Are You Building a Brand or Just Posting?

0:00This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. Whether you're calling the wise women in your life, video calling your girlfriends across the country, or checking in on someone who always knows how to make you smile, staying connected matters. Those small conversations, shared laughs, and quick hellos are what keep relationships strong. Even when life gets busy, some of the most life-giving conversations start with just a phone call. That's why AT&T guarantees a network you can rely on so you can focus on the moments and people that matter the most. That's the AT&T guarantee. AT&T connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit AT&T.com slash guarantee for details. All rise for an all-new season of the Hulu Original Series reasonable doubt now screaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus. The gunshot didn't kill Jack Stewart. It only made her stronger. Now she's taken on the biggest case of the year. A famous recording artist stands accused of kidnapping and murder. Emmy I.C. coronal D. Stars and Morris Chessna and Joseph the Corps return alongside

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3:05This is your daily digital, all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now, y'all know we always start the show checking in behind the scenes of the grind, which is where we just take a minute to really check in on ourselves. And you know, figure out where we are mentally, physically, like what is going on behind all of the things. Back on the grind. So this week, I am really excited. I am literally counting down to homecoming. I have four days until Delaware State University's homecoming, my alma mater. And I don't know if y'all have ever experienced it, but baby ain't nothing like an HBCU homecoming. I have been back every single year since I graduated in 2014, except for maybe one year. That is how dedicated and loyal I am. Okay? So I have a special guest here in the building. We are in New York right now at the Breakfast Club Studios. And Raymond Smiley, I'm going to introduce him myself. So he went to Del State in 2010.

4:06And you know, you come on campus and you trying to find your tribe of people. And there was this one guy from Baltimore that was walking around smiling all day. We calling Smiley super swagged out. But like he always was on this mission to understand branding and building brands and talent and artists and creatives. And life has brought us back together at work. He is here today with an artist under rock nation, right? Yes. Under rock nation. So tell them, wow, you got like a whole adult now. I do. I do. So direct the marketing and rock nation. I didn't know you wasn't direct the marketing and you didn't sell my name. Yeah. I'm dead. Yes. I've been in this is like my fourth year there. Do you like it? I do. Because you always had your own. You've had marketing companies. It's very successful ones of your own though. The digital footprint was yours. Yeah. Still. You know, still. Okay. So you still do your things outside of it too. Yeah. So it's a happy marriage. It's always some fun things going on and every day is different.

5:06So today we got John. John Legend. I didn't even know if I could say the name of the artist because I didn't know how that works for you. I know rock nation they don't play about. You know, but he's a part we got John John legend. Yeah. And his album comes out on 1023 fully produced by Ferrell. It's called Muce. Yes. So that's all we hear and you know doing the campaign. Yeah. So. So crazy. It's like literally seeing like your brother or your sister just excel in life. That's how it feels to be here. And we both here. I'm at breakfast club. He's here at breakfast club with his artist through rock nation and digital footprint. And I mean, we've been doing these things like I'm not surprised to see you doing what you're doing. Man, I remember that. What was you a flight attendant? I wasn't flight attendant for that. Yes. Maybe with the teens. Man, now you doing your thing. It's like, you know, just seeing you grow like every damn just so proud like Ferrell. Like I tell you, but like just to see and you always had to energy. Since day one, since day one Delaware, like always been being Delaware.

6:10People, people think that I just start rubbing Delaware and I just start being like this because I have like no, I've always been like this. I just got a bigger platform now. Yo, always into something trying to start something leading something launching business is like everything. Always in the mix. Always in the mix of day one. And the latest is day one. Oh my God. You should be Delaware's mayor. Like, bro, I don't want to get into politics. I'm good, but I understand what you're saying, though, but you know, I'm just really proud of where I come from. It's a lot of people that help me up when I couldn't hold myself up. So, you know, I always make sure I'm returning the love and echoing and also to I always felt like there wasn't enough at home. I had to create it. So I like talking about it because I want people to go to Delaware and resources. We need it. That Delaware State University needs to support and love. That's crazy because there's a photo of Sizzle in the studio as well. And I actually ran into Sizzle at Jay Z's at the party for the documentary premiere. And we were talking about the fact that she went to the state.

7:11Yo, I always heard about that as a rumor. It's a real thing. It's a real thing. Yeah. I literally was like, I was talking to Sean Oman. I'm like, you know, Sizzle went to the state. He's like, do nobody go to the state. She said, no, I went there. Yeah, she did. And I asked her, I'm like, why you don't come back from home coming? She is. I, I, girl. Yeah, it's so crazy though, because you know, this is our segment where we're checking behind the scenes of the grind before we get into the latest. And my conversation that you guys will hear today for all my low riders, my least nine plus million people listening to you right now. Wow. Yeah, we are one of the leading shows on Black and Fet Park as network. So one of the conversations or the conversation we're going to get into today, I did an event called ProCon Connect or ProCon Live ProCon. Shout out to Keisha Brewer and, you know, her PR agency for bringing me in as a host and a spokesperson. And we did it at Edelman, one of the world's leading public relations firms and all Black people on this panel, even the gentleman that worked at Edelman in crisis PR and brand representation and reputation and management. And the conversation was just about what we were talking about right now, building brands

8:12and working things out. So let's get into the conversation. Y'all, I'm excited. Homecoming is almost here. Y'all know I'm gonna take y'all with me. We can eradicate food deserts with this technology. Hey, y'all, this is Long the Rosa from the latest with Long the Rosa, the podcast. And that was Delaya Hemings. She and her husband created Norse and Bloom Market, an AI powered grocery store, scan a QR code to enter, pick what you need and walk out or as Delaya puts it. Tap Grab and Go 24-7. We started to get flooded with folks saying, hey, I need you in my city. It became their mission to develop a store that could open within three months, even without infrastructure. And just when we were like, how are we gonna accomplish the school? We won the AT&T Small Business Contest Gramp. $50,000 got us over the finish line where we built the first AI powered grocery shipping container in the country. For Delaya, it's about building a legacy. To show the world that you can solve any problem when you work together. Having the support of AT&T, the city of Atlanta is huge.

9:13Look at how many people we've been able to help. Connecting changes everything. AT&T. Oh, it's prime big deal days. These deals are so appealing. Like portable steamers for steaming. Whoa, did I just sing soprano? I think I'm breaking into song. I think deals on air friars, vacuum and skincare. I can't stop singing. Shop new deals every day, this prime big deal days. I think that's it. Nope, there's more. Plug it, smart glasses. This is Jacob Goldstein from What's Your Problem. Finding a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload. O2 is the all-in-one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, HR, fully integrated, easy to use, and built

10:14to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you? Try O2 for free at odo.com. That's odu.com. I know the gyms are meant to be easy. Man, can you win, sir? Doing it in the dark is hard. Doing it alone is hard. Doing it cold is hard. Doing it when you don't want to is hard. Even doing it when you do is hard. Doing it when it's too early for this is hard. Doing it when there's every reason not to is hard. Doing it again and again and again is hard. And we wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Gymshark. We do gym. We know kids don't hold back. I wouldn't want them to. Get in there. Make a mess. Slide for home. Bring on the stains. I've got oxyclaim versatile stain remover. It works on over 100 stains and it's America's number one stain fighter added a brand. It's color safe and chlorine free. So I use it on whites, colors, and art fabrics. And oxyclaim isn't just for laundry.

11:15Use it with water for use all around the house, kitchen, bathrooms, and even floors. When my kids go all in, I say go for it. Because I've got oxyclaim to get the stains out. It's not clean unless it's oxyclaim. It's the latest. Let's go. Welcome to a pro con, guys. You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. Already ready to get into our panel for the evening. Yeah. Okay, so this panel is called beyond the influence. It's the art of building community. So a brief description about this panel is a candid conversation on what it really takes to use your platform for community building and impact. How many other platforms are you raising? A video platform? How many of you guys feel like your platform is moving, is doing things, but you are always thinking about your why and how impactful it is. All right. So tonight we're going to talk to Lee and hear everybody who also raised their hand for a platform, leave your feeling like you understand how to maneuver and execute that. So I'm going to call up our panelists.

12:17So when I was outside their name and I read a brief description, they'll come up here. So Jennette Reyes is an award-winning journalist and digital creator who has built a highly engaged audience by combining trusted journalism with an authentic and distinctive personal voice. Her ability to connect with audiences across traditional and social media provides a unique perspective on the difference between attracting followers and cultivating a community that feels personally connected to the person behind the platform. Let's welcome her on up here right now. Woo! Did I say the last name correctly? Would you say race? We would just say that's what I said. That's exactly what I said. Exactly what I said. Everybody. All right. And then, well, once I guess once we get into the panel, we can talk about the name of your platform and the different things that you have. Up next, I have Mr. Jonathan Jordan. So Jonathan, also known as JJ, he's an icon of JJ Jordan, is a communications and

13:21corporate reputation leader at Edelman, whose career has centered on how big organizations strengthen trust, culture, reputation, and connection with people they serve. His experience spans over communications, employing engagement, business transformation, crisis and communications, and integrated marketing, giving him a unique perspective on how organizations build communities, both internally and externally. Let's welcome JJ to stay. And then lastly, but not least, I have my girl Renee Bluant joining me. She is a producer and brain strategist, a storyteller and long-time champion of Black women, and she's a great entrepreneur. Through her work with essence and platforms including she did that, Renee has helped amplify the stories of Black women and business while also creating spaces and experiences designed around connection, visibility, and economic opportunity.

14:23Her work demonstrates how storytelling can move beyond audience building to create ecosystems of support and belonging. Let's welcome Renee. Okay, so before we get into Renee's, I'll hold up here. You might be holding her hand. I might, my girl. We should have met you before you got here. It's okay, me quick. I hope you've been able to. Okay, oh, my face. He's like, it's my hair, my hair. So while we're doing this, let's start from the end of the panel. So, Jeanette, let me know or let the audience know about your platform, where they can find you, kind of what you're going to do. Sure. So my name is Jeanette Reyes. I'm Miss News Lady on Instagram. And I became a full-time content creator three years ago after being a reporter at an anchor for about 12 years in Philadelphia, NDC. And it all started during the pandemic with the anchor boys, did a video, good evening. You were talking about, it's fine, 52 on June.

15:25That's right. That's what I'm talking about. And it took off overnight. And over the next few years, I kind of nurtured that on the side while doing my job day to day and I loved it. So now these days consist of, obviously, shooting a lot of content, but I also have a podcast called Off the Record with my best friend, Monica, her Adi. She's a former ABC News correspondent. And it's basically, we just hit 150,000 subscribers in two years. She went through so many of these. It's not just a podcast. They are a whole source of media and conversation in a major way with major guests. I don't even feel like coming from you. Thank you. You're a bit better at celebrating. We have to celebrate a milestone. But I say that to say that it's been such an incredible journey to still do the things I love, which is storytelling and obviously connecting with my followers on social while having a lot more freedom and flexibility. And thank you so much for having me, especially Kisha, to honor to be here. Of course, of course. Now, JJ, I did new a brief description of how you would have, I mean, I think my description

16:27may not fully encompass what your day to day is. I saw Christ's VR and I'm like, I noticed just Christianie telling me to be here. Because Christ's VR is a heck of a job, okay? But talk a bit about being here at Elmaine and curating these spaces in a major corporation. You guys lead in the VR space, so. Yeah, is this someone, can you hear me? Okay, hey, what's up, we all? First of all, thank you for being here. We welcome you. And by the way, like a lot of people are like, this is where you work. This is your space. I'm like, yeah, we get to enjoy this everyday. It's sweaty. I appreciate it. I'm sorry it's raining because the rooftop is lit like most days. So first of all, thank you for being here. On behalf of Elmaine, we really appreciate you being here. And this is your space tonight. So everyone, come on. Okay. Yes, Christ's. So what do I do? I've been an Elmaine for nine and a half years. I never thought I'd be able to one place this long. But the work and the people are incredible. And I love what I do. Sometimes I'm like, you know, you all pay me to do this.

17:28I would do this for free. But I don't tell them that. Exactly. I like my, yeah, like 100. I think I've got about 117 clients. You know, some of the big things that you hear in the headlines, I get to work on. Luckily, when I'm doing my job right, some of the stuff that you don't see in the headlines is happening. And I lead our US corporate reputation practice. Essentially, that just means that's our corporate communications practice. So basically, we evolve, promote, you protect, brands that you love. Some of the brands I work on, Taco Bell, Papa John, somebody like Pete's, Pete's, you know, what? Oh, I saw him shaking. No. McKenzie, Gensler, the list goes on. So, yeah, I'd love what I do. And if you are looking for a gig at Elmaine, like, come see my girl, the guy, she, like, holler at her, she's a recruiting. And we would love to bring more like brown folks into this company. Oh, wow. That's my repressing thing to hear a corporate that

18:30is hiring black people while there's a lot of them that are like, oh, we don't, we good. Yeah, I go. I forgot, we were you work on the community. Nowadays, tell me a bit about what your experience has done with you doing on a day to day. So, I do quite a few things. I just want to say out loud that this is a full circle moment with me. I shared this with Keisha and the team when they invited me. I used to work at Elmaine. Oh, what's, she'll come back today. And I said, it's an incredible thing. We worked down in Times Square, and it was quite some time ago. No, not today. I mean, that was a while ago. But yes, I am a PR girly, worked in agencies for many years. Elmaine was my last full-time job until I dove into entrepreneurship. So, I have a platform for black women entrepreneurs called She Did That. It started as a documentary on Netflix.

19:31It's now in Apple TV. And more importantly, it's an ecosystem. We host events throughout the country. We actually have any bit coming up this Monday in Brooklyn. It's our very first She Did That Founder forum. We have 14 guest speakers throughout the day. Happy to talk about it after this. But my day to day is really about amplifying and creating opportunities for black women entrepreneurs through storytelling, through brand partnerships, through brand awareness. And I also do PR consulting on the side. So, that is me and Annette Schell. I'm looking forward to this conversation. A lot of us at Sine Am. We got a great panel here. Yes. OK, so let's get into the lead. So we titled this conversation beyond influence. Because influence and community are very different things. And this is something like the same thing. I would say very different things. You guys might know me. You feel about that statement. But in your world, this is a question to all three of you guys.

20:34In your world, what is the difference between having an audience and actually having a community? I love that question. Because I think you can have hundreds of thousands, even millions of followers, and not have a community. I think people get caught up in the vanity metrics. And we see it when it comes to conversion, for example, where a lot of brands are seeing that a huge following doesn't necessarily mean that people are literally buying into what you're selling. But to explain what to me community is, is when people feel a connection to you. When they feel like they can see themselves in you. For me, it was tough for me because I went from the messenger in news to the message and having to talk a little bit about myself. But when I shared my IVF journey, my PCOS journey, I talked a lot about being a black woman and also being Latina on how the two can coexist. And even making the pivot from a job that or a career that I really loved to, you can love something and decide,

21:37I want to move on to something else. And I love that just as much. But I say that to say, when your followers feel like they're connected to you, like you're invested, that tends to foster community. And I would say the next level of that is when they're sharing with each other when that conversation is circular. And that's a win, regardless of the number of followers that you have. I think for me, so an audience knows you, but a community knows each other. OK. Right? Does the conversation continue after you leave the room? And so for me, we talk a lot about with our clients, this trend around parasocial relationships. Right? You guys probably know that. So on social, I have a one-way relationship with someone, and they have no idea who I am. I'm a big joke, but in the fan, whether you like it or not. But I feel like, Joe Biden, that's my homie. Like, I feel like I know him.

22:37I feel like, hey, we know each other. Thank you for that jacket. I appreciate that. But Brown does not know me at all. He doesn't know me at all, but I feel like I know him so well. And so the question is, is that community still there when you leave the room? Are they talking to each other? Does that ecosystem still continue? And of course, can you monetize that ecosystem? But it's not this one way. It's like to each other. Oh, anyway. So for the work I do, I always like to make a distinction of being in a community or being of the community. And for the day-to-day connections that I'm making with like women entrepreneurs, it's just really important that we look at community as a nerve. And it's not just us taking, but also pouring back into said community. So I thought it's a lifestyle for me. Like, anyone who knows me knows that in any conversation,

23:38there's an opportunity for me to raise my hand and mention a black woman founder. I'm going to do it. If there's a moment where I'm going to be on stage, or just one day-to-day, I'm wearing a black woman on red. We're both wearing 12 p.m. Slacks it. Yes. Hi, I'm here. I can't find more inter-runnel. Like, I don't just talk about it. I'm doing it. That's right. It's just part of my day. Oh, it's prime big deal days. These deals are so appealing. Like, portable steamers for steaming. Whoa. Did I just sing soprano? I think I'm breaking into song. A thick deal's on air friars, vacuum's and skincare. I can't stop singing. Shop new deals every day, this prime big deal days. I think that's it. Nope, there's more. Plug it, smart glasses. This is Jacob Goldstein from What's Your Problem. Running a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps

24:39that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload. O2 is the all-in-one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, HR, fully integrated, easy to use, and built to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you? Try O2 for free at oduo.com. That's oduo.com. I know the gyms don't meant to be easy. Man, you're a winger. Doing it in the dark is hard. Doing it alone is hard. Doing it cold is hard. Doing it when you don't want to is hard. Even doing it when you do is hard. Doing it went too early for this, this hard. Doing it when there's every reason not to is hard. Doing it again and again and again is hard. And we wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Gymshark. We do gym. We know kids don't hold back.

25:41I wouldn't want them to. Get in there. Make a mess. Slide for home. Bring on the stains. I've got oxyclaim versatile stain remover. It works on over 100 stains. And it's America's number one stain fighter added a brand. It's color safe and chlorine free. So I use it on whites, colors, and art fabrics. And oxyclaim isn't just for laundry. Mix it with water for use all around the house, kitchen, bathrooms, and even floors. When my kids go all in, I say go for it, because I've got oxyclaim to get the stains out. It's not clean unless it's oxyclaim. Listen, you've been injured in a car accident. Waiting around doesn't make the situation any easier. Medical bills keep coming. The insurance company keeps calling. An important deadline to don't stop just because you're trying to recover. And life keeps moving even when you're hurting. That's why you call Morgan and Morgan. With over 35 billion recovered, they are America's largest injury law firm. Go to forthepepple.com slash Harvey Radio today. The fee is free unless you win. Morgan and Morgan. Today, and so that's the distinction for the nation.

26:42I don't know for me personally, the difference between having followers and having a community when I, when changed, when I started talking about myself more on a public platform, right? But talk about the, uh, there's like an anxiety and almost like a, there's a weird, it's like a double-dutch pressure. Like, Jeff, do I do it now? Do I share this now? Like for the creators in the room who are, you know, they might have a niche topic that people come to them for. How do they begin inserting themselves in our own old stories and to build that real community with people that have never met before in real life? That's a great question. I'll say I have one rule and that is for me personally. And my point is you should establish what the rules are with you as far as what you can live with. So for example, I, I rarely share or I, well, one, I never share what I don't want to invite comment on. So I don't, I don't share a lot about my marriage, right? Like there's, there are very personal things to me that I don't share because I'm not inviting commentary into it. The second thing is I do, for the most part, what's called retrospective vulnerability.

27:44I've kind of given it that name, which means that I tend to share it once I've gone through it because for me personally, it's really hard when I'm in the thick of it. Yeah. Other people are fine doing that. I'm not going to be able to phone while I'm sobbing after getting some bad news. There's no right or wrong answer. It's what you feel comfortable with and what you can continue doing consistently. So you have to define what that means for you. From the way the women that you work with have had to find that balance of personally, I gotta put my business out there so you can trust you but also professionally, I need to vote a brain. And that middle point of that violating their trust once they bring them in, what can corporations learn from that? That's a really, really good question. I wanna sit with it, but for the sake of the conversation moving forward, one thing that I think is really working for black women entrepreneurs that could be applied to corporate in some way is I'm loving the way

28:45that small businesses ran by black women. They are showing you their process. They're not just showing you the results. I think corporations, for example, if they have a brand launch, you know, you'll really just hear about it when the product is ready. Small businesses are often showing you the process and that builds a lot of trust. It makes their audience want to root for that person because we get to see you kind of like getting this out of the dirt, as they would say. We're seeing your very humble beginnings and then they're proud to say that I remember, for example, Melissa Butler of the Lit Bar and she was making this lipstick in her kitchen. That's my girl. You know? And so now we see where she is. She was actually a subject of my documentary. She is in Target all over the country, Walmart, CBS. Like the people who can say that they were supporting her brand in his humble beginnings, like you're still her customers.

29:45So I don't know how corporate brands can kind of like get into that, but there is something really special about bringing your audience and your community into that process or do you into that journey, even the ugly parts. I will ask this question, you know, piggybacking off of that. You know, you mentioned some of the corporate partners that even like a Lit Bar has, right? And the things that corporates may not have done yet. What are some things that we feel like brand organizations consistently get wrong when they say they want to build community? And I think, you know, for you, Janet, you can talk from like a person that is being hired by these brands of corporations to talk for them. And you guys can kind of talk on the other end of it. Like, you know, you're from the corporate space, but also you're kind of being the connector in that. What are some of the things that get wrong when they say they want to build community? And you like, where do we need to be? I want to jump in on that, because it's a personal pain point. So like I mentioned before, we produce a lot of events for she did that. Like I said, we have the founder for them.

30:45We have a holiday bizarre. There are so many opportunities for brands to come in and just really be a part of this world, really tap into all of these women. And we do get brand partners, but I find that it's not like a consistent partnership. And a lot of it is because of internal changes on their team, you know, if a leader leaves, then their priorities change. But I really do think if a brand wants to be a real part of the community in a really authentic and meaningful and impactful way, it has to be more than a one-off. So I just think when they're looking at brand partnerships at a minimum, it needs to be two or three years just so that you can really get immersed in that community, get familiar and gain their trust. Otherwise, it does start to look like, okay, this was just a check that was written. They were just checking off of box. Do they really care about this community in a real way? And I will say to some of the creators in the room, like, I know you always feel like,

31:46I don't know if I'm there yet, well, I can push the needle. I'm excited to be working with these brands and getting paid by it. One of the things that I said I know early was like, all right, so this works out. What are the opportunities for equity? What are the opportunities for a year or two year plant? And if they couldn't answer that for me, I would literally be like, you know what, this is an amazing opportunity, but I don't want to be anywhere. My audience won't believe me if I only do it one time. Like, period, even if I use y'all, I would be talking about y'all for free for the rest of that two years when I know that there is a budget for me, but you just don't see the value, I'm good. Say it, close my mouth, don't give it. And there's a way that you can cater it where it's like, not, hey, what you got for me, run on pocket spinnet, but more so, like, more so, like, you know, I want you to know I see a future here and let's start. Like, let me just put that in the air so that when you guys are thinking and talking about me, you know that, like, oh, she's already brought up the fact that like, a year from now, she sees this for us. So when I'm building on the content, I'm thinking, like, how can they see this as not just a one-off?

32:47And then, you know, just wait and see what they come to the table with because what you're saying is really important. Like, people don't believe, but if you just post it one time. Yeah. A couple of points. This is a really great question. And I think it's a two-part thing. I think there's a lot that creators could do and that brands could do. But my question to you all, how many times, especially lately, as we're getting kind of like influencer and ad fatigue, how many times have you seen influencer, do it brand deal? And I'm like, girl, do you really use this? I didn't cut you a good check, right? I was like, my really don't know. Amen. She's sad as things before I look down. She's like, oh, I'm like, I'm not sad. So my thing is, you've got to be intentional about organically talking about the product that you genuinely like and more than once. For two reasons. One, you're showing the brands. I'm using, I do use your stuff. And you're also showing your followers how this brand fits into your life. And you're doing it even when it's not transactional, and you're not getting paid for it. So that when the ad then comes, I've had people say, girl, finally, they cut you a check. Because you've been talking about this thing forever, right?

33:49And it makes it easier when people feel like she's actually telling me about this because she really wants me to know about it. I was talking about the lip bar when I was a news anchor. And I don't know if a lot of people know, as a journalist, for reasons of conflict of interest, you are not allowed to take anything more than $50, whether it's a gift or a paycheck, because let's say you, I don't know, brand cuts you a check and then they have controversy and not a report on the controversy of the brand, but they just paid me whatever a few months ago. So for years, I would organically talk about all of these brands and the lip bar was one of them. And I mentioned how it was the first time I felt comfortable as a black woman wearing a red lipstick. And particularly as a morning anchor, I was the morning anchor that would wake you up with a bright lip. Yes. I don't wish for you by the end. Yes. For Johnson and Bossley. For Johnson and Bossley. For Johnson and Bossley. For Johnson and Bossley. Yes. And you don't think long and you're taking so much. Yes. I would like to give five hours a day. And I think the young thing is not budge. And so when we finally did a partnership, people were like, oh my gosh, this was like years in the making.

34:52But I say that to you all, you don't have to be big. You don't have to have a large following. You don't have to be making the brand deals yet. For you to start, it's almost like breadcrumbing. So that when the deals come, it's mutually beneficial for the brand and for you as well. I'm going to speak on behalf of our clients, the brands. Some of them that you all in yesterday. We have TJX here. They spent a lot of money on produce. The fastest growing part of element is our produce with creator business. Full-stop. Employment service creators and then media creators. Like on the corporate side, I'm talking to media creators every single day. And we had TJX here for the last two days. We had creators on this stage yesterday and the day before. And one of the things I'll tell you is the brand's actually smart. The days of transactional relationships are gone. There was a day where it's like, yeah, I need you to promote this one thing, on this one campaign, and then buy. They're trying to build relationships. So on your side, I mean, the key is they're watching.

35:54It's not just the big mass of creators. Like they're looking at micro creators. They're looking at people with 2,000 followers. But if your followers are engaged, they're looking for you. So do not give up hope. I promise you they're looking. We've got a team that all they do is literally look at creators that have a small big medium followers. But they're looking for that engagement they're looking for. Are you tapped in? Are you actually in it? Do you really love this brand? Are you just trying to transactional post whatever? I promise you. They're going to knock on your door if they're not already. One of the questions I will ask, we talk a lot about impact in community, on social. Whether I had 2,000 followers, 150, 20, how do you know when you're making a moral impact? What does that look like? Am I measuring it by shares of my posts, comments, and engagement? How do I know when a brand, what you talk about in general, corporate brand is really looking at me. I don't care about the followers. This person has it. What does that look like?

36:55Is that true? We look at all kinds of metrics. I think engagement is number one. But honestly, our team, shots at our L1 team, or the Rubenberg, what's up with that? We are perotious. We know people, and we know the comments. We are looking at everything. And we have tons of tools that look at all the KPIs. But sometimes when we go to our client, most of the time, sometimes they don't know who this person is. So we're putting them on. And when we're putting them on, we're telling them a story. And the story is not just KPIs. It's like this person has this unique vision, or this unique style that we know is going to work for this brand. So sometimes it's the numbers, of course, that matters. But also, it's what makes you you. And so if you have a unique point of view or style, lean into them. Because when we're teaching our clients, sometimes we'll have a pitch deck, and we have my five to ten creators on there. We're usually telling a story about the person and less about their KPIs.

37:57We're about to launch this shames plug. Next month we're not going to launch this list of the top 100 media creators. So people that do news. Sorry. I think you called for me too. Yeah, they know. They should. I'm going to check the guys in. K, K is a good dude. I'm going to check him with K. Not out there to do a day. But I talked to my client, one of my clients in Zillow. I just had a call with him a few hours ago. And I was like, yeah, we have this list of top 100 media creators. They're like, when can I get that? Like, barely literally. Like, when can I see this? Right? Listen, everything that you were doing to build you up to that point where she's totally you matters. It really, really does. And it brings me to a question for you, JJ. Talk about the importance of building from the inside out. Like you said, your team was here. And a lot of times for a corporate, your first sense of community is internally with your team. Why are that important? And what can the creators here learn about building a team?

38:57Oh, it's Prime Big Deal days. These deals are so appealing. Like portable steamers for steaming. Whoa, did I just sing soprano? I think I'm breaking into song. I think deals on air friars, vacuum and skincare. I can't stop singing. Shop new deals every day. This Prime Big Deal days. I think that's it. Nope, there's more. This is Jacob Goldstein from What's Your Problem. Running a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload. Odo is the all-in-one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, HR, fully integrated, easy to use, and built to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you? Try Odo for free at odo.com.

40:01That's odo.com. I know the gyms don't meant to be easy. Man, you're a winter. Doing it in the dark is hard. Doing it alone is hard. Doing it cold is hard. Doing it when you don't want to is hard. Even doing it when you do is hard. Doing it went too early for this is hard. Doing it when there's every reason not to is hard. Doing it again and again and again is hard. And we wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Gymshark. We do gyms. We know kids don't hold back. I wouldn't want them to. Get in there. Make a mess. Slide for home. Bring on the stains. I've got oxyclaim versatile stain remover. It works on over 100 stains. And it's America's number one stain fighter additive brand. It's color safe and chlorine free. So I use it on whites, colors, and arc fabrics. And oxyclaim isn't just for laundry. Mix it with water for use all around the house, kitchens, bathrooms, and even floors. When my kids go all in, I say go for it. Because I've got oxyclaim to get the stains out.

41:02It's not clean unless it's oxyclaim. Listen, you've been injured in a car accident. Waiting around doesn't make the situation any easier. Medical bills keep coming. The insurance company keeps calling. And important deadlines don't stop just because you're trying to recover. And life keeps moving even when you're hurting. That's why you call Morgan and Morgan. With over 35 billion recovered, they are America's largest injury law firm. Go to forthepepple.com slash Harvey Radio today. The fee is free unless you win. Morgan and Morgan. It's finally that bills go for me. I know. How many cramiers we got in here? OK. That's what's up. So I'm like locked up here. Yeah. OK. OK. How many cramiers have a team? How many cramiers will know they will build a team eventually? Burtually or whatever. Like you will walk in there. I cannot stress the importance. You talked about inside of it.

42:04Like I can't stress to you how important it is to have a team. You cannot do it all yourself. But in the beginning, you got to do it all yourself. How about it? All right. And that's there's no shade. But if you can find someone that believes in you, starts to delegate, I can't tell you how important it is to have a posse that's rolling with you. And then one of the things that you're not great at, there's probably someone next to you that's great at some of the things that you're not great at. Like find that team. It is so, so important. Now, Renee, I have a question for you based off of that, right? When you are dealing with the businesses and the women that you were championed, what is the hardest part that you find with cramiers when it comes to that time or now it's time to vote the team. I vote the creative. I vote the numbers. The income is there. But I need that one person who's like my end of year maybe two to join my team. But I have to trust somebody to do that. That is a hard transition, especially for a creator who's

43:04been doing it all on their own up until this point. I'm going to speak from my personal experience. First of all, I'm a Virgo. So there you are. We are special. So many ways. We're sweet. My good, good way. We like things to be done in a certain way. And a lot of times that results in us wanting to have control over how it's being done, how it's being executed. And that's the way creators and founders are, right? Like whenever you're creating whatever you put out into the world, it's like your baby. So in your mind, no one can take care of it as well as you can. But we know just like with motherhood, there's only so much a mother can do. Right? Like she needs to tap into her village to really make sure that this child is being taken care of and that she's taken care of herself. And so it took me a while, because a friend of mine actually just reminded me of how far I've come with my men. I think I was saying something about just not feeling like

44:06the progress was being made the way I thought it should. And she was like, Renee, do you remember the first time that I came to Winnie Eridivance? Like you were actually setting the tables up in the room. She was like, that was not that long ago. And now you have this whole team that is producing with you. And so it takes a while to have that trust going back to what we spoke about earlier about trust. But when you do find those right people, know that it will take so much weight off of your shoulder. Like I have this big event one Monday that I mentioned. The only reason why I'm able to sit here with you right now is because I have a team that is moving things forward. And so just having that freedom means a lot. As you're building, you need to be out in the world connecting with people. Like I think right now we're so focused on digital connections and online connections. But being out in the world like this makes a world of difference when you're creating something, when you need to spread the word about it,

45:07when you need to find people who can really help you, that is going to happen more often in person. I find that the best opportunities do come when you're actually out in the world. 100%. And I don't know if you have anything to add today. I heard you earlier talking about, you had a team member here today. Oh my gosh. And he actually had to volunteer. He's like, hey, I can go with you. And I don't even think about this. I was sitting here and sitting there getting video. You know, that's why we're being this human. This is the baby. You're the baby. Exactly. One of the things I've, one of the phrases I've had to really hold on to is done is better than perfect. And you have to understand what is, like, Mo and I, my co-host for off the record, like we will be in the weeds in Stillar. Like we do all of our trailers. We pick the visuals and the sound. We do the tracks and the script. And we've gotten to the point where it's like, OK, yeah, we've done so much and we've achieved so much, but at what cost? And you have to ask yourself, when you're

46:10paying, like, when you're achieving something, because all we're looking at is the milestones, the achievements, but what did you pay for it? Because you're paying for it one way or the other. And when you start to build out a team, you start realizing, man, I can get reap benefits that are healthier for me, that are more fulfilling, that free me to do other things that fill my cup, because you end up resenting your work, because you're doing it all. And I think if you get to the point where you accept, man, you know what? They do it differently, but it's pretty darn good. Or they do it differently. And we hit the milestone either way, and we can kind of tweak as we go. And once you realize that you'll wonder, it becomes a digting. Once you're outsourcing and doing all of that, it's like you don't want to look back. And just like those were the trenches. Why do I choose difficult? Just because. So once you're able to afford that, because I know it can be costly. Once you're able to afford that, I would do that as soon as possible. But also, too, if you look to your left hand right here today,

47:12you have to help each other out. Like, you know, before I could afford to pay your team, like in all honesty, a lot of the team that I'm paying, ain't a big team. Our people that was with me were not couldn't afford to do anything. They were just like, you know, we got you, because that adds to what I'm trying to do at the same time. So I'm hoping you'll help with me. Like don't discount the fact that you're sitting next to future icons and legends right now in this moment. You realize that your friends are that as well, too. So you realize that I could ask questions all day long, you know what I mean? But I want to open it up to the audience. I want you guys to be able to ask questions. I will grab a mic. Is there an extra mic? You can ask. I don't need one. Oh, that's okay. I'm not gonna do that. Yeah. All right. We have to see. Okay, you got your true news. She said, Tubby A name where you're from and then go to your question. Good evening, everybody. My name is Bethesco Phil. I am the founder of Funny Honey's. It is a comedy brand that I started and I sit in an intersection of arts and entrepreneurship. And much like your experience,

48:14I had a business prior to becoming an artist. And my main issue in question for whoever wants to answer is I have not only done the comedy, but I've been a live musical hooker. I work with literary spaces and I see these spaces of artists. And nobody really understands the you and industry and putting themselves and building the brand. So if I were to take my creators and everyone that I know in my community, should I be positioning myself to brands and say, hey, look at me and all I got. And everyone that comes with me or should I be going to an agency and say, hey, I represent a community of all these people, but I want to leverage where I am and the community that I have to get further. If I was answering that for you, I would say which one is working for you, Bethesco right now? Are you doing either or like are you doing it where you're packaging basically yourself as the agency and bringing the creators with you or are you pitching as the agents? I have delivered to the community through events. So my community happens there. They've been smaller events and I really would like

49:15to take my events to another level, which is why I'm pitching brands now, but anybody really, you know, this is what I will tell you. Like I will say at the, my opinion and your share with your thing. I will say at this base that you were in, it's best for you right now to be doing it directly if you have the contacts. Like if you were able to make contacts and you don't have to have a middle person that's also gonna take a percentage of what you will get when those brands decide to give you some dollars, I would do that because it's possible. Like a lot of things that I do on social media right now, I'm not an agent. It's literally me online talking about the stuff I want to do and then people are like, oh, you want to do that? Hey, here's an email or I'm out, like I'll be outside. I'm talking to everybody. No, I do. And they make it a joke. And like, they always joke and I'm everywhere on the girl's side, but it's because when I'm somewhere and I'm meeting people, it turns into me being able to leverage that relationship for the things that I'm trying to do because they also have something they want to do as well too.

50:15What I will say is the preparation is important. So you can be outside and be mean on these people and have all these ideas of these events, but you got to know your number, it decks need to be right. Like you can meet JJ right now and meet him 20 times later. If you are not prepared what he needs to take to his team, he can't help you. So I think right now you should focus on who am I meeting and what is my ask? And when you walk in that room, I'm gonna see what your ask is because preparation and walking into a room ready can get you further than any agent that can do that for you as well. And you can keep your little 20% too. Yeah. Like I think that that's what you should be focused on. If I were you, that's where I'd be focused anyway right now. Thank you. And I want to actually build on that. If you have any event concept that you want to bring to life, please do not wait for a brand to make it happen. Yeah. I started the holiday bizarre without brand partnerships. I literally tapped into the community around me and found ways to monetize the event so that I could pay for all of the expenses,

51:18whether it was the venue or the DJ, the catering. Find a way to do it yourself so that you can have a case study to share with brands when you're looking for brand partnerships. Because I don't, if they feel like the only way that this event will happen is if they invest dollars in it, to me, you're coming into it kind of giving up some of your power. All right. Yeah. Can I, I've never seen the movie field of dreams, but I know that's the quote says, if you build it, they will come. Yeah. 100%. So brands, they're not gonna come if you're not doing it. All right, you gotta just do it. Jimmy, Jimmy, I mean, I think that's nice. Yeah. He was like, I like to stand next to cool. That's a strategy. That is the same for a lot of brands. They don't know what cool is, they're not cool, but they want to stand next to cool. Right? So if you could just build that community that we talked about, right? But is there, when you leave that community, still talk to each other, brands are gonna be like, how do I tap into that?

52:20What do I gotta pay to be a part of that? Right? So if you build a Belka. And one word, phoma, phoma always works. Like you will either gonna hop in or not. Cause it's more moving without you. Thank you so much. I do have proof of concepts of everything I've done. You know what I want to see that? That's the word. Yeah, she's gonna get far more next time. I'm gonna go over here, gonna not come back to you right here with being high-dain for support. It's Hannah. Hello. Do I need to walk tomorrow to the front? That's all right. Let me give you the key. She did a really good job of protecting and I can't. Hi. Hi, I'm Emily. I have a brand called Wellness On The Fly. We play in a cement court in O'Jendra. If you're in DC, we miss you girl. So here in DC is the playing during the week. So you do absolutely nothing. Cause we don't be taking out DCO. So my question to you all is this. Building community is very tiring. PR, I am also a PR girl. Gurley is very, or a man, we're inclusive. It's very tiring.

53:20What do you do to pretty much cultivate mindfulness in your life? How do you see the faces already? How do you just turn things off? I'm glad so that we also know that balance. Or is it not about me right now? Why am I gonna be in this room? I'm not near a balance. I don't think balance is the real thing. I mean, you need a harmony. Okay, but say, cause if it is, I just have an experience that in the end, I ask a lot of questions to a lot of people and they have an either. I feel like you don't have a synchronized as fun. Right? Yeah. I would say life is a series on a more than one. There we go. Okay. It's seasons and it's trade-offs. I also, for me, if it's not on the calendar, so I've gotten to the point, cause I was a little stretches where I'm kind of an extremist. Some of the work and for stretches, and I won't realize, oh my gosh, I haven't hooked up with a girlfriend in months. Right. So you've got to put it on the calendar and treat it with the same importance and visibility and intention that you do your work.

54:21So that, and don't treat it as a softhold. You know what I mean? Meaning like, that wasn't hang up, but I can just work this thing and said, you've got to treat it that seriously and also let other people know, hey, this is my whatever day. I also booked my things in advance. So like I have my, and this is a relatively recent thing in terms of the last few months, I booked my like spot A's where I self-care days, weeks in advance. So this thing has been living on my calendar for weeks. If you do that and before, right when you walk out of that appointment, you're booking the next one. That way you hold yourself accountable and it's visible on your calendar because you know how it is. I'll get to it, I'll get to it, ends up being, I never get to it. And now you're burnt out. And you're not doing anybody good and you're not doing yourself any good. So I would, I would do that. Treat it with the same thing. I realized life is about seasons, some seasons. You're gonna be working a lot. Other seasons, you can rest a little more.

55:23Okay, I'm gonna go back here with the blow-and-break. Head to not come back to you for miles. It's not a road, well there was a man. If you want to come up here and get the, it's not even come up here for us. He's like a star, he's ready to. Yeah. It's probably only a second. So I am from Virginia in plenty of mountains. Hey. Hey. My high school is actually called Richland Community. And the funny thing is, there are community break. And what I've seen is a lot of smart black people are working themselves and to believe you are working so hard that they're not taking the time to break. So I want to ask the greatest question, are we really community, right? And what is community look like in the future? Are we doing community right? Is there a question? Yeah. The Hampton in North Carolina, and the Washington Post, the U.K. Are we doing? Are we doing? Boat up, we got Howard. No.

56:23Are we doing? Oh, is that Arendt? It's class, they harp this on. All right, the A.C. people love doing it at home time. Are we doing it at home time? You know, it's A.C. and Howard and Dan. It's Dan. It does, A.C. It's A.C. I got a warning in a building. It's like always talking to a buddy. I'm going to tap him up. I'm hopefully I understand your question correctly. I don't think we are. And I think it's because we don't understand that the price of community is an inconvenience. And you've got to give something of yourself to cultivate community. The flip side of it too is that you've got to kind of, it requires a little bit of vulnerability. You know what I mean? Like put yourself in a position where you're asking someone, hey, can you help me out with this? A friend of mine, I was flying out of Newark Airport and I was going, I think I was going to Lisbon or something. I was going to pay for parking two weeks. And it's very expensive. And my friend who lives right in your garage just like, why don't you park your car in my garage?

57:26And I was like, I don't want to convene it to you. You know, because it's like, it's going to sit in there. She was like, girl, what are we? If you can't, you know what I mean? And so it's allowing your, what I like to say is giving people, allowing them to have the joy of being of use to you and of service to you. So I think once we understand that concept, and not to sound extreme, but I think capitalism sometimes gets in the way of community. And instead of always outsourcing things, allow your friends to have the joy of being of use to you. You remember telling her for a response. So community, all right? Y'all, how many New Yorkers we got in here? Woo! I'm home. He's so great. He's home. On, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, Central Park. Did y'all know? Y'all heard of Seneca Village before, right? No, but it was. So 18, Seneca Village. So it's 18, 20s to the 1850s. Primarily was African-Americans in Central Park.

58:27Yes, we have a whole community of people. For 34 years, we've been thriving. Wow. And then the city, of course, said they wanted, you know, Central Park. And so they, you mean living in Central Park? I mean, you mean, all those, Central Park, building in Central Park. For 40 years, we were thriving. There was community there. I'd say that's the same for brands. Brands will kick us out, and then we use this how we want. And so I think my point is, I think we got to stick together, right? Like, there's a lot of crabs in the barrel of mentality. I got, you know, only one, you know, so zero-sum game, sort of mentality. Like, if, like, all boats rise, we'll work together. So I think we got to figure out how do we work together. Like, in this room, there are brand new brands that can be launched, right? Tonight. How do we rise together? And it's not a pie. It's not like, if I get this, you miss out on that, you know what I mean? I love that. Well, sure, they have them for, you know, that whole alone. That name. That name. They get a thing.

59:29Oh, it's Prime Big Deal days. These deals are so appealing. Like, portable steamers for steaming. Whoa. Did I just sing soprano? I think I'm breaking into song. I think deals on air friars, vacuum and skincare. I can't stop singing. Shop new deals every day, this Prime Big Deal days. Oh, I think that's it. Nope, there's more. Bluggish, smart glasses. This is Jacob Goldstein from What's Your Problem. Running a business is hard enough. Don't make it harder with a dozen apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload. Odo is the all-in-one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, HR, fully integrated, easy to use, and built to grow with your business. Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you? Try Odo for free at odo.com.

1:00:33That's odo.com. I know the gyms don't meant to be easy. Man, you're a winter. Doing it in the dark is hard. Doing it alone is hard. Doing it cold is hard. Doing it when you don't want to is hard. Even doing it when you do is hard. Doing it went too early for this is hard. Doing it when there's every reason not to is hard. Doing it again and again and again is hard. And we wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Gymshark. We do gym. We know kids don't hold back. I wouldn't want them to. Get in there. Make a mess. Slide for home. Bring on the stains. I've got oxyclean versatile stain remover. It works on over 100 stains. And it's America's number one stain fighter added a brand. It's color safe and chlorine free. So I use it on whites, colors, and art fabrics. And oxyclean isn't just for laundry. Mix it with water for use all around the house, kitchens, bathrooms, and even floors. When my kids go all in, I say go for it. Because I've got oxyclean to get the stains out.

1:01:33It's not clean unless it's oxyclean. And let me tell you something. After an accident, that insurance company already has a whole team working for them. Adjusters, investigators, lawyers, everybody. So why would you try to handle it all by yourself? You better believe that insurance company came prepared. Morgan and Morgan has been fighting for the people for more than 35 years. The consultation costs you nothing. And the fee is free unless you win. If you've been injured, visit forthepeople.com slash Harvey Radio. Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. So we have to offer one more. Hi, this is my first time at a pro-con connect event. So it feels pretty good. My little Harlem. And what brought me here is, should that? We have a similar background. I moved here. I don't want to take 31 years ago to work for CNN business news. Managing with little dogs. And I realize I hate it the news. Especially when you start at the network level.

1:02:34But for the past, I would say 21 years, I've had my own business, some of professional speakers I speak all over the world on technology. And I'm numb. Now, I don't know what the word is for it, but there are brand ambassadors that are popular within a company or within a group. So they're paid to sort of mine with Zoom. I'm a lot of people use Zoom, but there is a whole other way of using Zoom as an entrepreneur. So different organizations or groups that bring me in to sort of push that. And then I get licensing credit and all sorts of things. My question is, I'm a little fascinista. I just love it. And Jeanette and everyone else who wants to answer this question, I'm sure a lot of folks in here probably have Amazon and ambassador type of accounts, right? But then I always say I'm going to use it and I never do. I never post. I have all these things I want to do.

1:03:34So I'm wondering, what can you do to kind of get yourself to start to post all these awesome things so that you can build a new audience, a new community? Is I think my question? Because right now, it's sort of stuck in the behind the curtain community, but I want to be more out front. So what are your suggestions? That's a great question. And thanks for the love, by the way. So I would say you've got to remove the friction. And what I mean by that is there's this great story. I think the author of Atomic Habits, I want to say it's James Clear, shared this story about a man who's trying to go to the gym more often. And so what he would do is he would just get to the point where he was just outside of the gym. I believe that's how it was. But he wouldn't actually go in and work out. And for days, he did that. And it sounds a little silly, but it's because to make that decision to finally lift the weight, like they say that have you as weight as the door.

1:04:34To make that decision, there's so many other, or to make that change to work out. There's so many decisions you have to make beforehand. There's laying up your clothes maybe then before. There's waking up when you're in lounge, because that sounds off. There's putting the clothes on, getting in the car. And so just getting to the door is an accomplishment. So what I would do for you is address all of the little steps that it takes beforehand to get there. Maybe have your ring light charged. I ring light. Your phone, like ready and charged, and able to record you, have all of those things that make it so that all it is press and record when the moment comes. Because it sounds simple in theory, but there are barriers in the way that make it easier for you to say off to do it tomorrow. And that will make it, and just set the bar really low. It sounds for over and vicious people. It's like, that sounds sexy enough. I want to shoot an outfit every day in Monday through Friday. And then once you miss, you feel bad. And then you tell yourself, one thing I'd love to live by is never miss twice, right?

1:05:35Like, one miss is okay. Just don't miss twice. And try to recover the next day. When you set it up in small steps like that, I would have everything set up, ready to record, and don't even record. Just make those steps frictionless. And just for clarity, the doing of the stuff is not the part of art. It's more, for example, there's a lot of folks that have sort of become celebrities overnight. But one thing that I love it you did is you took that, because people just love when you say it's 9.55, and people kept watching you. Because you could have just been a quick in and out. And I love how you took that and you leveraged it. And then you continue to say, you know what? Let me show people what mascara I love or what foundation I love. Or, you know, when I love how your husband comes in, or your daughter, your mother, and all those pieces. So I think my favorite question is, how are you going from, okay, you know, I wanna, I don't know, I'm not asking, how do you get viral?

1:06:36I think that's a crazy question. But more so stepping into it, what did you do? What did you do that kind of made people hang on? Like, once she had the mother. There you go. I didn't have the muscle as it was viral. It went viral or it was for the people like something. And then you were like, oh, you know what? And maybe it wasn't even on purpose. But then like, you know, you started showing your family a bit and, you know, all that. You know what, that's a good question. Your comments will tell you what people want from you. I think sometimes we put our blinders on and you're like, well, I wanna talk about, blah, blah, blah. And I think you've got to really pay attention to the feedback and people will tell you what they want from you. So they would make comments about, you know, my husband being funny. Or, you know, I posted a video of my mom telling me off. And they were like, oh, she's such a Latina. And so I started posting her. So like, you will literally find your next act, your next opportunity, the things that you can leverage in your comments. I don't know. I actually even save the comments because sometimes you can forget

1:07:37and feedback is so, so, so critical. You will lead yourself down a different road thinking, you know what I mean? Thinking, no, this is the thing. When it's in plain sight right there. I know that. Well, y'all, we got a wrap. Thanks. I know. How many of you all had a good time? Go enjoy the conversation. Woo! Oh, my God. If you guys want to give me a choice, you guys are following a pro con and everything that they're doing so that you can know where they're gonna be. That she said DC, that is not a far drive or a train ride. So you can, you know, keep up with the brand. But I've enjoyed the conversation. Thank you guys for joining me here on the panel. I'm Laura Rosa. Again, you can find me. Everyone on social, the latest with Laura Rosa and love Lady with Laura Rosa, the podcast. Everywhere you listen to podcast. I love this panel. I love this panel. You guys will love this because I know y'all all be on threads, man. Sorry. Maybe not bad. Blake, we love you on threads. It's sharing our experiences in our conversation. So I think this is dope. So I want to make sure she gives everything she needs on this go ahead, Keisha.

1:08:37Thank you. So I'm a big fan of threads. I have so many conversations of threads. I think some of you guys can find out about how to speak out of threads. Okay. You're just. So I'm a big fan of threads. So I pulled some trending conversations from threads about PR, marketing, media, social media. And because we are here, I thought it would be a great opportunity to have organic conversation around some of the trending topics. I didn't show the likes of the repost or the people names at all, but these are trending conversations, okay? And it's gonna be organic who pass you the mic if you happen to paint, all right? So this person said that this social media career is a humbling one that's gonna lie. Any tips to holding on strong? Is anyone in social media who has tips on how you can really just grow within social media and not get burnt out by social media? Anyone have any thoughts on that? I'm gonna hear it in the way. Hi, I'm Frontina. I work at Vita Media as an associate creative director.

1:09:37It is a social advertising agency. And my one tip for this is to think of a series, a repeatable series. Day one of doing this, day two of doing this. I think the more you double down on a series, the more people can come to your content and see something that they're expecting to see. And if you have a repeatable format, it makes your life so much easier or is this making a new content every single day. So definitely try out a series that you can go have a holding it. Keeps those days. Anybody else? I would love for it to answer this. Okay, come on to life. And then day two. The question is, do you have any tips on holding strong in social media? Because this part says social media is not home. So she's gonna go, then I'll go to camera. You're gonna go to camera. Hi, baby, Danielle. A tip that I like to get is on my subscribers when it comes to social media and always remember that when you

1:10:38scroll across someone else's realm, you don't know when it posts it. So there's no starting point. There's no ending point. It doesn't have to be perfect. You don't have to do an introduction. You just have to post it. And the people that you see that have the biggest platform, did you ask them, when did you get started? What did you do? They'll tell you. Everyone has the same method and everyone will give you the same thing. Just post the content. So don't overthink it. And there is no starting point. It doesn't have to be like, I need to do it on the Monday of this week. It's literally just post it when you're engaged in the highest. And there you have the large problem. I hope that's the hard way to do it. Okay. Um. Hold it the way. Hold it on strong. One is that you should probably prepare to be canceled at some point. They're going to cancel it like, I mean, you just have to accept that. And therapy. Me and my therapist, we were a lot thin and god. But it is an emotional roller coaster. You get a lot of feedback as people are watching with all the time and sometimes you want to quit because they're a bit aggressive

1:11:38and have a lot of social relationships. But I think the best way to hold on is to not give into that. And also you don't got to read every comment. You ain't got to read every damn. You ain't got to look at every stitch about you because some of them are going to be nasty. Um, and I learned that the hard way, but once I kind of got used to it, people who make videos telling me they can't stand me every day. I don't see it. So it don't exist. So I would just tell people not to give into feeling like you have to respond and also therapy for everything. I'm also licensed mental health professional. Yeah. And just making sure that you're prepared to be canceled at any point. Because it's also being canceled is not a real thing. It is not a real thing. They will not cancel you. People will be upset tomorrow or then a week. We'll be coming back later every time. Okay, so I'm going to go to my next one. We're going to breeze through these quickly because I gave a little more time for a number. I know y'all want to say. You do.

1:12:39I don't know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You're a dog. My question to you all, because I have a population agency for those who don't know. Yes, I found it for a month. But I have a population agency called the PR lines. We've been around for 10 years. We have some really good clients. Thank you. And I still feel like even if people at higher is no longer what we here to do. Do anyone work in PR have y'all figured out how to explain what we do number one and help people understand how we're different from marketing or honestly and assisting and all kinds of things? They never have a comment on that. Okay, I'll say it in a comment later. So, what do you want to do on a mic? I've been trying to apologize. I've been trying to. All right, we'll get us them. Hi, I'm actually on the other side of what she says. So I have a creative marketing agency. So a lot of times people say, are you a publicist? And I'm like, no. But what I think people should do is really take the time to understand the craft. So Google is your best friend when it comes to understanding.

1:13:39What is what are the role requirements? And then you understand the how to leverage a PR agency? Because a PR agency is going to get you those placements. It's going to get you to understand how to talk in front of a crowd. What do you talk? You know, you're positioning and all that kind of stuff. And then on the other side of marketing, what you got that you're doing to the role with PR. Then you come over here and I have something to market. I can't market you if you don't have the proper training. And if you don't have the proper relationship to get you in the place, you'll get in a place and you're not ready. So really invest in PR is so important that you have the right agency partner. And I think you should tap in with her for PR. You should tap in with do-cari creative for marketing. I'll be a cultural cons tomorrow. I love it. I love it. I love it. No, no, my man. Oh, it is. I'm here to catch one of my art too. So you're all going to catch one of my art. That's one thing, act on really one month. OK, anyone else want to comment on this one? OK, my girl. OK, and then we go on, OK, do a new year first. And then my girl here, come right here. Do you want a micro-eco-producer?

1:14:40I can say it this time. I'm not NPR, but I work with a lot of artists, like comedians, DJs. And I think a lot of people would be surprised that they might not know how to actually communicate that well. They have a good product. And so ever since COVID happened, now the need for PR is coming to fruition. Because a lot of people were doing the machine was working behind them so much, they didn't appreciate who was beside them. And I'm a finance major. So it's crazy when I'm talking about finances, I have the degree. And yet, everybody knows everything outside of me, so the most America's broke. But then. I love that. Erica. So Erica is also a previous pro-con figure. I was a pro-con five years ago. My girl said yes to us. She does social impact and communications for B.E.C. So thank you so much for being here. I'm not a girl. Okay, fine girl. You want to have a share of your projects? I mean, I am a speaker, so I will project. Hi everyone. I'm Erica. And I am a publicist. I am also a certified life coach, transformational speaker.

1:15:41I mean, you never know when you'll see me. And then, I want to say that, similar to what you said about marketing, as a publicist, I think about myself as someone in the kitchen, partnered with a journalist, like someone like Lauren, someone who hasn't advertised a tele-great story, who has a community who's hungry to hear. But as a publicist, we help someone develop that story, while building relationships with people like her, to get the story out. And so I'm over here with my client, and I know exactly the ins and outs of when they started the company, and how the company has impacted how many lives. Part of PR is part fact and part story. So you lead with the fact, what have they done? What is the XYZ of the American number that they've impacted? And then you get into the story, like, what's the heart behind? Let's say an agency that has been... You know, around for 10 years, what's the story behind, like, key show one day deciding that I want to better myself in creative space to do publicity? Well, also, what are the best? How many impressions have you delivered? How many hits have you delivered? How many people have now heard about your client and are now by as a result because of your publicity efforts?

1:16:45And so that's what I think about it as. Us being in the kitchen together, I'm cooking up the meal with the client to make sure they know how to tell the story, the fact of the story, and then I'm working with someone like a journalist who actually get it out to the masses in their own way. She can decide to only focus on story or only fact or both, but either way, my client wins because now the world knows all about their inception, their story, and then, of course, the best because we need the numbers. We need the numbers. So that's my take. So if you do need a publicist, you should have something ready to be publicized. I think a lot of us need marketing because you need to get people to back your event or back your product. But when you get to publicity, you have your story, you've been building, and that's why I deported to not focus on the publicity before you build. Build and then publicize. You want to have more built than you have spoken about, by the time you get to a publicist. So that's my take. Thank you. Thank you. I was very proud of you. I was a little worried because she got the gym. I will also say, because she made me think about it.

1:17:48So before I got to the breakfast club, I was working at TMZ right. And you probably didn't know my name. If you watch, if you go watch TMZ, like, oh, our age and just sick of watching, you might have crossed the clips online. But the best thing I ever did was as a human, when publicists would hit me up, and it would be pitching, pitching, pitching, I would be like, you're not even pitching right. Come on. For what the newsroom I work in requires, it will never land. Let's get on the phone and let me talk you through it. So if you can tell me, your client has a movie coming out, you want us to just talk about the movie and post a trailer. I'm like, TMZ doesn't do it at the time. TMZ doesn't do that. How about send me the raw footage of everything you're able to pitch out? Let me go through it for the time, and then I'll explain to you the story that I'm going to tell you how this is great. And I think a lot of publicists today answer the phone when I call them, even if I'm calling them, it's 5'30 in the morning for the breakfast club. Or doing a time, and during the time of the day, we're going to answer the phone because I took the time

1:18:50and a lot of publicists, you guys can learn a lot from asking questions before you start pitching. That was the biggest thing, and I felt like it happened a lot with the publicists that were like my homies. So I didn't look like me and they were younger, trying to figure it out. Ask questions because a lot of times you all have this standard pitch of like, here's how we're sending out. And I'm like, that will miss people whose platforms have a certain voice. And you got a really cater to the voice of who you're pitching to as a publicist, that matters a lot, a whole lot. So if you're PR on the wrong, and you've got a journalist on me, sit down and be like, you know, I'm thinking about pitching a TMZ of people or us, or page six, or it's white, or whoever, what do you think about this pitch? You let them be honest and I'll, yeah, I don't care about that. He don't even talk about that type of stuff. Here's what he can't care about within all of this nugget. Please do that because if you can't land it, if you can't place a crime, you ain't got the crime. And a lot of it is not that should not do in a work. It's like, you're not. You and I'm on kitchen. Yeah. Come on, we're all on. I like that.

1:19:50Okay, we're gonna move on because we only have a couple of minutes. But so one thing, black women and journalism, when does it get easier to pay the hours, the treatment? Because I'm ready to get a car job. I pass this to you though. I'm sorry. Listen, this is the first time ever in my life where I feel like the work that I'm putting in, I'm seeing it, and I can see it. Ever. And even though there's something, no, it's not even though there are some days now where I'm like, oh Lord, I'm tired of being a distraught soldier. Like I would love to just like get cute and show up and like, oh, glam is here, it's not that at all. I don't know if it ever gets easier or if you learn how to make it fit with your idea of easy or comfortable feels like. Like, waking up at 3 o'clock and morning 4 o'clock and morning after you went to bed by like 12 because you are your team. And I have two people that,

1:20:50three people that helped me on my team now. But in the beginning, it was rough for me because I wasn't delicate. I was shocked by everything myself. I was literally like barely sleeping. I was, and this is at the height of breakfast club. Like, you know, y'all are like, yes, girl, go girl. And I'm like, where I don't know how much of a guy I can hold on. I'm barely sleeping. I literally can't even think past my next thought. I'm stumbling through my words because I can't even read because I'm so freaking tired. The Ditty trial, like I'm there and I'm, and I wanted to be a lawyer and I'm sitting in a, the court, I'm like, how the heck are the attorneys holding on for nine hours a day and a vacuary next morning. And on time of being back at the next morning and locked in and giving me an update, I'm also up at 4 a.m. because I'm going to the breakfast club before I go into the Ditty trial. None of that was easy. It's not easy as a thing. But what I did was I figured out where my pockets were like, I need this little bit of peace and joy and comfort and I still have those for myself very often. And I've gotten better at doing that. So it becomes like, I kind of create my own world of comfort.

1:21:51But I don't think none of the words that we're having is easy. I do though strongly believe after working other places and working in the space that I am now, that you do have to be able to like say what you are okay with them with your life. And you can't be afraid of that changing what the room is going to feel like or look like for you. And I had to learn that a lot in this space because now I'm not only like a producer or a journalist, but I'm also talented. So there are certain times where I'm like, well, as a producer, that's cool. But that's talent. No, that's not right for me. But I need more. And we're for me to show up the way I need to show up. So you kind of put this like, you've got put your big girl, big guy hands on it and really just like actual what you need. Or give somebody who couldn't have for you. And then you start figuring out the better pain. You start figuring out, you know, you, you, you, you, getting a space where if you're doing the work and people see the asset, they need you as much as you need them. You can leverage certain things like, I mean, for me, it's different.

1:22:52Five hours are sick. I want a platform. I would read to show up at these hours. But with my podcast, that I'm on to newer. Like I feel low. If I don't, I would then be show that is very tough as a podcast. So they know Joe. If I choose not to film my podcast, you guys don't hear it. Right now, you guys may not even seen a lot of my video because I haven't chosen to sit down and dedicate myself the video and that's something that I've been very hard on myself about more and you need to do that. What happens when I decide to do it is you guys will see it. You get to the point where you can leverage your space of, I can make my decisions to do this now. Here's what it looks like. But you have to show up at the table prepared in order to leverage these things for yourself. And then you've got to do work. Doing the work will always put you in a position where you can figure out and protect and second boundaries for your place of comfort because people didn't realize if you're doing the work and it's benefiting this person, they want you to show up at your best. What, you don't like to cut the purple? Hold up everything purple in here as the vote

1:23:53because we need her so bad that if purple distracts her, that cannot work. And that's like something just as an example. I don't have an issue with purple. But my point is that a lot of it is like you want the work, but in that time, and if you're doing that and then you still feel like that is not happening for you, you might have to go somewhere else. I have to leave. I had to tell myself, Lauren, you won't be okay, won't you leave TMZ? Like your world is not going to end. I didn't know that for sure. But I felt like I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing and the things that I knew I wanted weren't happening in that space. And they had the resources to do it. They just didn't want to. I had to be okay with that and be like, you know what, thank you so much. I gotta go. And when I did that, it wasn't easy, but I ended up somewhere that like, you know, once they realized me as an asset, they were like, wait, so what do you want to do? How can we help you do that? It gets greater later, but it is not ever easy. Yes, that's it. Period. That's the point. That's the point that has you with me that I was thinking about because as Lauren said,

1:24:54I've known her since college. So I've seen the grind to give you a question when it says, when does it get easier? I feel like you're the poster child for like the work, really works. Like you have to put in the work and not think about when it gets easier, because like you said, before you are hustling and now you're talent and you're still hustling, just in a different way. So it was not about when it gets easier. It's just about the transition to get to the goals that you're trying to achieve. 100% and just knowing how to say, like, I'm learning how to take care of myself in a real time. Everything I'm assuming to get happening in front of you guys, not even on purpose. It's just like, this is just, God was like, boom, poster child, here you go. And I'm like, okay, guess I'm, you know, Strongest Soldier, 2026 again. But I'm learning how to take care of myself. Like when I leave here, I'm going home to be with family. And I could choose to do, like I said, know the thing back to this because I'm like, I'm going to go home and be with my family. And I can do that because I know tomorrow,

1:25:54I'll be having something else next week and I'll be having something else. You get to the point where you can begin to kind of leverage those pockets and make it make sense for you. But you gotta, you gotta show up and go to work. You do. And if you're, okay, I say this and I'm in with this because I can talk about it. If you were showing up and you were doing the work and you were like, nailing, like you're doing everything you're supposed to be doing. And it's just not moving the way you needed to. Have a conversation. If that conversation doesn't get that will turn in the way it needs to so that you can feel what you need to feel, you might have grown that space or they might not even be grown with you. Period. And it is okay to recognize that. And when you recognize that, make a plan and get out or you will waste your life, you're giving it your talent. I love that. And on the end, no, we don't end yet. I had a couple of other questions in here, but we got three minutes before I had to leave. I could talk for about 30 minutes. No, I love that because why do we have you here? Why do people have you here? I love that you're able to express kind of your journey because I know your journey.

1:26:55But a lot of people just kind of see you and they think I feel like the same. No, okay with that too, because I feel like it's been beautiful having people rediscover me and having me having to figure out how to reintroduce myself to people. But yeah, we've been figuring this out for a long time. Like the annoying question asking, I got a knack for this. I think we should be doing this girl, the I am. I've been this way. Keisha and all of the PR that strategizes, figure this out girl that she is woman, that she is right now. She has always been that way. And it's just so beautiful to be here with you and see what's you first. Girl, this beautiful to be here. Would you give us a liberty now? Girl, here you go. We only have two minutes, so we're gonna land this play. I just wanna thank y'all for being here, for being involved in the conversation, for saying yes to show me up on a busy weekend. I know a lot of other gonna call you tomorrow. I know a lot of the time, Saturday and other events even go to this evening. So I just want you to give a round of applause for yourself for showing up. Thank you.

1:27:56Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. I had to talk to make someone that you can, then build a relationship with outside of this room. Our biggest thing is continuing the conversation. So upstairs there was a QR code, but I hope that you all scan those, because if a digital community we have, if you did not, just follow us on experience. Pokemon and we'll be talking about more how we can build this community, okay? I think that's all I have. Love me, got anything else to share? Oh no, I'm good, we'll need to do it, Evan. Oh, yeah. I'm so happy to be back with all this. You ever show up late to the game and your friends already saved your seat, your drink and even a plate, that's looking out. That's having your back. And that's exactly what AT&T does with the AT&T guarantee. They know staying connected matters. So they actually guarantee a network that comes through when it counts. AT&T has connectivity you can depend on or they'll proactively make you right. Just like that friend who takes care of things and you don't even ask, AT&T connecting changes everything.

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