Black 2 Black Magazine - July 22

Black 2 Black Magazine VOL. 1 ISSUE 2 JULY 2022 REINFORCE YOUR FOUNDATION CHRISTMAS IN JULY TREDALE TEZENO

Financially Empowering the Next Generation Sezzle is your stress-free solution to financial freedom. No Interest or Fees FOR APPROVAL, MAKE SURE: If you make payments on time, you pay no You are a U.S. resident. more than the purchase price. You are 18 years or older (19 years or older Your Order is Shipped ASAP in Alabama or if you are a ward of the state We will ship your order just like we normally and live in Nebraska). would if you paid right away. You have a valid credit or debit card, phone Easy, Automatic Payments number, and email address. Sezzle splits your purchase into four payments that are automatically charged to the card you Note: Sezzle does not perform credit checks. use to create your account. YOU CAN USE SEZZLE IF Get Started Common reasons Sezzle may not approve Sezzle has a one-minute sign-up process. your order: Simply select Sezzle as your payment option when you're ready to check out. Insufficient funds are available. Sezzle requires the availability of at least 25% of the HOW IT WORKS total order. New Sezzle customers will need to create a Sezzle account. Returning Sezzle customers Multiple orders with outstanding Sezzle will need to login. payments. Sezzle conducts a soft credit check for Your order value is too high. approval of the transaction. DOES SEZZLE PERFORM CREDIT 25% of the total amount is due at the time of CHECKS? purchase. Every two weeks, another 25% is Sezzle will not have an impact on your credit due. score. They do not perform hard credit checks. Instead, they perform \"soft checks\" by Sezzle automates the remaining payments reviewing your credit score as part of their through whichever payment method is on file. risk check. Promo Code: SANTANA

contents 18 CHRISTMAS IN JULY TINA YOUNG-HOLMAN 4    Editor's Note 5   Contributing Writers 7 KellerWilliams Realty Tracie Conyers 16    15 TREDALE TEZENO Is your business recession-proof? Coach MT 16 The Blessing of Fatherhood Pastor Demetrius Wilson 25 Business & Empowerment \"Freedom Walk to Success\" By Tina Young-Holman 27 What Drives Your Business and Empowerment Donita Banks 30 Business Development Strategy: A High-Growth Approach By Matthew S. Santana Jr.

Black 2 Black (BPSNB) was established in 2006 with the idea to support black women & men in business. Networking and support in their endeavors. Resources to help develop and grow their businesses. So, in doing so the idea for a magazine comes to mind. That will designate a place to share our business and give resources we normally don't know anything about. The group allowed potential customers to join that could use our services and products so in return more eyes on what we offered. So, the group is a place to share your product or services. Black 2 Black for the business owner and entrepreneur looking to show authority in their area of expertise or skills. I'm a serial entrepreneur/ business owner. Started in 2004 as a single mom trying to bring in extra income without a second job. Started online selling a variety of products, no specific product. That's a no-no if you're just buying and not selling. So, I end up with a lot of products that I bought based on products sold already. Had to rethink my strategy. Lesson learned because what you don't know you don't understand. So, I made it my mission to disseminate information about the business world so that we're not left out of the loop. So, I joined a different organization to gather information so I could educate our community. Then I noticed how they didn't want us to know because that's how they manipulate the system. The information is free to get but we're not out trying to get it. So, the system has been used to their advantage. That ends today if we work together and not against each other. Email: [email protected] Tina Young-Holman Jamari Holman Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

Donita Banks Tracie Conyers Mignon Thomas Tiffany Larnette Contributing Writers

BREATHE! BECAUSE WE ALL NEED A MINUTE TO SLOW DOWN.



Tracie Conyers has been a licensed Realtor for 17yrs and has a mortgage background that started before my career in Real Estate. I am so glad I prayed and asked GOD for guidance and he has directed my paths towards the most rewarding career ever- Helping His People Reach Their Dreams Of Homeownership. I have met so many wonderful people during my career and believe it or not the majority know and love God, so it has made this journey delightful. I am a Listing and Buyer's agent I pride myself on well-established and I sell Commercial, Residential, relationships, transactions, and Land, Investment Properties, and finding the best grants that have paid Seems Like All Things Real Estate many of my client's Down Payments as I am an Investor as well. and many sellers who have paid their closing costs. We have slapped the It's been my mission to help all myth of the 20% down payment people, yet it's been a pleasure requirement in the face. Veterans assisting low-moderate income have a $0 down payment, and we families to obtain the dream of appreciate their service, and so can homeownership where the mind was you as a consumer acquire that same to believe that it was unreachable. benefit by utilizing me and my We have shamed the devil as he resources. I also have access to a wants us to have nothing and to program that offers a Third Party believe that we can't have what Owner Finance Option- Your Money GOD has truly stated in his word. is your credit. I have over 20 years My \"No Client Left Behind of experience in the Industry and my Initiative\" has changed the mindsets name Tracie Conyers speaks volumes and lives of so many people and I in millions of households. For a free have been most grateful to be a part consultation, please call 409-499- of all under God's Directive. 8095.

Do you own a small business? Join THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY, FROM THE THE MIND OF A LEADER! We help connect small businesses with customers, services, and products in a big way. Our small business directory provides entrepreneurs an easy way to locate resources – and an effective way for companies to reach out to new markets, business partners and customer groups. With local, regional, national and global visibility online, our directory can play an important role in helping you reach a vital business market by putting your listing right in front of customers and businesses when they are researching and ready to buy goods and services. Hi entrepreneurs! We're starting a directory that potential customers/clients can reach you for your services/products. Hopefully, this helps add another stream of revenue for your ever- growing business. If your business is ready-to-go, has the capacity and you would like to be added to our directory, fill out this form! Think of these questions. 1. What is your mission? 2. Who is your customer? 3. What does the customer value? 4. What are your results? 5. What is your plan?

Is your business recession-proof? By Mignon Thomas Are we in a recession? Chile, I don’t know what everyone says, and what the signs suggest. So, what if we are in a recession? What does that mean to you? I ask these questions because they are essential to you and me. This is all we will hear for the next couple of months, maybe even years. So, let’s talk about it. Are we in a recession? Chile, I don’t know On that note let’s be proactive and what everyone says, and what the signs recession-proof our businesses shall we. suggest. So, what if we are in a recession? What does that mean to you? I ask these 1. Make sure you are providing a service or questions because they are important to you product that is needed and in demand. and me. This is all we will hear for the next 2. Include payment options for those who couple of months, maybe even years. So, will be tight with bags. let’s talk about it. 3. Have an alternative offer for your products or services. What are some of the signs of a recession 4. Embrace the PIVOT according to google? 5. Welcome the ABUNDANCE. High unemployment rates. Abundance is decided as a very large Lower production of goods and services. quantity of something. If you transition into Bank failures. “scarcity mode” that is what you will Businesses shutting down. manifest or attract. So, refocus your mind on abundance and know that it is your Now, I’m no expert when it comes to politics birthright daily. Especially when times get and economics, but we have been here for tuff as they will. Remember the words quite some time. So maybe we’re on a curve Pleasantly Uncomfortable. To take this to of a long process. Lately, I find myself another level apply to join our mastermind quoting this phrase, “If you continue to do membership where we guide nurture and the same thing, you will get the same result.” support you along this business journey. It just makes sense to me. I feel as though history is repeating itself. No matter how bad things get “Self-Care is a must & Abundance is welcome. Xoxo Coach MT





THE BLESSING OF FATHERHOOD By Pastor Demetrius Wilson “Dad, Father, Papa, Daddy… the list goes on and on. There are so many ways that our children use express a connection to those of us who work to lead and build our families. The responsibility is tremendous, and there are many challenges that we face daily. Sleepless nights, hard days at work, and tired aching bodies are just some of the basic sacrifices that we give in order to see the needs of our household are met. We give guidance, and discipline to our children, and shoulder the awesome responsibility of providing stability and identity in their lives. There are good days and bad, tears and laughter, joys and sorrows which are all a part of this tremendous task that we call fatherhood. I write to encourage the hearts of those who share this assignment with me. I know that there are moments when we feel that maybe we’re not doing the job well enough. There are times when we are hyper-aware of our own insufficiencies, which can be discouraging. We feel unappreciated, and forgotten sometimes, but it’s just another thing that comes with the territory. Trust me, there is not one man who does not go through this. Don’t ever forget that you matter and that you are valued, and needed. Hang in there!! Psalm 127:3 -5 tells us that children are a “gift and a reward” from The Most High, and that they are as “arrows in the hand of a warrior”. The man who has “filled his quiver full of them” is called blessed.

One of the aspects of the word blessed is being “empowered”. That’s a great thought! This means that we have all that we need to get the job done. Through every storm, beyond every fear, or doubt that may arise, we can be confident in the reality, that the one who has blessed us with these gifts called sons and daughters, has also blessed us with wisdom, strength, and grace to overcome anything that may come our way! All that we must do is seek His counsel, and acknowledge our need for His assistance. He will be faithful to show us what we must do, and how to execute all that we need to do. I am certainly grateful for His leading in my own life, as He has been faithful to his Word. My wife and I have been give three great gifts in our children. We have watched them grow-up and have entered a new phase of our lives as parents. They are truly growing into the purpose for their lives, and the opportunity to witness “our seed becoming mighty in the earth”, is beyond any words to describe. Everything that it took to get to this point is very much worth it! My dear brothers no matter how challenging the task may be at times, I pray that you will always remember that you and I have been “blessed” with the opportunity to be called father. You and I have been given a grand opportunity, and we can do this job!



To me, business and empowerment mean the business aspect is being a person who about business like me a businesswoman which I was inspired by other business women so I thrive to do the same for others by empowering them telling them never give up yes it's hard especially being a woman we have so many responsibilities as it is and to add a self-employed business or businesses that is a task in itself I love encouraging people especially women young women I've ran into a lot of them they want so much they are young and I tell them I don't care if you start off selling a cookie or one plate of food keep selling because they're one person that you sell to is going to tell someone else but we just have to keep empowering one another I am the owner of a tax service Tredale's Tax Service and Associates owner of Mrz Tee'z food truck LLC and another business that I'm working on to provide income to women we have to stick together and uplift one another.

Everyone has a story to tell, a lesson to teach, and wisdom to share... Life is a beautiful masterpiece bound together by your experiences. Open up and share your story; become an inspiration to others. You can make a difference because you matter. You were created with purpose. Live your life with intention, go out there and make a difference by being the difference. Do your thing. Do it unapologetically. Don't be discouraged by criticism. You probably already know what they're going to say. Pay no mind to the fear of failure. It's far more valuable than success. Take ownership, take chances, and have fun. And no matter what, don't ever stop doing your thing.

Christmas in July By Tina Young-Holman It's that time of year again. Yes, we still have something to celebrate even in the most of world on its head spinning out of control. What does Christmas in July mean? It carries a lot of meaning but not in the traditional sense. You can use it to celebrate Christmas earlier. It started 81 years ago on July 24th and 25th in 1933 at a girls' camp called Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina. No, it was not started by marketers although they ran with it to get people in the Christmas spirit in the summer. All while marketing to earlier shoppers and getting rid of merchandise for business sales. But it was welcomed all over the world on Christmas in July. Some people even decorate and exchange gifts and have a party celebrating. Fannie Holt camp co-founder Keystone requested. Camps cabins were named after the Christmas theme names. Campers were given names after the Christmas theme as well. Fake snow, Christmas tree, presents, and more to bring the magical holiday to life. Southern Living has a full story. In 1940 it came to life in pop culture when the movie Christmas in July arrived in theaters. Have you watched it yet to see the story? It was a prank by a man's colleague to have him think he won 25,000. Who wouldn't want to believe they won some money? It is true until reality sets in when the prank is revealed. 1950 is when the retailer caught on and the sales started. Early-bird shoppers started before December. Win-win for retailers and shoppers. You might catch a sale or two shopping early. Don't miss out if you can do it cost-effectively. Paraphrase- A little self-hypnosis thinking about snow and ice might help you beat these summer temperatures. A professor of psychiatry at the medical schools of Brown and Tufts University and an expert in the placebo effect. Source-Real Simple.

Christmas is a magical time of year but why not start early like in July. Some started as early as July 1. . Gives you a reason to get together and exchange gifts. Opportunity to start your Christmas shopping for all your gift buying needs. Get the adults out the way or the kids with all gift buying done. You can budget it a little at a time. By the tune December gets here you're done with your shopping. 5 Tips for shopping in July 1. Get a list of the family gift list. 2. Check out the sales on the online shopping store. https://www.tnjemporium.com 3. Search for the best deal. 4. Purchase 5. Store away until after Thanksgiving. Christmas to me is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Gifts that keep on giving are the best gift. The ones they can use after Christmas. Budget what you will spend and get to shopping for friends, co-workers, and more importantly family or like family. Show some love through this time of year in your gift-giving. Most businesses run some type of special for July. TNJ Hous3 Enterprise is running a 20% off merchandise and offers Sezzle for payment option.



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Business & Empowerment \"Freedom Walk to Success\" By Tina Young-Holman This magazine is to empower black Virtual Summit with a platform with women and men in the business. Tools to breakout rooms that allows speakers to succeed throughout the magazine. If you connect with potential clients. Speakers want to build the business of your dreams. featured in Black 2 Black Magazine one Connect with one of these powerhouse issue for a few e $297 get a promo, flyer, business owners. Let them lead you to Speak, magazine article, networking with greatness. I'm a business mentor if you speakers, and promote your product or want help with starting up and service during your speech. Opportunity consultation for biz. Black businesses lack to advertise in Black 2 Black magazine at resources and I can help you with black a discounted rate 3mo. Invite 20 people minority business certification. to subscribe to Black 2 Black Magazine and make a purchase. Opportunity to September (16-18 subject to change)Black advertise for 12 months for $9.99 or be 2 Black Magazine will host a Business the n drawing for 6mo. Advertising. There Summit. Speakers will give valuable will be a total of 2 winners allows you to information and you the opportunity to show authority in your business to a connect. Free to the public so don't miss it bigger audience. stay tuned. Summit will be a \"Freedom Walk to Success\" giving you the tools to Remember you are the leader of your succeed. business and destiny. So go hard for yourself and don't let anything stop you. Speakers search now looking for business You got this just trust God's promises to coaches, motivational speakers, health us. and wellness, house market, weight loss, mental health, start-ups, businesses on advancing the black business market, structure, Veterans business, etc.

Business & Empowerment \"Freedom Walk to Success\" By Tina Young-Holman That's something every business should Teaching our youth now will empower aim to do. Business should empower the them to have successful businesses. community it serves. How do we empower Entrepreneurship is a big to-do in some our community? I'm glad you ask, we cases or most if not all. But the reinvest in it. Business can help by giving foundations need to be established long the ones who struggle an opportunity at before it begins. If you have a young the dream. Started a program that your person in your life that has that spirit of business can give back daily. Bring the entrepreneurs. Nourish it and teach them youth in learning them a skill besides the now so when they're ready to build it will street or hustle that's not going to benefit already be empowered with knowledge them in the future. If you bake, start a and skills. Business owner, you're more youth baking group or contest. You're a than a courageous person if you started. musician that can introduce them to the Aim high and look toward the hills for industry. You made it in sports reach back guidance. Know you are empowered with and started a program for the youth. grace and dream. Nothing can stop you There are all types of businesses that can from your destiny. Hire you a mentor or empower our young adults and youth, kids. coach to help lead you to your promises Building business skills at an early age will from God. We're all designed in God's give them an advantage in the game of image and he knows the plan he has for entrepreneurship. Teaching them credit is us. Empower mind mentality will get you their lifeline to a successful business much to your business goals faster with hard easier. Coupled with a great idea and work and sure drive. business plan there will be more opportunities for growth faster. A lot of How to feel empowered in your business the time credit was not taught or talked by setting goals and achieving them about at our kitchen table. I remember while celebrating your win. Live in the going to college and getting every credit moment. card I could get on my own. Shop to it was gone and debt was not necessary. Take the next goal you set and achieve it with actionable steps and celebrate again. Keep doing that until you reach your ultimate dream business. Remember it's done, speak it, I'm a business owner with a successful business in the atmosphere.

We are the cure business tour is centered around five business professionals who are looking to spread their knowledge to others across the world. From business coaching, finances, branding your business, private trust, and fitness!! We are going on a 6-city tour to give our knowledge and expertise to other business professionals. Collectively we believe as a unit that you can achieve and have it all as a business entrepreneur. The cost for this event will be $25 per person. Come soak up all of this valuable knowledge that can take your business to the next level!! Hope to see you there!!! (Left tot Right) Neopolis Malik Malachi, Carl Ivy Weatherspoon Jr., Jennifer N Williams, Matthew S. Santana Jr., & Jeff Releford





What Drives Your Business and Empowerment by Donita Banks Introducing to many and presenting to others, Somewhere the ball was dropped and the Choctaw and Levi Consulting Services, dreams dissipated. founder and owner, LaTonya Porchia. Fast forward ahead, LaTonya had pondered the LaTonya's story is filled with oxymoron's that thought of leaving corporate America to launch have driven her passion to her own service long enough to revive what her empowerment by owning her own Consulting ancestors started. April 10, 2018 her new chapter Services. began. The unpredictable economy in which we live Needing to be home more with her growing has dealt unprecedented hands to the world. family of grandchildren, she jumped into her work LaTonya has found a way to fight through it from home Choctaw and Levi Consulting all and is still standing. Leaving a corporate Services journey. position in a Fortune 500 leader, LaTonya decided to stop sharing her knowledge, This jump was long because with 8 additional power and energy with those who often took mouths to feed this had to be productive and advantage of the vulnerable population. lucrative. Jumping back and forth on social Being a survivor of this population all the way services to assure bellies would be filled, LaTonya up to corporate America, LaTonya’s passion kept blazing new trails to reap the harvest God never wanted to be lonesome but to help had promised her. Yes, there were some stormy family, friends and strangers empower valley days as COVID-19 wreaked through the themselves to independence. family with LaTonya having the longest bout of While working the corporate 9 to 5, LaTonya all family members. Her reputation was already continued to educate herself and network ahead of her because clients waited the storm with partners and potential clients. While out but no money was coming in. This is a reality getting the appropriate degrees to move in self employment. That’s why I am sharing that ahead, she packed on the security by story. It is not written in the business plan that acquiring certifications and licenses to make small businesses have some really rainy seasons. quick money in insurance, grant writing, fiber Let me be the first to tell you…owning your own optics, real estate and real estate business is not for the faint in heart or the inspections. She assured herself in her impatient. passion to be prepared and equipped for the Today, walking by faith, not by sight she stormy days she would face. continues to lend her multi service gifts to those Juggling the home life of 4 beautiful girls and reaching out to her. The stormy days of other family members who found her home pandemic did not deter her. Incorporating their home, perseverance wasn’t an option. It knowledge, technology skills and dedication to was essential. LaTonya’s family linage was making the work of her forefathers to not be in filled with hard workers, business owners and vain, she navigated through the pandemic like a entrepreneurs. seasoned sea captain.





Business Development Strategy: A High-Growth Approach By Matthew S. Santana Jr. It is beneficial to understand your Know Your Competition: Knowing market position in order to best the names of your competitors may manage the future direction of your not be enough. Determine what they business. The SWOT, or Strengths, offer so you can better differentiate Weaknesses, Opportunities, and yourself from the crowd. You should Threats, as well as the underlying focus your efforts on this distinction. causes, are critical pieces of knowledge This could be your most important that all businesses can use to grow. A tool for business development. critical examination of your company's current and past performance, as well Networking: The most widely used as the factors influencing it, may aid in business development strategy is gaining a better understanding and networking. It has grown on the developing direction. premise that professional services purchasing decisions are rooted in connections, and that face-to-face networking is the best way to develop new bonds. Choosing which plans to use to develop Score Value and Build Faith: Adding innovative businesses is a high-stakes value to every relationship, with new decision. A well-executed strategy can and existing customers, can lead to drive high levels of growth and business growth. We can add value profitability. A poor strategy can stifle by presenting useful knowledge, growth and frustrate helpful acting as an advisor, obsessing over employees. customer rights both before and after the sale, and having a reputation for One of the most active and fastest ways great execution and white-glove to grow your business is through service. business development. Here are some ideas to help you take your business to Referrals: Referrals are commonly the next level. Let's take a look at some regarded as the tool that converts of the most common business networking and client pleasure into development strategies and how they new business. Referrals do occur, and compare to today's customers. many businesses rely on them for the majority or all of their business. However, referrals are passive. They rely on your clients and connections to identify good prospects for your services and make the appropriate referral.

Business Development Strategy: A High-Growth Approach By Matthew S. Santana Jr. Keep an Eye on Online Reviews: Eighty percent of customers regard online reviews as equally important as personal advice. Set up a Google Alert for your business so that you can control and respond to these reviews as needed. It can demonstrate that you care about your company and the people who use your services or products. A caring personality can generate goodwill and attract new business. Sponsorships and advertising: Well-targeted digital advertising appears to be the most promising advertising strategy. This allows businesses to get their messages and offers in front of the right people at a lower cost. According to studies, traditional advertising is associated with slower growth. These techniques method products only when combined with other techniques, such as speaking at an event. Pay Attention to Your Website: A dated website will almost certainly result in missed opportunities. You can eventually include a video to demonstrate what you do. In terms of content, your website may fail if it only provides information about who you are and a list of your products and services. Examine whether you're providing enough free resources, information, knowledge, and tools to visitors who land on your site to help them succeed. Make it simple for them to share the resources with others without having to fill out forms or deal with annoying popup windows. Outbound Telephone and Mail: For decades, professional service firms have used phone calls and mail to instantly target potential clients. Target the right companies and people with the right message, and you will find new opportunities that can be developed into customers.

Black 2 Black Consulting Checklist 1. What is your top goal for the rest of this year and next year? 2. What makes your business different from your competitors that similar products? 3. Who is involved with the decision-making and execution of your business? 4. What is the primary reason you're looking for a consultant? 5. What are the most pressing challenges you're facing with this project? 6. What options have you already tried? 7. Can you tell me about the profile of your target customer (persona)? 8. How prepared is your organization to make a change? 9. How do these business goals relate to your organization overall? 10. If you could change one thing about your business, what would you change? 11. What outcomes do you expect from this consulting? 12. Is there anything else that I should know? 13. Would a [proposed solution] help you reach your goal? 14. Do you have any questions for me? 15. Schedule a meeting to discuss your plans going forward email: [email protected]?

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