Tax Season…
Guys! It’s that time again and I am in full shock at what Tax Season does to my senses. I literally feel like my year is being merged into one document that won’t allow me to be great!!! I mean, last year was a crazy year of accomplishments but I definitely needed my TAX RETURN to give me a HIGH FIVE or a “That’s Some Black Girl Magic Right There” sound affects... just give me something other than these franchise tax bills and obligations. LOL.
In all serious, it’s critical for us to pay what is due to the IRS so we can maintain our credit and credibility in business. Believe it or not its the primary things that keep you a step above the rest. Take care of your business as if it were your styling and grooming norm. Be careful to document and keep your records safe for future reference.
God Bless Entrepreneurs! May you find your perfect venture capitalist to fund your innovation, life expanding missions, and wildest endeavors!
Entrepreneurship 10-01
Entrepreneurship is so empowering. I remember sitting at a desk dreading the dialer and the people who answered. I knew this job was a means to have shelter, food, gas, and entertainment but it never brought me fulfillment or joy.
I was born into a family of influencers and I had a degree that put me no where fast. I was completely shocked at the real world demands and wanted another chance at life! Trust me, being stuck at a job that only feeds your life but not your spirit will take its tole in due time.
So I took a leap of faith and started my business Tenth Child Inc. Woohoo!!! When I received my articles of incorporation I was fueled with excitement. It was all I could do to keep this accomplishment to myself until my official launch. Immediately I began securing clients, making announcements, and putting myself in the path of what I wanted. No more weekday shopping for shoes for me! It was time to put that money into a website, point of sale options, and innovation.
I was so confident. And then I began to notice that my client retention was trash 😔 once the work ended so did the working relationship and evidence of my work and influence. I was completely floored that all of the time and resources spent to build careers left me in the same position as when I started.
So I went to my mentors and began coaching and feedback sessions. I was determined not give up. You wanna know what each scenario lacked? A contract, clearly identified expectations of my company and client responsibilities, and a peaceful exit strategy.
Listen.... I know what you’re thinking... how on earth do you start a business and not know that you need contracts 🗣 I know I know... here’s where you insert the “zealous w/o knowledge” judgement. Ok now that we’ve gotten past my eager ignorance hear me out ‼️ My company offers artist management as a flagship service. This means our primary revenue would come from our work under this model. And my first goal was to sell myself as trustworthy due to industry stigmas regarding crooked & thieving managers. I was fighting negativity that I had not yet experienced or been guilty of and I based my approach with my clients out of that fear. I allowed people to make promises, commitments, and plans with no tangible rate of return. A good faith model If you will. All that did was invite confusion, secrets, and frustration to enter a intimate working relationship.
How’d you fix it Faith? Once I had realized my company would fail I enrolled my behind 🍑 in school at Full Sail University! During that time I would engage and inherit a family of learning, working, and influential people who would help shape my business acumen. I came to the realization that in order to define my service I would need to be able to define my customer introspectively.
Artist are beautiful creatives filled with a higher expression of stellar talent & social anxieties... and if you know anything about the talent + anxiety balance you know that any imbalance can be wildly successful with God Like manifestations or manic.
So with that in mind can anyone see why it’s important to set the appropriate boundaries for the artist management relationship ⁉️Either party can fail if there are not clear boundaries to define roles, expectations, investments, returns, compensation, and ultimately partnership.
A few of my followers have asked:
“How to face your fears of starting your own business?”
Developing my confidence was key! Being a female in a male dominated industry constantly greeted by gatekeepers saving a spot for their boy is tough. Especially when you know you have what it takes! Having confidence in yourself will get you into those same doors held for others and put you into position for now! What you do until then is keep a “Stay Ready” mindset so you don’t have to get ready when the time comes! That means:
Get Educated
Know Your Industry and Your Specific Contribution
Establish Your Business Legally
Build w/ Mentors
Take inventory of lessons learn
Grow in grace
Marry Humility
Kill every opportunity with excellence
Once you’ve mastered these attributes know your worth and they’ll see your value 💯
For more information on Tenth Child Inc. + our business click here.
Winners Don’t Quit!
Instead of begging for a seat at their table why don't we build our own?
I’ve learned within the last year that I determine how far I go in Entertainment Business. @BishopJakes taught a lesson a few years ago about leadership. One of the key components to an effective leader is that they can not fear confrontation or failure.
Successful leaders don’t run and hide when things get tough. They take the criticism no matter the motive and use it as fuel to be better and ultimately the best.
Fear from trying after failure is the result of lack of faith in the process, yourself, and/or God’s plan. No matter what we must not give in to fear but overcome by trying. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to start fresh just to feel better about the route I’m taking next. The best thing about starting over is the freedom from the past you had to let go of.
So in the words of Evangelist @Beyonce’ “I break chains all by myself, Won't let my freedom rot in hell! I'ma keep running' Cause a winner don't quit on themselves.”
Ooow!
Quarantine Whet?
If you’re anything like me you have questions, you want answers, and yet when you receive answers you realize your questions weren't answered.
There are a gambit of emotions that run through my mind. Over the past few weeks I have sat in meetings with executives, employees, promoters, venue owners, musicians, producers, film and tech crews. My own world of business has been altered significantly. All in effort to isolate a virus that is unseen to the naked eye with symptoms that are potentially fatal.
Our new normal requires that we abide by the “stay put” order from our local, state, and national officials. They have been exposed to evidentiary support that proves this virus has no respect of person, socio-economic status, influence, faith, or origin. All media has reached an all time height in sensationalism and an overwhelming low in acceptance. With the rise of social anxieties and gospel according to personal opinions we are a world on edge.
https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/judge-jenkins/covid-19/03232020-AmendedOrder.pdf
This event is humbling. The last time I felt this way was the day death came to my family. I didn’t even realize it until my reality altered my freedom with no target. And now we are here in economic strain, surrounded by death and vulnerability. We are in survival mode and our choices could mean insurance or devastation. So what are we to do during this time?
Be Still...
Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress
We need to recognize when the only threat to creation has made HIS presence known to everyone around the globe. We need to recognize that we are called to stillness for the purpose of recognizing HIS presence, trusting that when HE shows up, He comes with Shelter In Presence! We have to obey though...
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
#DontBreakCharacter #DontBreakFaith #FaithMoves
No matter the target of your faith ... Don’t lose heart ... Faith Moves Mountains, Devastation, Hurt, Vulnerability, COVID-19... Trust God for Global Healing and unify with other believers who are confident in Faith.
Oprah says…
Valentine’s Day weekend this year was the first year without my father. I was counseled to plan something for myself to ease the impact of his absence. I had planned to attend the Oprah Vision tour in another city but decided to stay close to home in Dallas, Tx. To my surprise one of my favorite creatives would be the guest speaker, Tracy Ellis Ross.
Prior to attending this event I knew I would be among women who had a similar hunger for the finer things in life. Women who had either experienced wellness or in pursuit of it in a real way. Without knowing who I would meet or see I was greeted by a sea of women who were ready to hear something special. There was an anticipation in the room for wisdom and change but primarily the achievement of peace and wholeheartedness.
The introduction to the day was BOOMING! Synergy grew with every presentation and more so after intermission. Oprah taught us from her own life lessons. Her conversation would span from the betrayal of rape to the acceptance of her own family. Her friendship with Gayle to the love of her life Stedman and all the hills and valley’s in between. What I gained in admiration she matched with truth. And then there were gifts…
One of mind altering gifts we received was a book to help us to better identify our purpose. Not just the idea of our purpose how to say it aloud and build a discipline in our mind, body, and spirit for manifestation.
Oprah says:
Your journey begins by reflecting on where you are, using your observations as a guide to where you will go. True wellness is the healthy balance of mind, body, and spirit. When balance is achieved, we enter into flow-life without resistance,
Let the journey to wellness begin…