- African American business ownership has increased 61% in recent years, with the highest percentages of black-owned businesses in Washington D.C. (34.8%), Mississippi (27.7%), and Georgia (27.6%).
- Corey Harris started his apparel company SpeakTheWordLLC to spread biblical and motivational messages after discerning his purpose through prayer was to "speak the word".
- Corey credits mentors and programs like Assets Toledo for helping him navigate challenges starting his business and find reliable partners to print his designs.
Young & Bold - The handbook for the new worldDaniel Tan 陈渊理
This book is written by collecting personal stories and insights from 100 entrepreneurs from various industries with over 100 hours of interview content, distilled into tiny nuggets of information. The reason why I embarked on this journey of interviewing successful individuals and writing this book is because I wanted to know if young entrepreneurs exist in Singapore. I was brought up to believe that to do well in life I had to do well in school & work till retirement. There is nothing further from the truth. There are Singaporeans who deviated from the path & started their own enterprises, who became rich & successful. It wasn’t easy to access some of them so I am very grateful for all of them taking time out to contribute to this book as well as to pay it forward to the audience(you).
Another reason is because young people, our future leaders, lack exposure to entrepreneurial environments. They need to know that there are alternatives in life apart from going to school and getting a job. If others can make achievements and find fulfilment in their lives, they have the same possibilities too.
This is not a book with 100 biographies. It is instead my study of perspectives on local entrepreneurs at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. One end of the spectrum consists of promising startups who have received funding and support and gained traction while the other end are entrepreneurs who have brought their businesses international and sold off their company. Through the interviews, the kind of content shared by startups and those who brought their business international was very different. It became apparent that it is only when a person goes through certain phases will one be able to comprehend and see the bigger picture. It’s like standing at a higher point on a mountain. Having climbed higher, they saw more than those who just started on their journey. This observation was enlightening. One thing in common is the emphasis on developing life skills an individual needs to succeed in this hypercompetitive world.
This is NOT a textbook where answers are arranged neatly and you just have to apply the right formula. There is no right or wrong in how you discover life. Not everyone is gifted in the same sport. What I do hope is after reading this book your curiosity will lead you to ask more questions than to simply accept the answers being fed to you.
As you flip through the rest of the pages, it is my wish that you choose to discover yourself and what life has to offer for you. And perhaps in the coming future, I will be calling you for an interviewing on your journey to pay it forward.
Huge thanks and appreciation to all the entrepreneurs who contributed to this book one way or another. I believe that your wisdom will greatly benefit the future leaders for countless generations to come, just like how it did for me.
Joe Stumpf\'s By Referral Only- Membership Brochurerflinn
The document describes several real estate professionals' experiences with joining the BY REFERRAL ONLY community. It discusses how they were able to earn $400,000 working 4 hours a day, reach their goals in months instead of years, become debt free and financially independent with more time for family. Others doubled their transactions, increased their referral business to 90% and reduced their advertising budgets. Overall, members of the community have been able to work fewer hours while maintaining or increasing their income, take more vacations, and achieve a better work-life balance through the BY REFERRAL ONLY strategies and systems.
Two Network Marketers Want To Set The Record Straight About Network MarketingJason Boreyko
Michaela Schell and Joelle Suess are two local network marketers who wanted to dispel common misconceptions about the industry. Schell got involved in direct sales five years ago through Rodan + Fields to balance work and family, while Suess started seven years ago with Beachbody as a student looking for extra income. They addressed five common myths: 1) Only people at the top make money, saying success requires hard work and an equal starting point; 2) Network marketing has cult-like tendencies, but it fosters a team mentality; 3) It attracts those with little business experience, but skills can be learned; 4) Pyramid structures are inherently bad, but the industry model has changed;
Robert spent over 20 years working at a high level in big business and government. This experience taught him valuable business tools and methods, but also revealed deep dysfunctions in how modern corporations are structured. The systems themselves constrain leaders' ability to make ethical choices.
Robert suffered a debilitating illness and was forced to change his lifestyle. He discovered yoga, nutrition, herbalism and other healing practices. Over several years of intensive study and practice of wellness, he realized he could no longer work in the corporate world. Like the systems he saw, he had to tear down his old life and start anew focused on health and wellness.
The document is an application for professional liability insurance for human services organizations. It requests information about the applicant's operations, risk management procedures, staffing, and loss history. The applicant must provide documentation including loss runs, descriptions of significant losses, financial statements, and supplements regarding abuse exposure and addiction/behavioral healthcare.
This document contains a summary of Kapil Kr. Gupta's professional experience and qualifications. He has over 12 years of experience in software implementation, project management, and IT management roles. Currently he works as the Senior IT Manager for Oster Group of Companies, where he has implemented ERP systems and provides IT support. Previously he held similar roles at Mrs. Bector Food Specialities Limited and other companies. He has extensive experience implementing SAP and other ERP systems as well as managing IT projects.
This document provides information about the ADC D1M-1A2017 panel front split cross-connect E1 panel. It describes how to purchase the product from Launch 3 Telecom, including contact information, payment and shipping options. It also provides details on the warranty and additional services offered by Launch 3 Telecom such as repairs, maintenance contracts, de-installation and recycling.
Young & Bold - The handbook for the new worldDaniel Tan 陈渊理
This book is written by collecting personal stories and insights from 100 entrepreneurs from various industries with over 100 hours of interview content, distilled into tiny nuggets of information. The reason why I embarked on this journey of interviewing successful individuals and writing this book is because I wanted to know if young entrepreneurs exist in Singapore. I was brought up to believe that to do well in life I had to do well in school & work till retirement. There is nothing further from the truth. There are Singaporeans who deviated from the path & started their own enterprises, who became rich & successful. It wasn’t easy to access some of them so I am very grateful for all of them taking time out to contribute to this book as well as to pay it forward to the audience(you).
Another reason is because young people, our future leaders, lack exposure to entrepreneurial environments. They need to know that there are alternatives in life apart from going to school and getting a job. If others can make achievements and find fulfilment in their lives, they have the same possibilities too.
This is not a book with 100 biographies. It is instead my study of perspectives on local entrepreneurs at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. One end of the spectrum consists of promising startups who have received funding and support and gained traction while the other end are entrepreneurs who have brought their businesses international and sold off their company. Through the interviews, the kind of content shared by startups and those who brought their business international was very different. It became apparent that it is only when a person goes through certain phases will one be able to comprehend and see the bigger picture. It’s like standing at a higher point on a mountain. Having climbed higher, they saw more than those who just started on their journey. This observation was enlightening. One thing in common is the emphasis on developing life skills an individual needs to succeed in this hypercompetitive world.
This is NOT a textbook where answers are arranged neatly and you just have to apply the right formula. There is no right or wrong in how you discover life. Not everyone is gifted in the same sport. What I do hope is after reading this book your curiosity will lead you to ask more questions than to simply accept the answers being fed to you.
As you flip through the rest of the pages, it is my wish that you choose to discover yourself and what life has to offer for you. And perhaps in the coming future, I will be calling you for an interviewing on your journey to pay it forward.
Huge thanks and appreciation to all the entrepreneurs who contributed to this book one way or another. I believe that your wisdom will greatly benefit the future leaders for countless generations to come, just like how it did for me.
Joe Stumpf\'s By Referral Only- Membership Brochurerflinn
The document describes several real estate professionals' experiences with joining the BY REFERRAL ONLY community. It discusses how they were able to earn $400,000 working 4 hours a day, reach their goals in months instead of years, become debt free and financially independent with more time for family. Others doubled their transactions, increased their referral business to 90% and reduced their advertising budgets. Overall, members of the community have been able to work fewer hours while maintaining or increasing their income, take more vacations, and achieve a better work-life balance through the BY REFERRAL ONLY strategies and systems.
Two Network Marketers Want To Set The Record Straight About Network MarketingJason Boreyko
Michaela Schell and Joelle Suess are two local network marketers who wanted to dispel common misconceptions about the industry. Schell got involved in direct sales five years ago through Rodan + Fields to balance work and family, while Suess started seven years ago with Beachbody as a student looking for extra income. They addressed five common myths: 1) Only people at the top make money, saying success requires hard work and an equal starting point; 2) Network marketing has cult-like tendencies, but it fosters a team mentality; 3) It attracts those with little business experience, but skills can be learned; 4) Pyramid structures are inherently bad, but the industry model has changed;
Robert spent over 20 years working at a high level in big business and government. This experience taught him valuable business tools and methods, but also revealed deep dysfunctions in how modern corporations are structured. The systems themselves constrain leaders' ability to make ethical choices.
Robert suffered a debilitating illness and was forced to change his lifestyle. He discovered yoga, nutrition, herbalism and other healing practices. Over several years of intensive study and practice of wellness, he realized he could no longer work in the corporate world. Like the systems he saw, he had to tear down his old life and start anew focused on health and wellness.
The document is an application for professional liability insurance for human services organizations. It requests information about the applicant's operations, risk management procedures, staffing, and loss history. The applicant must provide documentation including loss runs, descriptions of significant losses, financial statements, and supplements regarding abuse exposure and addiction/behavioral healthcare.
This document contains a summary of Kapil Kr. Gupta's professional experience and qualifications. He has over 12 years of experience in software implementation, project management, and IT management roles. Currently he works as the Senior IT Manager for Oster Group of Companies, where he has implemented ERP systems and provides IT support. Previously he held similar roles at Mrs. Bector Food Specialities Limited and other companies. He has extensive experience implementing SAP and other ERP systems as well as managing IT projects.
This document provides information about the ADC D1M-1A2017 panel front split cross-connect E1 panel. It describes how to purchase the product from Launch 3 Telecom, including contact information, payment and shipping options. It also provides details on the warranty and additional services offered by Launch 3 Telecom such as repairs, maintenance contracts, de-installation and recycling.
This document provides tips for making a great first impression. It discusses preparing talking points about yourself and the other person, being aware of body language, playing to your strengths, finding common ground, and following up. Specific tips include doing research beforehand, engaging the other person in conversation, observing your own body language, emphasizing your strengths with evidence, and asking open-ended questions. The document also provides two case studies as examples, one about focusing on personal engagement and another about highlighting your skills and ideas.
Reuben Rail - enjoy a visual tour of my experience and work with clients in the areas of innovation, brand identity, marketing strategy, and business model design.
This document outlines a social marketing strategy for determining a target community's needs, contributing value without promotion, and gradually building trust and relationships over time. The strategy involves finding active online forums or groups, answering questions, inviting members to a common Facebook group, providing additional value through a blog and newsletter, and eventually making carefully-worded offers to solve members' pains. The goal is to market respectfully by prioritizing the community's needs and allowing them to contribute as well.
Four things you must do to make 100 k this yearDave Shirley
To make $100K this year, you must focus on one specific task, have clarity on your plan and direction, and develop a vision for your business success. It is also essential to have a mentor who can provide proven guidance to help you achieve your goals and overcome challenges. Research shows that those who receive mentoring increase their revenue over 100% compared to only 14% for those without mentoring. Establishing a mentoring relationship can significantly impact your business and help you become more successful.
Jessica Ludwig is seeking a position that allows her to help and advocate for individuals. She has a background in customer service, most recently as a manager for a payday loan company. She is organized, reliable, and attentive to details. Her goal is to become a lawyer advocating for minors and families. She believes listening skills and understanding different perspectives are important for success in working with people from various backgrounds.
Sapient - Communicate Powerfully (Without Being A You-Know-What)Michelle Villalobos
This document discusses establishing your personal brand and communicating powerfully. It emphasizes the importance of branding yourself so others do not define you. It provides tips for knowing your audience, looking the part appropriately, using powerful communication techniques like avoiding filler words and speaking assertively. It also discusses setting boundaries on your time and commitments to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
This document summarizes an executive book on sales and leadership effectiveness. It discusses an approach that blends business strategy with interpersonal psychology and finding meaning at work. The summary explores how examining one's thinking, language, and process can help grow a business without changing who you are. Specifically, it addresses getting clarity on your unique value; having an effective client engagement process; and reducing emotional attachment to closing deals.
This document summarizes key points from the book "Execution" by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan about building an organization focused on execution. It discusses three main points:
1) The importance of selecting the right people, focusing on candidates with a track record of getting things done rather than just talking about ideas.
2) Seven essential behaviors for leaders to support execution, including knowing the business, insisting on realism, setting clear goals, following through, rewarding results, developing people's skills, and self-awareness.
3) Creating a framework for cultural change centered around execution, by clearly defining expectations for results and coaching people on how to achieve them while rewarding success and addressing shortcomings. The
Execution: The discipline of getting things doneabhishek singh
This document summarizes key points from the book "Execution" by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan about building an organization focused on execution. It discusses three main points:
1) The importance of having the right people in the right jobs and focusing on selecting, evaluating, developing people who can get things done rather than just talk about strategy.
2) The seven essential behaviors leaders must demonstrate including knowing their people and business, insisting on realism, setting clear goals, following through, rewarding doers, expanding capabilities, and knowing themselves.
3) Creating a framework for cultural change by defining the desired results, discussing how to achieve them through coaching, and rewarding results or taking other actions if not achieved
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The document provides instructions for seeking writing help from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment if pleased. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a full refund option for plagiarized work.
Readitfor.me interview with Daniel ForresterPaul Joyce
Daniel Forrester is the founder of THRUUE Inc. which focuses on culture and strategy. He discusses three pieces of advice for entrepreneurs building remarkable businesses and lives:
1. Make time for reflection as that is when insights and ideas emerge.
2. Create remarkable and new ideas which takes reflection and big thinking.
3. Focus on building strong relationships with people who provide dissenting views.
Dale Henry is a certified coach who offers personal coaching to help clients transform their thinking and success. Through coaching, clients work with Dale to develop a personal success plan with goals and milestones. They identify who they want to become, what they want to do, and where they want to live and work. Clients also define their personal purpose and vision for how to live according to their values and strengths. Dale helps clients overcome limiting beliefs and self-doubt to achieve their full potential and live a more fulfilling life aligned with their goals and values.
You're gonna need to be able to scale your business if you want to achieve financial freedom to get where you want to go. And having a cash buyer's list is absolutely critical to do that.
Top Entrepreneurial Lessons from Female FoundersEnrichHER
The document shares entrepreneurial lessons from various female founders. Some of the key lessons mentioned include: having strong faith and conviction in your purpose; understanding your product's value through market research; learning to accept criticism and improve; finding support through networking with other entrepreneurs; and being patient as success takes time to achieve. The document provides these lessons to help other aspiring female entrepreneurs.
This document provides an overview and contents of a book titled "How to Answer Hard Interview Questions". It discusses how the book aims to help readers gain a competitive advantage in interviews by providing insider knowledge on how to prepare for interviews and examples of effective answers to common competency-based interview questions. The document outlines some of the topics covered in the book, such as preparing for interviews, understanding the employer's perspective, conducting yourself professionally at interviews, and questions to ask and learn from in different stages of the interview process. It also provides publishing details and acknowledges the author's hope that readers find the book useful for achieving success in their careers.
How to Answer Hard Interview Questions And Everything Else You Need to Know t...RAMSEVAK
This document provides an overview and contents of a book titled "How to Answer Hard Interview Questions". It discusses how the book aims to help readers gain a competitive advantage in interviews by providing insider knowledge on how to prepare for interviews and examples of effective answers to common competency-based interview questions. The document outlines some of the topics covered in the book, such as preparing for interviews, understanding the employer's perspective, conducting yourself professionally, and answering questions about skills and qualifications. It also provides publishing details and acknowledges that changing jobs frequently is now common, so interview skills are important for career success.
How to answer hard interview questions and everything else you need to know t...Ranjan Sharan
This document provides an overview and contents of a book titled "How to Answer Hard Interview Questions". It discusses how the book aims to help readers gain a competitive advantage in interviews by providing insider knowledge on how to prepare for interviews and examples of effective answers to common interview questions grouped by competency. The document highlights that the world is currently experiencing a severe economic downturn and job competition is high, emphasizing the importance of standing out in interviews. It also notes that the nature of work has changed such that changing jobs frequently has become more common. The author hopes to equip readers with the skills and strategies needed to impress interviewers and secure the job they want.
How to answer hard interview questions and everything else you need to know t...Kh. Sakib Farhad
The document provides tips and advice for preparing for a job interview, including researching the organization, assessing personal strengths and weaknesses, developing answers to common interview questions, and learning how to conduct oneself professionally during the interview. It also discusses following up after the interview and offers additional sample questions covering a range of competencies that are commonly assessed.
This document provides tips for making a great first impression. It discusses preparing talking points about yourself and the other person, being aware of body language, playing to your strengths, finding common ground, and following up. Specific tips include doing research beforehand, engaging the other person in conversation, observing your own body language, emphasizing your strengths with evidence, and asking open-ended questions. The document also provides two case studies as examples, one about focusing on personal engagement and another about highlighting your skills and ideas.
Reuben Rail - enjoy a visual tour of my experience and work with clients in the areas of innovation, brand identity, marketing strategy, and business model design.
This document outlines a social marketing strategy for determining a target community's needs, contributing value without promotion, and gradually building trust and relationships over time. The strategy involves finding active online forums or groups, answering questions, inviting members to a common Facebook group, providing additional value through a blog and newsletter, and eventually making carefully-worded offers to solve members' pains. The goal is to market respectfully by prioritizing the community's needs and allowing them to contribute as well.
Four things you must do to make 100 k this yearDave Shirley
To make $100K this year, you must focus on one specific task, have clarity on your plan and direction, and develop a vision for your business success. It is also essential to have a mentor who can provide proven guidance to help you achieve your goals and overcome challenges. Research shows that those who receive mentoring increase their revenue over 100% compared to only 14% for those without mentoring. Establishing a mentoring relationship can significantly impact your business and help you become more successful.
Jessica Ludwig is seeking a position that allows her to help and advocate for individuals. She has a background in customer service, most recently as a manager for a payday loan company. She is organized, reliable, and attentive to details. Her goal is to become a lawyer advocating for minors and families. She believes listening skills and understanding different perspectives are important for success in working with people from various backgrounds.
Sapient - Communicate Powerfully (Without Being A You-Know-What)Michelle Villalobos
This document discusses establishing your personal brand and communicating powerfully. It emphasizes the importance of branding yourself so others do not define you. It provides tips for knowing your audience, looking the part appropriately, using powerful communication techniques like avoiding filler words and speaking assertively. It also discusses setting boundaries on your time and commitments to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
This document summarizes an executive book on sales and leadership effectiveness. It discusses an approach that blends business strategy with interpersonal psychology and finding meaning at work. The summary explores how examining one's thinking, language, and process can help grow a business without changing who you are. Specifically, it addresses getting clarity on your unique value; having an effective client engagement process; and reducing emotional attachment to closing deals.
This document summarizes key points from the book "Execution" by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan about building an organization focused on execution. It discusses three main points:
1) The importance of selecting the right people, focusing on candidates with a track record of getting things done rather than just talking about ideas.
2) Seven essential behaviors for leaders to support execution, including knowing the business, insisting on realism, setting clear goals, following through, rewarding results, developing people's skills, and self-awareness.
3) Creating a framework for cultural change centered around execution, by clearly defining expectations for results and coaching people on how to achieve them while rewarding success and addressing shortcomings. The
Execution: The discipline of getting things doneabhishek singh
This document summarizes key points from the book "Execution" by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan about building an organization focused on execution. It discusses three main points:
1) The importance of having the right people in the right jobs and focusing on selecting, evaluating, developing people who can get things done rather than just talk about strategy.
2) The seven essential behaviors leaders must demonstrate including knowing their people and business, insisting on realism, setting clear goals, following through, rewarding doers, expanding capabilities, and knowing themselves.
3) Creating a framework for cultural change by defining the desired results, discussing how to achieve them through coaching, and rewarding results or taking other actions if not achieved
Success Essay
The Three Forms Of Success
Success Essay : The Meaning Of Success
Definition Essay About Success
What Makes A Successful Career Essay
Reflective Essay On Personal Success
Essay on The Meaning of Success
My Definition of Success Essay example
Essay on Success: You can do it!
Definition Essay: What Is Success?
My Success Story Essay
Reflection Paper On Success
The Path To Success Essay
The Key to Success in Life Essay
Persuasive Essay On Success
Definition Essay About Success
Persuasive Essay On Success
Successful Student Essay
Essay On Happiness And Success
Essay about Academic Success
The document provides instructions for seeking writing help from HelpWriting.net. It outlines a 5-step process: 1) Create an account with a password and email. 2) Complete a 10-minute order form providing instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Review bids from writers and choose one based on qualifications. 4) Review the completed paper and authorize payment if pleased. 5) Request revisions to ensure satisfaction, with a full refund option for plagiarized work.
Readitfor.me interview with Daniel ForresterPaul Joyce
Daniel Forrester is the founder of THRUUE Inc. which focuses on culture and strategy. He discusses three pieces of advice for entrepreneurs building remarkable businesses and lives:
1. Make time for reflection as that is when insights and ideas emerge.
2. Create remarkable and new ideas which takes reflection and big thinking.
3. Focus on building strong relationships with people who provide dissenting views.
Dale Henry is a certified coach who offers personal coaching to help clients transform their thinking and success. Through coaching, clients work with Dale to develop a personal success plan with goals and milestones. They identify who they want to become, what they want to do, and where they want to live and work. Clients also define their personal purpose and vision for how to live according to their values and strengths. Dale helps clients overcome limiting beliefs and self-doubt to achieve their full potential and live a more fulfilling life aligned with their goals and values.
You're gonna need to be able to scale your business if you want to achieve financial freedom to get where you want to go. And having a cash buyer's list is absolutely critical to do that.
Top Entrepreneurial Lessons from Female FoundersEnrichHER
The document shares entrepreneurial lessons from various female founders. Some of the key lessons mentioned include: having strong faith and conviction in your purpose; understanding your product's value through market research; learning to accept criticism and improve; finding support through networking with other entrepreneurs; and being patient as success takes time to achieve. The document provides these lessons to help other aspiring female entrepreneurs.
This document provides an overview and contents of a book titled "How to Answer Hard Interview Questions". It discusses how the book aims to help readers gain a competitive advantage in interviews by providing insider knowledge on how to prepare for interviews and examples of effective answers to common competency-based interview questions. The document outlines some of the topics covered in the book, such as preparing for interviews, understanding the employer's perspective, conducting yourself professionally at interviews, and questions to ask and learn from in different stages of the interview process. It also provides publishing details and acknowledges the author's hope that readers find the book useful for achieving success in their careers.
How to Answer Hard Interview Questions And Everything Else You Need to Know t...RAMSEVAK
This document provides an overview and contents of a book titled "How to Answer Hard Interview Questions". It discusses how the book aims to help readers gain a competitive advantage in interviews by providing insider knowledge on how to prepare for interviews and examples of effective answers to common competency-based interview questions. The document outlines some of the topics covered in the book, such as preparing for interviews, understanding the employer's perspective, conducting yourself professionally, and answering questions about skills and qualifications. It also provides publishing details and acknowledges that changing jobs frequently is now common, so interview skills are important for career success.
How to answer hard interview questions and everything else you need to know t...Ranjan Sharan
This document provides an overview and contents of a book titled "How to Answer Hard Interview Questions". It discusses how the book aims to help readers gain a competitive advantage in interviews by providing insider knowledge on how to prepare for interviews and examples of effective answers to common interview questions grouped by competency. The document highlights that the world is currently experiencing a severe economic downturn and job competition is high, emphasizing the importance of standing out in interviews. It also notes that the nature of work has changed such that changing jobs frequently has become more common. The author hopes to equip readers with the skills and strategies needed to impress interviewers and secure the job they want.
How to answer hard interview questions and everything else you need to know t...Kh. Sakib Farhad
The document provides tips and advice for preparing for a job interview, including researching the organization, assessing personal strengths and weaknesses, developing answers to common interview questions, and learning how to conduct oneself professionally during the interview. It also discusses following up after the interview and offers additional sample questions covering a range of competencies that are commonly assessed.
How to answer hard interview questions and everything else you need to know t...
AFST Interview
1. LeAsha Moore
AFST 3600
Interview with an Entrepreneur
In the last decade entrepreneurship has skyrocketed within the black community. Many
people have begun to pursue their own business ventures and become their own bosses.
According to the US Census Bureau African-American owned business has increased 61% in
recent years, causing a rise in the number of black owned business. In the District of Columbia,
Black-Owned business accounted for 34.8 percent of all business, followed by Mississippi where
27.7 percent of business where Black-Owned and Georgia, where 27.6 percent of businesses
were black-owned.
I caught up with Toledo’s very own Corey Harris to learn about his business and his
company. I met Corey Harris at Star Academy, a local elementary school that we both mentor
at through the TOPS mentoring program. Corey comes in once a week to speak to the children
about different life choices and how to be successful and reach their full potential. I felt Corey
would be a good entrepreneur to interview due to his knowledge in the field and his desire to
instill change in the children he mentors through his business. Corey is Owner of
“SpeakTheWordLLC”, an apparel company composed of t-shirts, sweatshirt, and crewnecks with
different biblical and motivational quotes. Corey comes from a background of entrepreneurs;
he grew up in a family that taught him early on the strides and dedication it takes to “be your
own boss”, having firsthand knowledge of the entrepreneurial business Corey sought out to
take own his own business venture with “SpeakTheWordLLC”, his family history and knowledge
with entrepreneurship influenced him to pursue the opportunity. When asked, in what ways
did Corey evaluate his business opportunity before pursuing, he reflects back on his spiritual
beliefs and connections he has with God. “I remember in my prayer times, I was asking God
‘What did he create me for?’, ‘Why did I have a heartbeat?’. ‘Why am I still alive?’ Only reason I
asked him that was because all things in life I had already wanted, I had already pursued and
achieved, yet I still felt some emptiness. So when I asked God what was my purpose? Why was I
still alive? He told me that my assignment was with the church. He continued to explain that his
desire for me was to let people see the church when they see me, you are Christ’s helper,
continue to tell people what Jesus wanted them to know. With that being said my sole purpose
of the assignment was to speak the word. Understanding my purpose, I began to put the word
of God on different print materials, because the word of God has the type of power that can
change people and things”. Corey continued to discuss the various different criteria he used to
launch his business. Explaining how social media was very influential in his business
development. Using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get people
more aware of his message and the purpose of “SpeakTheWordLLC”. Understanding that
entrepreneurship comes with many risk, benefits, and much dedication, Corey explains the
ways in which he dealt with some of the risk that came his way when pursuing his business. A
few risks that Corey felt he had to over-come was self-confidence, the risks of the “unknown”,
making products that no one is interested in (no guarantee that your product is going to sell),
these factors played a role in the success that could make or break Corey’s business
opportunity. Corey reflects back on how he navigated his opportunity and idea of a business
2. into an actual business. He discusses the analyzation he went through to create a business,
understanding that at least 75% of people wear T-Shirts, and knew people are going to spend
money regardless, especially on clothing. With his goal in mind, to spread the Word of God in as
many places as possible, the process of understanding ‘who, what, when, and where’ his
message could be spread is what helped him to turn his opportunity into a business.
When pursuing such a goal, Corey discuss the people whose been instrumental and
who’ve helped him along the way. He gives thanks to people who helped him along the way
such as his mentors, his financial coaches, his accountant, friends, and family. He credits his
family in supporting him and his vision and helping him to get his vision to come to light. Corey
goes on to speak about his mentors and the need for many different perspectives of successful
people in his corner. He credits his mentors for giving him knowledge in different areas of
success, business awareness, different experiences that they were willing to bring to the table,
and so many levels of wisdom. One important mentor that he talks about was a woman named
Olivia Holden, who ran a program called “Assets Toledo”, that provides Self Employment
Training and experience-based training for those starting or expanding a small business. Corey
also discusses different programs he participated in such as a program on the University of
Toledo’s campus called the “Minority Business Association Center”, he felt these programs were
put in place to help young business owners thrive by providing support to be successful. “I feel
these programs have an atmosphere that’s conducive for your business to thrive and grow, and
get the help that it needs.” says Harris. Looking back on then and now Corey discusses a few
problems he encountered along the way and ways he solved those problems. A problem he felt
that strained the progress of his business was finding the right people to work with. “This
business requires me to meet with several people from different designers, in order to have a
variety of people to work with so that I can bounce a ton of different ideas, so finding the right
fit as far as designers and screen printers. A lot of different screen printers charge different
rates, so just going through finding out what’s the perfect fit. So mainly just finding the right
people to work with. Going through the trial and era to see what different people were offering,
just finding the right product that I want. For example, I had a guy that was a screen printer, his
price was phenomenal but his work ethic was horrible. When it came time for me to meet
deadlines he was all over the place and unreliable. Whereas there were other people out there
who price ranges were ridiculous but they did what I needed and the time frame I gave them. So
really I would say the problems came with the people I was working with, finding the right
balance.” Corey felt he was able to solve a few of his problems by finding better people to work
with that aligned with his mission, his goal, and intended outcome of his business.
Corey has been in the entrepreneurial business for many years and has come across
many trials and tribulations. When asked about possible advice he has to give to someone
thinking about pursuing their own opportunities he says he would tell them to “Grow Slow”.
He says that he feels they would have to prepare themselves for the challenge that comes with
entrepreneurship. “It’s a bunch of storms, it’s a bunch of dark hallways, but it’ll be worth the
reward”. He felt it’s important for people to “Grow Slow”, and get as much information on the
subject matter as they can, surround themselves with as many successful people that they
know that will be willing to share any type of information. He also says it’s important to
3. surround yourself with a bunch of business coaches. He also says it’s important to do your
homework and expose yourself to people who will help you strive, encourage you when you
feel like giving up. “When you already have set yourself up for success and you have those
people in your corner, because you know those times are coming, and they will come, when you
feel like it’s just not working out anymore having those people in your corner to keep you
encouraged goes a long way, these people are here for you, checking up on you and making
sure you are in a position to win.” Says Corey.
As our interview began to come to an end, I wanted to ask Corey a few questions about
the “right now” of his business, throughout our interview we reflected back on the start-up
process, so I wanted to know more information on the current state of “SpeakTheWordLLC”.
When asked about the current success factors of his business Corey speaks on the success he
has with people finding out about the product. More people are seeing the product, purchasing
the product, desiring the product, and wanting the product. He feels that with anything there’s
a due diligence and process before people become aware of what you do. He feels that the
plans are looking good and everything is coming together greatly. Corey goes on to also explain
moments in his career where he faced triumph and had to overcome those problems. “When
you’re an entrepreneur generally you have a vision inside of you that no one else see’s, and you
have to live it and you have to communicate it, and you also have to convince people. But the
first person you have to convince is you. The most difficult part is knowing that this is supposed
to happen, but having to wait the time that it takes to pass. Because when you’re a visionary
you see things clear, you already see the results. The most difficult moment I faced was seeing
the vision inside of me and having to figure out how to put my vision to action for it to actually
come alive, that’s a difficult challenge sometimes.” Corey goes on to discuss how “Progress is a
Process”, so if you won’t to have any progress in this business you must understand that there’s
a process that comes along with it. He wants future entrepreneurs to appreciate their dreams
and enjoy every step of the process. I wrapped up the interview by asking Corey would he do it
all over again and he responded by saying “Absolutely, I do it all over again every day. Every day
I have the opportunity to say “I’m not doing this anymore, but I choose to do it again every day”.
After interviewing Corey Harris, I reflected back on the devotion and dedication he has
to his business and the powerful message he is displaying to the people around him. Corey, to
me, is an example of a successful entrepreneur that’s breaking down barriers within the black-
community and with entrepreneurs overall. In America, black-owned business employs 4% of
the working age black population. From this 4% the annual revenue $187.6 billion. In the next
years to come I am hopeful that black-owned business will continue to increase their business
revenue and provide more jobs.
If you would like to learn more information about Corey Harris and his “SpeakTheWordLLC”
business feel free to contact him via email at HeSaidSpeakTheWord@Gmail.com or contact him
by phone at 419-279-7951.