we are connected to our source.
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“You don't have to put the pressure of creating all the details relative to how you're going to do something that you've been given a small glimpse on, all on your shoulders.” – Karl Sona.

“When you have an idea planted in your heart, that idea ultimately comes from your Creator, and the beautiful thing about it is when your creator plants that idea on you, you just have to be open enough to receive it.” - Karl Sona.

“I actually don't like the word creativity; I find it more of being obedient or more of being available to the ideas that the Lord gives to me.”- Jerry Lorenzo.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to another powerful episode of the dear black CEO podcast.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Anthony trucks. Anthony is a foster kid turned NFL athlete and a Serial entrepreneur with one serious superpower, which is making shifts happen by accessing the power of identity. After overcoming over 30 traumatic life events and navigating the identity shift that followed, Anthony has come to be known as the leading expert in shifting, which is making a shift internally to elevate how you operate externally. With his unique system called the shift method, Anthony weaves together neuroscience, psychology, technology, and hard-fought life lessons to help anyone with a desire for more in their life to achieve any goal they want

Let’s buckle up because it is time to make the shift happen.

[00:01 – 06:40 ] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Anthony Trucks.
• Anthony shares the shift-dividing moments of his life where he started to harness the power that gets him to this point.
• The great gap of shame and the moment of catalyst.

[06:41 – 24:20] Reset The Rhythm To Make The Shift

• Anthony talks about the void and existential vacuum that caused him to lost a big piece of his identity.
• • Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
  • proactive or reactive situation.
• Anthony shares a metaphor about the fruit of our labor.
• The journey of redefining his identity.
• Applying the information that you have consumed
• Figure out the action that you must upload into your life to make a shift.
• Reset the rhythm and tune of our lives.
• • Increase the beats per minute to handle a new idea and gain more in life.
• Progressive rhythm.
• • Normalizing each state and slowly progressing.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[24:21 – 47:39] Accessing The Power of Identity

• Anthony talks about the shift method and his core business
• The message and the messenger.
• Recognizing and unpack the factor that has allows him to do things differently
• • What can I take from what I know and make it come to life in my daily life?
• The age of execution.
• Take all the big thinking and simplify it into five things you do every day.
• Prepare your future self by making the shift inside and outside of yourself.
• The magic in the motion.
• Anthony breaks down his statement, ‘Our identity is in direct alignment with our success or potential failure.’
• GPS planner
• • Setting your scale of success.
  • Anchor your identity.
• Fall in love with the day, not the destination.

[47:40 – 52:19] Closing Segment

• Anthony shares how he navigates his identity as a black man that grew up in a loving white family and played for the NFL.
• • People can not give what they don’t have.
  • Creating the anchor by knowing who you are strongly
• How to connect to Anthony.
• • See links below

Tweetable Quotes:

“Our identity is in direct alignment with our success or potential failure.” – Anthony Trucks

“it doesn't matter what you know, but it’s what you do with what you know and who you are with it..” – Anthony Trucks

“It was not the information, hard work, or the hustle but how you see yourself in the mirror and how you chose to show up with it.” – Anthony Trucks

Find out more and connect with Anthony on Twitter and Instagram Or visit his website at https://anthonytrucks.com/ to learn more about his training and coaching program.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona! In today’s solo episode, we will break down what it takes to be a black CEO, owner, or somebody that is doing something on their own to create ownership, time freedom, and the divine vision that we got from our Lord. I will also share my takeaways from the previous episode with Erin Person.

Let’s listen and dig more about planting and growing the seed of your divine vision.

[00:01 – 04:36] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• I share my biggest takeaway from the previous episode with Erin Person.
• • The obedience and the ability to listen to God’s vision in us.
• Planting and growing the seed of your vision.
• Overcome the obstacle that keeps you from your divine vision.
• Success leaves clues.

[04:37 – 11:42]The Faith To Build Your Own Ladder

• The battle of what our flesh wants and what the heart wants.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• I talk about Erin’s story of stepping on with faith and God’s vision.
• Overcoming the fear of failure and falling when walking towards the unknown
• I share some things that keep me going.
• I give a shout-out to Erin Person and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Success leaves clues.” – Karl Sona.

“Remind yourself of the feeling when you start on the first rung of the ladder and the beautiful things that come about.” – Karl Sona.

“The missing piece might just be a little bit of blind faith.” - Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the solo episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona!

In today’s solo episode, I will be sharing a very timely message that is focused on how we as individuals deal with putting the steps into a divine vision and ideas when we only have a small glimpse or small vision of what that thing is. I'm hoping that today’s message will help you to shift your perspective and empower you to stick with the vision, no matter how small it may feel or how insurmountable it may appear.

Let’s listen and dig more about stepping out on faith and pursuing God’s vision within us.

[00:01 – 05:10] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic of today’s episode.
• • The ability to step out on faith and to put courage into practice upon a glimpse of vision from God.
• The Intention of Creativity: A Conversation with Jerry Lorenzo & Pastor Steven Furtick Youtube Video.
• Move towards the divine vision even only with the small details of where it was leading.

[05:11 – 13:13]Step Out On Faith With A Glimpse of Vision

• I share my experience when I receive the vision of my business development agency and the Dear Black CEO podcast.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• I talk about my personal insights of being the host of this podcast and how it changes and motivates me.
• My biggest takeaways from the conversation between Jerry and Pastor Steven.
• • You don't have to put the pressure of creating all the details relative to how you're going to do something that you've been given a small glimpse of all on your own shoulders.
• The understanding of how God plants ideas and vision into us in such a creative way.
• Be open enough to receive the vision from God.
• Acting out on faith and pursuing the vision.
• • The seed of the next move.
• The intention of God vs. our own intention.
• Creativity lies within all of us when we are connected to our source.
• Final words.

Tweetable Quotes:

“You don't have to put the pressure of creating all the details relative to how you're going to do something that you've been given a small glimpse on, all on your shoulders.” – Karl Sona.

“When you have an idea planted in your heart, that idea ultimately comes from your Creator, and the beautiful thing about it is when your creator plants that idea on you, you just have to be open enough to receive it.” - Karl Sona.

“I actually don't like the word creativity; I find it more of being obedient or more of being available to the ideas that the Lord gives to me.”- Jerry Lorenzo.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, Instagram or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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In today’s episode, we are joined by a Lady Boss, Erin Person. Erin graduated from Southwestern Law School in LA. She has worked for some of the most influential companies, including Red Bull, Starcom, DirecTV, and Fox Television Networks, where she's drafted, negotiated, and facilitated major athlete endorsement deals, production agreements, and advertising agreements. She is the Founder and CEO at ConnectEO Network. ConnectEO network is a digital network platform that provides entrepreneurs of color with the collaborative community and tools they need to build and sustain their businesses. She has also been featured on various podcasts where she discusses the importance of creating your own opportunities and taking control of your life.

Let’s tune in and dig more about her inspiring story of fulfilling God’s vision in her life and impacting others to win together.

[00:01 – 08:05] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I introduce the guest, Erin Person.
• Erin shares the story of her background and how her journey started.
• The motivation behind her career goals.
• Create safe boundaries between career and emotional health.

[08:06 – 19:30] Fulfilling God’s Vision in Your Life

• The major issue of the justice system especially for people of color.
• Erin shares the greatest lesson she learned during her time in the corporate world.
• The motivation and purpose behind ConnectEO.
• Erin talks about how God has put the vision of ConnectEO on her heart and how she could prioritize it.
• It’s all about listening and being obedient to what God has for you in your life.
• Having the trust and faith in God when we entering the unknown

[19:31 – 28:40] Impacting Others and Winning Together

• The biggest challenges and barriers of building a network especially for people of color.
• The willingness to share information.
• Making larger impact and change by sharing and walking together.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• Erin breaks down her goal to impact one million entrepreneurs of color by 2023 through ConnectEO.
• Erin talks about the series called The Space to Win.

[28:41 – 39:19] The Leap To Freedom

• Erin talks about the common traits of people who took the leap that give them the confidence to go forward.
• Everybody has a unique journey and purpose.
• Keep listening to the voice inside of you and living in your purpose and passion.
• Erin breaks down the difference between security and freedom.
• The challenges of crowdfunding, especially for women of color.
• Erin talks about who exactly ConnectEo is ideal for.

[39:20 – 45:33] Closing Segment

• How to connect to Erin.
• • See links below
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and or a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Sivonnia DeBarros
• One tip of advice for anybody who prioritizes the material stuff as a sign of their success.
• • Unless it is something that you can pass down to future generations for their growth and development to impact the world, it doesn't matter.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • The belief that we can do it on our own.
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating generational wealth?
• • Diversifying assets and going outside of your comfort zone.
• Final words from me and Erin.

Tweetable Quotes:

“When you win, we all win, and we need each other to survive.” – Erin Person.

“It’s all about listening and being obedient to what God has for you in your life.” – Erin Person.

“Keep listening to the voice inside of you and living in your purpose and passion.” – Erin Person.

Find out more and connect with Erin on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram Or visit her website at https://connecteonetwork.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome back to the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona! In today’s solo episode, I will mainly share my journey towards exiting the corporate job and the sacrifices I had to make to focus on reaching my goals sooner. In addition to that, I will also discuss what to expect of the upcoming episodes and the weekly release schedule of the Dear Black CEO podcast.

Let’s listen and dig more about my journey towards exiting the corporate world and staying focused on reaching your goals.

[00:01 – 04:20] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to karlsona.com/giftassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the big moment of the release of the Dear Black CEO podcast.
• I thank everyone for sharing the support and love of the Dear Black CEO podcast in any form and platform.
• I share some words of encouragement for individuals working on building something or exiting a corporate job.
• Understanding that it is a long game and putting one foot in front of the other.

[04:21 – 09:30] My Journey Towards Exiting The Corporate Job

• I talk about the topic of today’s episode and what to expect for the upcoming episodes.
• • Interviews with aspiring black CEOs on every Tuesdays
  • Solo episodes on every Fridays
• If you are an individual right now working on building something or exiting your corporate job, and you want to participate, also be featured in the Dear Black CEO podcast.
• • Head over to my Instagram @Karl.Sona, just drop me a DM and type ‘ Dear black CEO Exit.’
• I share a little bit of insight on where I am at on my career journey towards exiting.
• What to expect on the upcoming Friday episodes.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[09:31 – 21:53] Feeding The Focus To Get To Your Goal

• I talk about why and how I purchased my Mercedes-Benz G Wagon.
• I share some of my takeaways to create positive results in your life related to your exits.
• What you focus on is what you can ultimately get.
• Why I am giving up my Mercedes-Benz G Wagon.
• The perspective to be mindful of in making future decisions.
• The importance of being real to ourselves.
• The downward spiral as the result of purchasing the car with my earn income from my W2 job.
• Think about who you want to become, what it cost to get there, and how to get rid of the obstacles that got in the way.
• Get to your goals sooner and a refreshing sense of confidence.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Show me the size of your team, and I will show you the size of your dream.” – Karl Sona.

“What you focus on is what you can ultimately get.” – Karl Sona.

“Imagine putting all of your energy and focus into your exit strategy, creating a passive stream of income or any of your positive goals.” – Karl Sona.

“You have to feed what you want to live and starve what you want to die.” - Courtney Caldwell

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Today’s episode is a very special one, as we are joined by Jerome Williams, a 9-year NBA veteran and was dubbed the Junkyard Dog for his hustle and hard work on the court. After his time in the league, Jerome embarked on his dear black CEO journey and founded a company called Alumni Pros Global Sports, where he is passionate about helping other athletes protect their greatest assets themselves.

Let’s tune in and dig more about the attitude to win and how to monetize your intellectual property.

[00:01 – 09:15] Opening Segment

• I introduce the guest, Jerome Williams, AKA Junkyard Dog.
• Jerome shares the greatest lesson he learned during his time in the NBA that has helped him in life or business today.
• Prioritize education while being a college athlete.
• Jerome talks about his childhood dream for himself.
• The alignment journey and investment in education.

[09:16 – 21:15] The Positive Attitude to Welcome Opportunities

• Jerome talks about what it’s like to be in the league relative to his expectation.
• Passion and job in the basketball world.
• Jerome shares about the steps of faith and his experience on his first game in Toronto
• Understanding the business of basketball.

[21:16 – 31:14] TEAM ( together everyone achieves more)

• Jerome talks about how he got the vision of Alumni Pro Sports as a destination.
• The changing identity from basketball pro player to a businessman.
• Attitude is the most important thing.
• Create the internal fortitude.
• Be wanting to learn, willing to listen, work with others, and lay all out on the line for the team.
• TEAM ( together everyone achieves more)
• If you have a good attitude, you are all about the ‘we,’ not ‘me.’
• The ROI of the basketball business.
• Recognize and understand your own value and worth.
• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.
• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.

[31:15 – 55:24] Recognize and Monetize Your Intellectual Property

• Jerome explains what intellectual property is and how his name, image, and likeness works.
• How Alumni Pro Global Sports helps athletes quantify their worth.
• As the company grows, there should be a continuation of monetization for the players.
• There are producers and consumers; we have to realize which one we want to be.
• Build something that would pay you back in the future.
• Jerome shares some insight on how to take the next step to switch our identity up.
• The importance of recognizing the value of your name, image, and likeness.
• Athletes are some of the most taken advantage of CEOs on the planet, a lot of them unaware that they are CEOs.
• Break the cycle of the system.
• Jerome talks about the system of the institution to restrict some education and major on athletes.
• When you are properly aligned, good things are going to happen.

[55:25 – 01:05:19] Closing Segment

• How to connect to Jerome
• • See links below
• Who is one black CEO in your network that you think would be influential and or a good fit for the Dear Black CEO Podcast?
• • Larry Woodard
• One tip of advice for anybody that prioritizes the material stuff as the sign of their success.
• • Don’t put that money down on that type of wealth; you should always invest in real estate and things that are going to grow.
  • Find the deal, not paying the sticker price.
• What's one negative stereotype associated with Black Culture that you feel just to do away with?
• • Crabs in a bucket
• What's your favorite strategy or loophole towards creating wealth?
• • Never underestimate a nobody or a person you don't know never.
  • Treat everybody with the same respect, integrity, and kindness that you want to be treated with.
• Final words from me and Jerome.

Tweetable Quotes:

“I know the walk of the struggle in college life, and that is what led me here today..” – Jerome Williams.

“Treat everybody with the same respect, integrity, and kindness that you want to be treated with.” – Jerome Williams.

“You have to start to understand what is going on in the past and what steps you can do to help change the future.” – Jerome Williams.

Find out more and connect with Jerome on Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram Or visit his website at http://www.vegasballers.com/ and https://www.alumniprosglobalsports.com/.

LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW on Itunes and subscribe to get first access to every inspirational story shared on the show and share with friends and family.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/giftassessment. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to the second episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona! Here we are committed to one thing: helping you redefine yourself by your gift instead of your job title so that you can create YOUR ownership and YOUR time freedom on YOUR terms. Listen in on our conversations with black executives, entrepreneurs, and founders every single week as we deconstruct their best strategies for successfully breaking the handcuffs of corporate jobs and transitioning into running the business of your dreams.

Let’s listen as I will discuss what to expect and my goals out of this show.

[00:01 – 03:55] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to Karlsona.com/giveassessment to download the free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I talk about the topic that we will discuss in this episode.
• I share the reason why I started this podcast.

[03:55 – 11:02] The Lack of Economic Conclusion

• What type of visual do you get when you hear the word ‘Successful CEO’?
• The significant issue of creating the economic conclusion of ourselves as people of color

• Working on our mindset to have the ability to build wealth and create meaningful impact.

• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• The fear of not being able to be successful on your own that prevents you from moving forward
• The lack of positive exposure.

[11:03 – 18:40] Level up Your Mindset and Take Action

• I talk about the goal and what to expect of this podcast show.
• The steps and strategies to reach your goals.
• I share my vision and hope in this podcast show.
• Support you with a new type of network.
• The airing schedule of the podcast show.
• Establish a positive domino effect

Tweetable Quotes:

“We just fail to have enough positive exposure for our people of color that are creating wealth outside of a corporate job.” – Karl Sona.

“What we're trying to establish is a positive domino effect where when you see more people like you as CEOs, that belief in mind starts to become real, and you start to believe that you can do it too .” – Karl Sona.

If you love the content, please be sure to subscribe below for more access to the empowering conversations of black CEOs and founders.

Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/giftassessment. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!

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Welcome to the first-ever episode of the Dear Black CEO podcast with your host, Karl Sona! Here we are committed to one thing: helping you redefine yourself by your gift instead of your job title so that you can create YOUR ownership and YOUR time freedom on YOUR terms. Listen in on our conversations with black executives, entrepreneurs, and founders every single week as we deconstruct their best strategies for successfully breaking the handcuffs of corporate jobs and transitioning into running the business of your dreams.

Get ready to ditch the pressure of trying to fit into a mould of what it means to be successful and step into using your unique gifts unapologetically.

[00:01 – 05:25] Opening Segment

• Before we get into the episode today, I want you to know that you can gain the security, ownership, and time Freedom You Want by building a business around a solution that only you can provide.
• • Head over to Karlsona.com/giveassessment to download your free quiz that will help you figure out what you're uniquely qualified to do.
• I share a brief introduction to the Dear Black CEO podcast.
• I talk about what you can expect from the Dear Black CEO podcast.
• What does it mean to succeed?
• I share the story of my family and my background.

[05:26 – 16:44] What Success Really Means to You

• Education is the key.
• Get ourselves better educated for the people that look like us.
• I share the story about my degrees and career in the medical world.

• The insecurity of being different.

• If you are a black business owner looking to grow your revenue, listen up. There is a major revenue-generating opportunity for you, and The Kas company is here to help you to secure the bag. The Kas Company is a black-owned alliance agency specializing in finding and brokering partnerships between black-owned companies and big brands looking to diversify their supply chains.

• • See the link below to book your free consultation today.
• I talk about how he pivoted to sales in the corporate game.
• The shift in my definition of success.

[16:45 – 22:56] Owning a Seat at the Table as an African American

• The possibility of a sinister agenda behind corporate jobs.
• The amplifying aspect on the people of color.
• Create ownership and a seat for yourself at the table.
• The culture of how black Americans are positioned.
• Four biggest challenges that African Americans face by Byron Allen.
• The deliberate shift in identity and mindset through this
• The vision of the Dear Black CEO podcast
• I invite you to listen to The Next Episode to learn a little more about how Dear Black CEO can help us move towards a more economically inclusive world for black and brown people of color.

Tweetable Quotes:

“For me and my life, the only choice was to succeed, whatever success was.” – Karl Sona.

“Success for me is the service of other people.” – Karl Sona.

“If I didn't find a way to create ownership and to make a seat for myself at the table, then I would always be stuck on this corporate plantation and building somebody else's dream.” – Karl Sona.

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Let’s connect! Find me on LinkedIn, or check out my website http://karlsona.com/giftassessment. And The Kas Company to find out more about my coaching program.

You don’t have to be anyone other than who you are to be a world-class CEO!