- 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.

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.