S7E13 - Mastering Entrepreneurship & Entrepreneurial Legacy: Journey from Poverty to Success Powered By Hashtags!!

Reflect on the lessons learned from serial entrepreneur, Courtney, as he shares his journey. Bursting from a background where entrepreneurship was an unfamiliar territory, Courtney emerges as a shining testament that mindset and relentless pursuit of improvement can pave the way to success. Feel his passion as he speaks about building self-sustaining and sellable businesses, acknowledging failure as a stepping-stone, and the importance of leaving a legacy.

As we navigate through Courtney's life, we explore raw, personal subjects - from changing his last name to honor his father's legacy to the significance of having supportive relationships during trying times. Hear about his entrepreneurial ventures, including web design, e-commerce, and brand manufacturing, culminating in the creation of a pancake mix company with a mere $12.17. Today, that company is reaching a staggering one million dollars in lifetime sales, thanks to a strong community and the power of authenticity.

Our conversation doesn't shy away from the struggles and triumphs on the road to success. From communication techniques to stress management, Courtney provides insightful advice to those maneuvering the labyrinth of entrepreneurship. Gain inspiration from his journey of starting a business with limited finances, the challenges of having no blueprint to follow, and the incredible rewards that come from believing in yourself and building a lasting legacy. This podcast episode is a treasure trove of practical wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs and those grappling with the challenges of running multiple businesses. Tune in to be inspired and to learn from a serial entrepreneur who, against all odds, has carved his path to success.

Transcript

Serial Entrepreneurship

Cortney 0:00

I'm like, uh, I learned quick, this ain't for me, this, I can't do this long term. And I also had examples of what not to do. Around me, I had other family members and friends. They were living that life and I'm like y'all like 40, 30, something? I don't, I'm not trying to be where you are. So it was like I have to. I have to make some decisions for my future and I knew she was the one for me because she didn't need anything from me and she loved me for who I was in a time where everyone around me needed something from me and she did yeah.

Cortney 0:37

I realized oh yeah, I got to lock her down.

Paula 0:40

And you were like cause, with everything that you guys went through, look at y'all standing stronger still together, like that, you know, and you're, I mean, you retired your wife at 24. Like no, no, no, no, no, no, no. That's some shit.

Paula 1:01

That's some real nigga shit, right there so show, but for real, um, and I feel um, hi, shit talkers, welcome to Talks European. And I am your spoiler, the shit talker. I mean, don't we all like talking shit anyways? Are you a creator? If so, you are in the right space.

Paula 1:25

Talks European is a place where we showcase and celebrate the talents, works and stories of creative minds from all walks of life, while also raising awareness for mental health through providing a supportive space to share their stories, insights and experiences. We will be discussing creative journeys, the high lows and the ways we manage our mental health through it all. Oh, join us each week for inspiring conversations, useful resources and a community of like-minded creators as we dive into the minds of creative beings to explore their journeys, struggles and triumphs. So, whether you're a seasonal creative or just starting out, talk shit with peace. The podcast for you, courtney. Welcome to talk shit with pee. Do you know something? I feel like you're the the fastest connection that I've made was made it on my show, because it's very weird, like how, how we connected in like, in like two weeks. I believe it's been two weeks or so that I have actually connected with you.

Cortney 2:35

Yeah, that was pretty quick, so now I feel special now.

Paula 2:41

Yes. So for all your people there were doubting hashtags. Courtney found me because of hashtags, so I guess hashtags do work. So, and and for those who get followers, reach out to your followers and welcome you to the space, to your space, cause that's what I did when I saw Courtney followed me and I just reached out to ask him how he found me. And we kept talking and we realized, oh my God, you need to come on my show. And here we are. So, courtney, how you doing.

Cortney 3:10

Oh, I'm, I'm wonderful, I'm wonderful. Thank you so much for having me. Uh, I'm ready to talk some shit, man.

Paula 3:15

Yes.

Cortney 3:19

Let's talk some shit.

Paula 3:23

So you are a serious entrepreneur. Before we get into that, let the people know. For those who don't know, cause I actually found out what that was a few last year or so when I had a different guest who changed the perception of nine to five and we talked about it, but for those who don't know, I might have new listeners or people didn't listen to that shit. What is a serious entrepreneur? Yeah?

Cortney 3:50

So a serial entrepreneur is someone who starts multiple businesses. Typically they're really passionate about multiple things. You know, there's a big difference between being an entrepreneur and being a business owner. A business owner is someone who just has a business. They work in the business and the business runs them. They don't run the business. An entrepreneur has a different mindset because the entrepreneur the entrepreneur works on the business and a serial entrepreneur typically will build a business to sell the business or build a business in a way that other people can run the business and they're not stuck working in the business. So you know, the serial aspect of entrepreneurship is where is when someone creates multiple businesses. So I'm a serial entrepreneur. I have three companies actually four companies and so I'm really passionate about a lot of different things and my mom works a little differently. So when I see an opportunity, I'm like oh, that's a business, you know, let's look into that.

Paula 4:51

So Nice and you just say first of all four businesses which we're going to get to that. But you said your mom works differently. What does that mean?

Cortney 5:00

Yeah, you know I see things differently, like I have a different perspective and a different lens on things. You know, I don't see things on just a surface level. You know, I'm a really deep thinker actually and I look beyond. You know what the eyes can see, and so my mind works a little bit differently, you know, in that regard. You know, when it comes to business, or really really anything, but especially business, like, I look beyond what the normal person would see and I question a lot of things as well. You know so my mind works that way too, because I feel like it's really good to question everything.

Cortney 5:42

You know, I grew up in church and they always say well, don't question God, don't question God. I'm like well, who else am I supposed to question? You ain't got the answers, you know so. So I just like I've always kind of kicked against that and I question everything. You know, am I doing this the right way? Is there a better way to do this? I'm also kind of a pessimist as well. I a lot of times immediately see the negative side of something, or not really the negative side, but just how something can be improved. Right, I see the good, but I'm like okay, but how can we make that better, you know, so my mind works a little bit differently in that regard.

Paula 6:19

And I feel that especially the part of you question everything. I grew up in church too, and then, once I moved on to boarding school, I started growing out of it, Cause I was like this. Then they forced them on me, but they wouldn't give me the answers. So now I'm questioning everything and I'm an overthinker and a lot of people would tell me stop overthinking it. By my head I'm like I'm cut the entire plan, Like to the extent that my dad used to tell me you're such a good liar, it's so scary.

Cortney 6:51

And it's because I overthink everything to the extent where, when I'm lying, I already have answers to the lie I'm giving you to the lie that I'm adding to the lie, to the lie, like, literally, you see there, my dad would always be like I know you're lying, but I can't prove it and I'm just going to let you in and it's and it's a bad thing to to to agree in, in reality, that I'm a, I'm a good liar, but I want it to be a lawyer Right.

Paula 7:14

So I knew that scale was going to be helpful, cause I'm sorry that the type of lawyers I had and I was, I was, I was lawyers I had is, as the people I admired were from the shores and most of them were like using lies and tricks to to win the cases.

Paula 7:34

So I, you know I was like I wasn't shown how to actually, you know, do it the right way. So so being an overthinker and constantly question things has given me an access to to having these deep conversations and actually understanding things on a different level. Like sometimes we need to question shit and and ask cause I hate these things off, especially us when we started the cancel culture or if, because somebody doesn't support or thinks different than I, I don't have to fuck with them. But instead, why don't you question them on why they're thinking that way? Cause it might give you a different perspective, even if it doesn't change your mind, at least you understand where they're coming from, cause we all know trace the same ways we all know, coming from the same background, same stories, same you know. So I like the fact that you do that. Most people need to question everything Like you should. You should question shit Like for real.

Cortney 8:41

Absolutely. You know, kanye's like that too. People have have kind of written him off and counseled him because he's a he's a different type of thinker, you know, and I think he's a genius. You know, I'm a genius and I can recognize the genius in him. And so he does question everything and he don't just take things for face value. And it's okay to disagree with someone, it's okay to to not believe the same thing they believe. That's what makes us human, right. Um, so I think that's just a part of you know, our personal evolution, that we just you have to get to a point where it's okay to not believe and agree with everything someone says, but still be able to converse and have conversation and dialogue.

Paula 9:21

And that's so true. And the thing with Kanye is sometimes it's the way we we present the shit, you know. Yeah, but with Kanye I I understood, and that's when I saw people were so not ready to actually have those conversations Cause, just cause I mean Kanye, when he says shit people hate, everybody can't say him. And then when he apologizes or kind of explains or finally shit shows up, everybody's team Kanye again. So you understand, people's mind switches because they only want to fuck with you when it's convenient for them. So that's the all fuck the part about Kanye.

Paula 10:00

But I feel like everybody should be deep thinkers and when I started my podcast even my trail, I think I've never changed that and maybe I should. Oh my God. And my trailer says I want to have those conversations I want to bring people think opposite. For me, like, as long as we're having those conversations and trying to learn from each other, it might not change my mind, but I'm still going to learn something and understand something. Oh, you're going to leave me going like you know what. Maybe I should search more into this shit and understand where it's coming from. But either way, you're going to learn something. When, fuck, cancelling each other just because people think different, like that's a fucked up shit.

Cortney 10:40

I talk shit with you.

Paula 10:41

We don't cancel people. We appreciate people who think different and have teachings to offer, because anybody who thinks different has something to teach you and we need to be learning a lot. Anyway. So, speaking of being an entrepreneur a serial entrepreneur, right? You growing up in the Mississippi trailer parks, how did you end up thinking about being a serial entrepreneur with your background?

Motivation, Entrepreneurship, and Overcoming Absence

Cortney 11:14

You know, that's a good question. I was just talking to someone, I think, two days ago, about this. You know, I was. I think I was just pushed to entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship or maybe I was motivated, you know, self-motivated to start businesses because I didn't see that example coming up. I didn't have that example and I wanted to be that example and that's really what pushed me to become an entrepreneur.

Cortney 11:42

My mom didn't own a business until later on. You know, I was a young adult, mom didn't, my dad wasn't around, I didn't. All I knew was poverty. All I knew was, you know, single-wide trailer and the friends that are in within arms reach. I didn't know anybody who owned a business. I didn't know anyone who, you know, went to college or had a degree, anything like that. So, as I got older, it was that lack of having that pushed me to say, man, I want more, I want to do more, I want to accomplish more, I want to have a different environment for my kids, you know, when I have children which I have two children now and so that really just pushed me to start as many businesses as I can, and I've I mean, over the years, I probably started seven or eight businesses. I actually live a little bit more than that now and I don't have all of them, you know, but they have all prepared me for where I am today and empowered me to do what I do.

Paula 12:39

And that's the thing about your story. I like the fact that even when you fail, you didn't take it as a failure. I think most people these days it's like either they talk themselves out from starting something because of that fear of failing, but knowing that, not knowing that that fail is not really a fail, because you learn something, you started something and you're able to fail because you understand it wasn't what you were supposed to do, or maybe it taught you lessons on what to do next. Now you're like, oh fuck, this didn't work out, but if I implement this and switch this, I can build this and this might and even if it doesn't work out, it gives you more tools and strength for the next I like that your mindset was already in that, because a lot of people give up way too soon because of one fail.

Cortney 13:30

Yeah, yeah, no, you're exactly right. I mean, the quickest way to success is through failure. You got to go through that shit. You can't just skate around it and be afraid. It's a part of it, you know. So, like they say, take the ill, it's not a loss, it's a lesson. So you got to learn from every single failure and every single thing that you go through. You know, even sometimes I'd rather fail than win sometimes, because when I win, yeah, I may learn something, but when I fail, I know I'm going to learn something. I know there's some shit that I got to. Okay, all right, I got to tweak this, I got to pivot. We got to learn how to do this. We got to switch this up or bring this person in and do it differently. So the quickest way to win is to fail.

Paula 14:12

So true, so true. Now there's something I was really curious about, right and with your story your father left you at your young age, right? But you reconnected with him when you were 24 and you decided to legally change your last name to O'Nayim and carries legacy. So what was switched? Because I know I like to give that honor to a person who walked out on you, right. That sounds some good therapy over there, so let's talk about that. All right, let's talk about it.

Cortney 15:00

Let's talk about it. No, that's good. That's really keen insight. You know, no one has ever like. Why did you do that? That sounds like that's really messed up.

Paula 15:09

Yeah, because when I heard I was like and I don't want to be, because you know, sometimes I speak shit and it might turn out disrespectful. I don't want to be disrespectful, but in my head it was just like fuck this shit won, and let us say that's how I reacted to it, but I was like you know, this is where we come, so we can ask this question and learn from his thoughts whether it came from some supplies.

Cortney 15:35

Yeah, yeah, sure. So I'll give you the whole story. I won't be long-winded with it, but so my dad was in the Air Force and my mom worked on the Air Force base in Columbus, mississippi, and so that's how they met. And so when I was well, when my mom got pregnant this is the story that I'm not going to say which parent told me, but this is the story that one of my this is the story that one of my parents told me I don't want to be sued.

Paula 16:04

Don't mention which parent, just the story. Yeah, not your favorite one, they know who they are, they know who they are.

Cortney 16:12

So I was told that one person thought that my thought, that they thought my mom should get an abortion, but that person didn't think that. So it was a little miscommunication and so they kind of broke up and, you know, broke it off from there, because my dad, you know, he was, I think, a teenager, you know, at the time, or like in his early twenties, when he enlisted in the Air Force, and so when I was born, he saw me. I got a picture. This is so crazy. I have a picture, a photo of my dad holding me as a baby and he has his uniform on his Air Force uniform, and that is the, and it's actually probably on my website, but that's the only picture I have of me and my dad as a me as a baby.

Cortney 16:59

And so when I was born, he had to leave. He had to leave the country to, you know, go to Japan with the Air Force, and so he was gone for 10 years and you know, again, at the time his mind said is I ain't ready for no kids. You know this, this ain't, this ain't what I'm ready for, this is not what I want. And so I'm sure you know that played a part with you know my mom and her feeling some type of way about him and like, oh, you don't want this baby. You know we together like, so they broke up. So he was gone for 10 years, to my understanding.

Cortney 17:35

I don't, honestly, I don't remember the first time I met him. I don't know what age I was. I believe that I have some post traumatic stress because I don't remember a lot of shit from childhood. I really don't. And so as I got older and I peeped the vibe that my mom had towards him, which wasn't positive. It was like oh, this Joker, you know this is that you know she never, she never like really bad mouth him or talk bad about him.

Paula 18:06

But you know, you know, you know when the name is dropped, you know and you just say, what's that? You know and you know all this when you bring up the name, like you know this is a say action speaker than I was.

Cortney 18:20

They do. They do for sure. So I, um, coincidentally I want to say coincidentally, or incidentally developed that same feeling towards him. Like where are you at, bro? Like why are you not here? You know, I was resentful towards him and I was, you know, I was an angry young man deep down inside. Of course, nobody ever asked me you know how do you feel about this. Or you know I didn't go to counseling or anything like that. You know that's, you know it's such a foreign concept for where I come from, because you know people don't go to counseling, people don't talk about their feelings, which I think is really messed up. That's, that's another topic, but um, so anyway, I'll fast forward a little bit.

Cortney 19:02

So, as I got older and then I got married, I got married at 21 years old I'm 36 now. So I got married and my wife and I were expecting kids. We were actually expecting quadruplets so crazy. We was expecting quadruplets and we had a miscarriage and that was really the darkest time of my life and from that moment forward I was afraid to have kids. I didn't want to, both of us. We was afraid I didn't want to try again and I was afraid that I was going to be a bad father because my dad wasn't there and I didn't have an example and like I don't know shit about fatherhood, I don't. You know, this is not really something that I want to do. And then I remember I was leaving work one day and I was walking across the streets of the parking lot and, you know, I just asked myself or maybe it was a universe like, what are you really afraid of? Like what's the worst that can happen? You know, you learn from the lessons that your dad didn't teach you and the lessons that he did teach you in his absence. And so from then, I was like, okay, cool, I can do this, I can do this. And so I was probably 22 at the time, 22, 23 and I realized, like, yo, you want your kids to have a relationship with their grandfather one day, but they can't have that relationship if your relationship is messed up. So I'm like, okay, well, I have to mend this relationship and become closer to him so that my children one day can also have that relationship again.

Cortney 20:32

Legacy is a Value of mine, it's a core value and a core belief of mine. I'm always believing legacy. And you know what? Like Everybody is gonna go through shit in life and everybody's gonna make some bad decisions and you know, sometimes you don't have a full story of why they made those decisions. Maybe it was the best decision for them at the time, you know. So I can't judge them for that. And so this was like the healing that I had to go through personally.

Cortney 20:58

I didn't go to counseling or nothing like that, and so the story of my last name was previously Westbrook, and so when I turned 24 years old, I'm like, okay, well, we're gonna have kids one day, and so I want my kids to carry on my father's legacy, because I was the only child at the time. Now he has another son now, but at the time I was the only child and I'm like, man, if my father passes away, I carried the last name Westbrook, I don't carry Sergeant, and so his line of Sergeant Just dies off. And so I'm like, no, I can't have that. So I have to. I changed my last name, and my children and my wife buried the name Sergeant. So that's the story of how I changed my last name when I was 20.

Paula 21:42

So where did Westbrook come from?

Cortney 21:44

Westbrook is my, my mother's, maiden name.

Paula 21:49

Gotcha.

Cortney 21:50

Yeah, so her father's is a Westbrook.

Paula 21:54

First of all, I'm so sorry for the loss of your quadruplets. That loss cannot have been easy and, as I know, when people just lose one, it's it's already to lose three at the same time what I Cannot even imagine. So and I know that losses with you guys forever and ever. There's no forgetting that. So my prayers and thoughts with you guys on that. And I have so many questions in the story and I don't know where to start. Why the hell? No offense, but why the hell did you, did you get my 21? Just out of curiosity?

Cortney 22:36

I was done, honestly, I was done. You can stick a fork in me. I was like I've done everything, that I would say everything, but Like I graduated high school at 17, I was kind of. I was like quietly in the street, real quiet. I was a quiet person in my family. You always got to watch the quiet ones.

Paula 23:14

Oh yeah, my younger brother, I always like the quieter. You are the mom like nothing surprises me.

Cortney 23:28

I was like you know, I had, I had girlfriends already. I'd, you know, smoke, weed, I'd, you know, drink and you know, live that type of life. And I'm like I learned quick, this ain't for me, this Mm-hmm, I can't do this long term. And I also had examples of what not to do around me. I had other family members and friends. They were living that life and I'm like y'all like 40, 30 something, I don't. I'm not trying to be where you are, so I have to. I have to make some decisions for my future and I knew she was the one for me because she didn't need anything from me and she loved me for who I was in the time where everyone around me needed something from me. And yeah, I realized, oh yeah, I got to lock her down.

Paula 24:17

And you were right, because with everything that you guys went through, look at y'all standing stronger still together, like that, you know, and you're I mean you retired your wife at 24 that's some shit, but for real, and I feel, having the right partner, I guess you through your darkest days, so I'm glad you saw it and you went with it and and look at God Blessing and pouring into you guys, because you know you poured into each other. So that's real. So I'm back to your father for one second there. So how did you track him down?

Cortney 25:10

Well, he was never lost.

Paula 25:15

Oh yeah.

Cortney 25:16

So one part of the story that I left out is, again, I don't know what age this started, but he lived in Atlanta, georgia. I lived in Tupelo Mississippi, which is like a four-hour drive away, and so he would send money, you know, to my mom. She's a single mom for kids. He was sending money to her to help, you know, like child support. They didn't go through the courts, anything like that, but he was always there financially. He just wasn't there enough physically and so Every summer he would drive from Atlanta, come pick me up in Tupelo Mississippi and drive me down to Hattiesburg and Waynesboro, mississippi which I'm sure you've never heard of either one of these cities but to the South, south Mississippi, down south, and Spend time with his side of the family, and so I have really great relationships with his side of the family. So I would see him once a year.

Paula 26:08

Okay. So this is why it's important to ask this question, so I take back my comments because he tried in the best way he knew how he could try at least he was still there and and he made sure that you Inconnect with his family, which is something most people need at least you know, even if your dad is not around, to know your other relatives and your roots. That's important. So so, okay, now you know I Did his best as he could, and sometimes you need to sit down with your parent to learn their story and where they are, so I'm glad you did that.

Cortney 26:46

So, yeah, yeah, for sure. No, he definitely was there and I absolutely give him credit, you know for that. And for you know Sending the money, I'd rather him been there, you know with us. But I understand you know he and my mom they weren't together and you know sour relationship so you know saying I get it. You know I get that part but I Really appreciate him. For you know making the effort, you know Once a year to take me to meet his family and honestly I'm closer with some of them than I am with. You know People on my mom's side. You know that's not good.

Paula 27:22

It's funny on some of your story kind of connects with mine and certain things, but then it's so different, it's certain parts so saying it's funny, I was. Humans are really connected in this world, yeah, so how's your relationship with your father right now?

Cortney 27:40

It's, it's good when when he and I talk, we don't miss a beat. We pick up like we never left off but we talk. We don't talk as much as I'd like and you know, not just with him, but a lot of my family members, you know we're, everybody is so spread out, like I'm in Texas, he's in Georgia, my mom's in Georgia, my brother's in Florida, my sister's in Mississippi, my niece is. So we're like really, really spread out, and so we I don't talk to a lot of my family as much as I'd like to and you know, frankly, I don't call them as much as I'd like and they don't call me as much as I'd like them to. You know so, and this is kind of like that with my dad too. We talk, you know, every few months, but you know he's, you know he, he tries to remember the kids birthdays and, you know, send them gifts. You know stuff like that. So so we have a, we have a decent relationship for sure, you know we don't miss a beat.

Success, Entrepreneurship, and Future Collaborations

Paula 28:37

That's amazing. Well, not so amazing, but I'm. I'm a jump off this topic, but before I do I might give you this piece of advice for a person who my family. We are scattered to, but we are not in the same country. We have scattered country wise, south Africa, tanzania, uk, german, so I don't have that much feel which to be around them, but I still try to talk to them as much as possible. So if COVID is taught us, anything tomorrow is not guaranteed and Sometimes I know we get mad it over and the one who always reaches out on the one because I'm the person.

Paula 29:20

I ended up cutting people from life. I'm tired of, being the honest, constantly checking on people. Why not people checking on me? But at this point in life it doesn't matter, because once they are gone, you would wish they were there for you to actually check upon them.

Cortney 29:35

So, yeah, so so my thank you so much.

Paula 29:37

Connect and and and start. You know, even if it's once a year, doing our family union. You plan it and do like that's something small and continue from there. But but we need to do better, because tomorrow is really not guaranteed. Yeah, and once they're gone you're gonna be like man I wish I tried harder and now I can't.

Cortney 29:59

So, yep, yeah, you're next time I talk to you.

Paula 30:03

Oh my god, we just had some family Union. I got to hang, okay, and if you come, to Atlanta you know I'm in Atlanta, so hit me up.

Cortney 30:12

I'd love to meet your wife and your kids.

Paula 30:14

Yeah, I'm in Atlanta, georgia, so Some more reasons to come down here.

Cortney 30:21

My wife was actually there a few weeks ago, so I'll I'll definitely be sure to hit you up when I'm there.

Paula 30:27

Yes, and I'm looking forward to meeting her, because she sounds like one hell of a woman would like to get to know.

Cortney 30:35

Yeah, yeah, she is.

Paula 30:37

Before I go to my next question, I want to know your definition of success. Six out, or put it like this and don't give me and here's the thing, because when people you ask them what's their definition of success, people tend to tell you what they think the definition of them. I want you in your perspective.

Cortney 31:02

Success is a worthy, is a pursuit of a worthy go and making progress towards that goal. For me, that success If I'm trying, if I have a goal and I'm trying and I'm making some progress towards accomplishing that goal, that's a success for me. Also, having my children look up to me is a success. I'm, I can be a successful man If my kids say, wow, I want to be like my dad, or my dad was a great example and I want to. You know, try to meet that example or exceed what he did. You know saying, if I raise Thoughtful children who can be assets to society, that's a success for me. So success has a lot to do not with just my own efforts, but how, how I'm leaving my mark on the world and how I'm affecting the world and the people around me, you know. So I think that's success for me.

Paula 32:01

I like that, all right, but now we want to talk on the other part of success, which is your companies. You have achieved remarkable success with multiple businesses and I know, even though you're failed on some, but failure is success. So, with web design agency, e-commerce, brand manufacturing company and even our podcast, what drove you to the viscify your entrepreneurship ventures and how do they all complement each other? Because you have manufacturing, ecommerce, web design, yeah, and a podcast.

Cortney 32:43

Yeah, that's. That's. That's a great question. So I Started in 2009 with graphic design and web design, and then I kind of ventured out and started doing like photography, videography. I majored in architecture in school.

Cortney 33:01

I didn't finish, though, but I majored in architecture, so I have that background as well, and so I have a lot of different experience and a lot of different Creative arts, really, and so, because I started with that, after I moved to Texas, my wife and I started Vicky cakes, which is our pancake mix business, and so we started that, and I'm able to use all of the skills that I've been learning and perfecting over the last you know, 10 years at the time, 10 years To help build and create this company, because I've started businesses, I've created, you know, thousands of designs, nearly a hundred websites, work with all types of different companies and individuals, from you know one-on-one people to celebrity to fortune 100 companies.

Cortney 33:49

So I have a lot of different experience, and in Vicky cakes I was. I'm able to use all of those Life experiences, those skills, those gifts and talents and connections to help build and make this company successful, and so we've spent very little money on on marketing and creative services just because, you know, I know how to do it and we started this company with $12 and 17 cents. In 2019 and Toward, the, about the end of the year, will reach one million dollars in lifetime sales of the company, and For a kid from the trailer parks of Columbus, mississippi, she is that ain't too bad. You don't have saying so. That's that's kind of how those two businesses connected and so and then people started reach. Other companies started reaching out to us.

Cortney 34:39

I can't say their names because NDAs, but I'm like really big companies started reaching out and it's like, hey, can you create pancake mix for us or can you create waffle cones for us? Can you create, you know, this type of mix for us for our restaurants? And we're like, yeah, yeah, we can definitely do that. And so we started Cleveland's best manufacturing, which is another arm, kind of another arm, another business Outside of what we do. So we take all of the knowledge and skills and even equipment that we've that we use for Vicki cakes and we leverage that for Cleveland's best and create products for other people and other brands.

Cortney 35:16

And then I have a media company that this is actually the first time that I'm saying this publicly. So I've I've been quietly building a media company in the background. It's called 12 17 media and so that's my media network and I have podcasts. That is a part of that network. I haven't created a full brand or full website and I haven't wrote it out officially just yet, but that's still.

Cortney 35:43

That's the fourth company, and so my podcast is a part of that and I have a few other podcasts as a part of it. My wife actually literally just had a new idea for podcasts last night and she was up to like two in the morning, recording episodes, and so that will be another show that's on the, on the network too, and the purpose is really just to to help people and to empower people with the, the technical skills on the back end. You know that they don't know that they don't have again, I'm using these skills of creative services and, in these technology skills, to help people, you know, share their message, you know, with the world through podcasting. So those are four companies and that's how they kind of connect all together.

Paula 36:27

Very impressive, oh my god, and I have questions. But um, how does talk she repeat get to be part of this media? I'm just saying, you know I gotta plug myself while we are, we are.

Cortney 36:39

Already thought about you, already thought about you, so we can definitely have a conversation. I'm sure they say close mouth, don't get fed. You gotta shift your charge. You know I'm a firm believer in.

Paula 36:49

Well, even if you get a no, alice, you have put yourself out there and it might be a no right now, but you never know what might come out in the future from that no, so the noise always, you know. But, um, and speaking of that, I know me and you briefly talked about, we need to talk, as you know, talk, share with me, needs to get our website back out there. We're supposed to talk about that. So I think we need to talk about that.

Paula 37:17

We're supposed to talk about that. So I feel like me and you have a lot of future collaborations coming up, you know, and all it took was me messaging you know. So you all people message your followers. You never know.

Cortney 37:33

You never know. And when I saw you talk shit on Instagram, I'm like, oh this, my people right here. I need to connect with her. So so, yeah, no, that's definitely a very, very strong possibility. So let's have that conversation, and I'm all about going up together. You know, that's my life's motto let's make it better by going up together. Oh yeah, trying to get to different places in different goals, but shit, we can get there a lot faster, strong and better if we just work together.

Paula 37:59

Oh yeah, oh yeah, I'm all, I'm all. I'm a firm believer. Like you know, I always say say I'm rooting for all my, my black people, you know, for all my people, and sometimes I think people forget that by helping somebody it might delay your process, but it's not really delaying because if it was for you, it will come to you and by helping them it might actually get you faster, because you don't know, once they get there, they won't remember you. Instead of this stomping on each other and shit, I'm all about supporting and pushing this way. I like connecting people, like my friends with are you? I'll be sitting with people and once they say something and I know somebody was like I need to connect you and I'll do it right there, because I forget once I leave. So next thing, you know, people are getting voice mails on Instagram Like, hey, you should meet this, you should meet this, and I love that. Cause, cause, their blessing is my blessing.

Cortney 38:59

Yeah, I'm together, that's it.

Paula 39:01

Oh yeah, I'm together, baby. So, um, your manufacturing company. What do you guys manufacture just to give it out to the people there, so that we can know exactly In case future. Future customers are listening, you know.

Cortney 39:18

Yeah, sure. So anything, any dry powdered product we can manufacture. So from seasonings to breading mix, cornbread mix, pancake mix, waffle mix, cornbread mix, pretty much anything that is a dry powder we can mix it and we can package it and we have Like everything from A to Z like it's a turn. It can be a turnkey solution if that's what you need. So if you, if you come to me, you say, hey, courtney, I have this idea for a seasoning and I don't know where to start, well, I'm a, I'm a. Help you.

Cortney 39:52

We, you know we can help you with your recipe development. If you need that, we can help you with the design of your packaging, the sourcing of the ingredients, the actual creation of the product and blending all of the seasonings together and then packaging it in your, your bottle and helping you with the label, helping you with logistics as well have a lot of logistics is contacts that I've built through the years and and then helping you with you know the graphics on in the marketing side of it too, because you know that's a, that's a big piece to it as well. So we really try to meet people with where they are in that entire process.

Paula 40:27

Nice, I like that. I'm glad they asked you see, I wouldn't have, because most of the time manufacturing I'm thinking about, and especially since you have an EcoMass brand. So I was. I was thinking more on on that side and speaking about your EcoMass brand. Tell us a little bit about that.

Cortney 40:45

Yeah, yeah, sure. So Vicky cakes, pancake and waffle mix is the heart of breakfast, and so Vicky is my mother-in-law, christians mom, my wife's mom and, as I said earlier, christian. I got married in 2009. We visited her mom, vicky, in 2013 for Thanksgiving, thanksgiving morning. We're all like sitting at the table and Vicky is going to make her famous pancakes and I'm like, okay, that's cool pancakes. You know I like pancakes, but I didn't know what. I had no expectations of what these pancakes was going to taste like.

Paula 41:19

They blew your mind away, oh my god like blew me totally away.

Cortney 41:24

And she, like you know she's old school, she's from Cleveland, mississippi, so like the Delta of Mississippi. So you know, mississippi is known for really really good food and so she got really really great cooking skills. And so she just standing at the table you I mean standing at the stove like just whipping them up in the cast iron skillet, just whipping them up, whipping them up, and so I'm eating them and I'm like five or six pancakes in and I'm like, hold on, miss Vicky, these are the best pancakes I've ever had in my entire life. I said these are not regular pancakes, these are Vicky cakes. We need to call these Vicky cakes, we need to sell these, we need to package them because people will love these pancakes.

Cortney 42:03

And you know, everybody just kind of laughed and thought you know, he just being funny, he's not really serious, but I was dead serious. I'm like this is a business, right, I'm a serial entrepreneur, like this is a business, we can make money from this. And so we didn't do anything with it for about three years and I every year I'm like telling my wife hey, let's start Vicky cakes, let's do this. We're watching Shark Tank and seeing other people get deals and blowing up and I'm like we can have Vicky cakes, we can go on Shark Tank, we can take this. They even approached us, actually, and so, 2019, we launched a business with $12 and 17 cents to buy our domain name and then it literally just took off.

Vicky Cakes Pancake Mix and Community

Cortney 42:41

We got featured by a bunch of different places. So we buy black Eat this, not that. The Food Network, good Morning America, tabitha Brown, has endorsed the product. It has been in celebrities homes. It has been in I mean, I couldn't name the people because I don't even know their name Christian is like oh, do you know this person? Like they just bought our pancake mix. Like Monique has had our pancake mix, I don't know why Erica Campbell from the the Campbell sisters. So we've been featured by a lot of different places and it's just kind of kind of blown up.

Cortney 43:19

Vicky cakes is also the first black owned pancake mix to be in grocery stores in America, and so that's a really big accomplishment that we're really super excited about. And and it's really it's like vegan, dairy free nun, gmo is gluten free is like literally the best pancakes you'll ever eat. It's like a gourmet pancake mix that you can buy and it is gonna blow your mind. Your kids will love it. We have a bunch of different flavors original blueberry chocolate chip. We have sweet potato pancake mix. We got cooks and cream pancake mix, banana pudding. I think I mentioned blueberry gingerbread chocolate chip.

Paula 44:02

So we got a lot of and we have so so.

Cortney 44:05

So that's. That's a little bit about Vicky cakes.

Paula 44:08

That's impressive y'all, and this is why I tell people if people think your idea is crazy, let them think, because look at you, they're thinking you're crazy and look what you ended up turning Vicky cakes. So it's okay to be crazy. Let people think you're crazy with your ideas, just as long as you believe in it and you put in the work. There you go, there you go. If you ever needed an assurance, codney's here giving you one.

Cortney 44:38

If I can do it, you can do it absolutely.

Paula 44:41

But, but that's always um. Can we get it at Publix or Kroger or which?

Cortney 44:46

So we do y'all have a GB in Atlanta. No no, y'all don't have a GB. So we're in some retail stores, like Jewel, osco, that's in like the Chicago land area. They're huge up there and then we're rolling out into a GB which is giant. They're a giant retailer here in Texas. So we'll be in a GB in like late October. But you can get it online on walmartcom, our website, vickicakesonlinecom, and I need to to order and try this, you know, because all this shit gonna change the life, I'm telling you.

Paula 45:25

I'm looking forward to that. I'm gonna make sure we caught every step. If you've seen my my instagram, you know I'm all about, all about creating content on People's sheets.

Cortney 45:36

Okay, let's go, let's go.

Paula 45:40

Um, you are a man of many talents. So there's, there's this story that I need to hear about raising 50,000 in just 90 days. Oh, my god right, I can't even raise $10 in 24 hours, bye.

Cortney 45:58

It's about building community and actually I I check with my wife and I got this stat wrong we raised 50k in 30 days. Damn, it took about 90 days to go through all the legal paperwork and you know, to get the money and stuff. So it's really, it's really the community. When you build a community, they're gonna support you regardless. You know, we have a very, very large community of like 20,000 plus customers and, you know, not all of them are active, but there are people who are they're like diehard fans, you know, like you know they. They are probably like I died for this shit too.

Cortney 46:34

So then we have customers that are like that, like they're really diehard and they want to see us win. And you know, when you are authentic to yourself and authentic to your vision and what you want to do and create, you know you're gonna attract. That like attracts light, you know. So that's honestly, that's the. That's the answer. No answer to how we did it. I'm happy to answer any of the questions and talk specifics if you want, but Anna, I just wanted that.

Paula 47:01

And you mentioned the two important things which I am constantly, constantly mentioning and telling people authentic and community. If you're authentic about who you are, what you do, what you stand for, it shines on people and it attracts the right community. Because this thing about Faking for the gram or faking shit, people can't. People can't connect with you, yeah, and you end up being in communities that really want to support you because they are not sure who the fuck you really are. I'm sorry. I'm sorry because it can be seen like you can feel the energy, you can feel the vibe and when somebody is being authentic, you can feel and authentic people connect. Like when I, me and you, I was like you know what, I didn't have to argue on my podcast, but I connected with you and I felt your Thensity and you weren't trying to sell me no shit or anything. We were just like, hey, this is me, this is my.

Paula 47:57

And I was like you know what you know, I can, I can walk with it. And then you know, and we exchanged information and you even asked me about my website, which you didn't need to and I know I haven't still booked my my time with you, but it was. It was the Authenticity of it all. It wasn't faking it, it wasn't trying to please each other, it wasn't. It was just like if it works, it works. If it doesn't.

Paula 48:19

This is who I am and community people underestimate the power of community. I underestimated the power of community until I started podcasting. Once I started podcasting and I started being in the spaces and sing like oh my god, as long as you're authentic and you're, you're showing up for these communities, they show up for you. Now you can just be in a community and then not show up and expect people to show up. No, my friend, you gotta put in as much as work for people to put in on you, like people pour into you, for if you are pouring back, but nobody's gonna pour into you if you're not pouring it. So Power of community is incredible. If you're showing up, like they will definitely show up for you. You might think they're silent, you might not hear it, but when it matters, they truly do show up.

Cortney 49:07

That's exactly right. That's exactly right.

Paula 49:10

And I learned that because I've been attending podcast and it was one of the first podcasting conference I've been attending to.

Paula 49:19

I love podcasts. I've been attending podcast since 2020 and I went to my first in person one last year and I went again this year and I'm going again next year because I'm speaking and I've been speaking at podcast since I did Case studies. But that community, it's like going home on Thanksgiving where your entire family, your aunt is, your uncle yeah, they welcome everybody, like, and it's a family place. People bring their one month old baby with them, people bring their dogs, people like there is space for the kids, they space. This year. They're all these 14 year old boys who have a podcast for boys traveled from UK to come to port verse.

Paula 49:58

Wow, you know, there's not. There's Asians there, everybody where it really feels and it's just good energy. I, when I tell you, just get your fuel filled. So I've been showing up for them and you know, sometimes you you don't, you don't see it because you're always showing up and you don't see. But I had a fire in February and the amount of the People reached out for me from the port verse community people I didn't even think they recognize I existed, but the support I was getting it was like oh my god.

Paula 50:33

I. I used to even turn off my phone because it felt it was overwhelming. I love and support that was coming and now I'm going to offer an outgears. I've never been to offering outgears. It's uh, black podcasting community that I found out about last year and I get to be in a panel and I'm excited to see like I've been seeing this community online, what it does and black podcasting association and I've been a part of it and somehow they trusted in me and they allowed me to be in a panel. I'm going to be speaking in October and I'm excited to just go feel the energy from that community. But there's power in being in the right communities and in order for it to be in the right community, you have to be authentic self. And now I'm bubbling, but yes, no, that's good.

Cortney 51:19

I literally just wrote down black podcast association because I've never heard of it, so I'm uh, I'm definitely going to check that out.

Paula 51:26

Oh yeah, check that out and check out for an outgears, and if you can make it to Baltimore in October 21 22, it's gonna be an incredible podcast conference and you know I'm excited to. No offense to any other conference or anything, but there's something about being around your people, you know, so that we can talk to things that actually Affect us, and because most of the time we have to be teaching people why this matters, why we feel this, but here where we are, you know, we don't have to teach anybody.

Paula 51:59

But to just speak on a land from each other. It's a different vibe, so I'm excited to be in that, in that space. So, yes, um. So, speaking of you and your many businesses, right, managing multi, multiple businesses can be challenging, especially when you also have a family and two kids. How are they your kids? By the way, my son is eight and my daughter is six. Oh, yes, still in that age, way, you know you need to go to the park and you need to throw ball and you need to and.

Cortney 52:32

And.

Paula 52:34

And.

Cortney 52:36

We homeschool.

Paula 52:38

Oh my god that means you are the one oh my god, that's even. We put a lot of money, no, but also homeschooling. It means, like you know, for you have to block time to actually be teaching and then and that doesn't consider spending time, because that's you being a teacher and then being a student.

Paula 53:03

So, what are some of the key strategies and lessons you've learned for successfully balancing and growing into this space? Because you have to be a father, you have to be a A husband, you have to be a best friend, you have to be a son, you have to be a brother, you have to be a leader In the companies and you know you have to make decisions and you have to. It's a lot, it is.

Communication and Stress Management Importance

Cortney 53:31

You know there's a there's a few things that that comes to mind, and there's there's so many different, there's so many different tips and advice that I could give. The first thing that came to mind is Self-awareness. You really really have to be hyper aware of the. You have to be hyper aware of who you are, aware of your limits, aware of your gifts, your skills, aware of your strengths and your weaknesses as well, because if you're, if you're not aware of who you are, you're never going to be successful. And you know you can check my records, I've said this for a very long time you know self-awareness is the key to success period. It is the number one key, you know. So I would say self-awareness is a big one. Communication is also a really, really big one too, and that's communication with number one yourself, communicating with yourself, talking to yourself, understanding who you are.

Paula 54:30

Being honest with yourself.

Cortney 54:32

Yep, being honest with yourself absolutely, and communication with your team members, whoever that may be, if that's your spouse. If y'all work together your partner, your employees or your team members, your friends Communication is really key. Honestly, that is and this is a little off topic, but communication is. Communication and friendship are the two reasons that my wife and I have been together for 17 years Communication and friendship. And so we work together, we run these businesses together, we live together, we work together, play together, we raise kids together, we homeschool together, we spend a lot of time together, and so communication is always been the foundation.

Cortney 55:14

For you know how we are able to do so much and do so many different things. Because you know a while ago, like when we first started kind of working together, you know we get into arguments and we get into, you know, big disagreements, like but it all brought down to communication and how you say something is more important than what you say a lot of times. How you approach something. You know you may say I don't like this, but if you say it like that then somebody may take offense to it. You know, like when I was, for example, when I design graphics for for Vicki cakes, you know, christian would be like. That ain't what I want, you know, and I'm like, well, okay, well, tell me what you want, you know, and that would kind of create friction, but it's like the fire.

Paula 56:02

Christian.

Cortney 56:05

Create that friction, and then you got fire, and so it's like you have to be able to communicate in a way that the other person understand, not the way that you want to communicate. Well, this is the way I talk. Well, I don't care how you talk, the shit ain't working. Talk to me the way that I understand, right? So you have to communicate with people on their level and not on your level, and so that's a really, really big one too. And then I think the third one I would say is find a vise, find some type of hobby, something that can help you unwind, take your mind off of what you're doing.

Cortney 56:39

And that's just yours. That's yours and don't feel bad about it. For me is cigars. I love smoking cigars out at the end of the week, even she like during. You know, during the daytime I'll go out and I'll have me a quick cigar. Or at the end of a long week I'm firing up a cigar on the porch, or I'm in chillin in the garage and that's just my vice. That's the way that I unwind and I don't feel bad about it. You know what I'm saying. So you have to find what that is for you. It could be sports, it could be walking, it could be you know, I don't know binge, watching something on TV.

Cortney 57:15

Find something that allows you to de stress and not feel bad about it, because it is very stressful. You know and I've had this conversation a couple times this week about I used to always say that I'm not stressed. I'm not stressed, I don't, I don't get stressed out. But that's not true. That ain't true. Like it's.

Cortney 57:36

Stress is a part of everybody's normal every day, but it's what you do with that stress that determines how you're, you're going to live and determines your quality of life. Yes, I can stress myself and my work can stress me. Out can stress me, but it don't stress me out where I'm losing my mind and I'm snapping at my kids and I mean to my wife like no, because at the end of the day I got to live with these people. You know what I mean and I still have to, you know, raise a family and I still have to be myself, be Courtney, and so I would say those are the three key things for me that is allowed me to. You know, run multiple businesses and you know every week is action pack. You know recently has been like two weeks and one. You know it's just been a lot going on but honestly I probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Paula 58:25

I know I feel like it has been very crazy because I got an message saying, okay, things has changed, we can still walk and I'm like you know it actually needs to schedule with me.

Cortney 58:40

I don't know who I sent the email to it could have been some other Paula in my email and they probably got it like what is he talking about? So I was like I need to we do on Saturday morning and I'm like I forgot that we had already committed to it and I messaged you and then I told you well, we can still do the podcast at this time, because even is later and you're like I don't know what you talking about.

Paula 59:05

I was just like no idea, we good and something you said about communication, just like how you were sharing your story with your parents. So, miss, communication can lead to unnecessary shit, because if they are literally communicated, it could have saved them from the situation that ended up. So there is powerful in actually communicating and people need to learn that the person you are communicating with two weeks ago, a month ago, is not the same person you're communicating to today. So I might have like now you were talking to me then, but today I'm gone.

Paula 59:46

I've walked up with a different perspective, cause we are constantly learning ourselves and growing as well, right, so we need to understand that and be able to do that. And that goes to. I say this I remember we had episode called Boundaries, and I say this sometimes the miscommunication comes to other arguments is because we're always listening to respond. Right, when we are listening, we are listening to those words and ready to attack instead of actually listening to understand. Like, actually, when you take the time to just listen and try to understand instead of listening to be quick to respond and get that shit out and attack, it makes a difference, yeah.

Cortney 1:00:30

It really does. It makes a big difference. You gotta listen to understand, not listen to respond. I love that.

Paula 1:00:34

So yeah, and this is just me and my connecting part in me when you were talking about you working with your wife and the journey of you and your wife and the stories my episode that's airing right now I recorded with Michael and Tatiana Parker, incredible couple who also work together and they are black family, they do everything themselves and their journey is also amazing. I feel like I need to connect them with you guys and I know amazing shit is gonna come out from that collaboration. Right, definitely.

Cortney 1:01:10

I love that.

Paula 1:01:12

Yes, and you know, one day I said something I know eventually, one day I would like to I will do something crazy with my brand where I bring all the talk shit with P-Guests to have been on my podcast in one space together and we're gonna have to work on that.

Cortney 1:01:33

How would you go? I love that, I love that man.

Paula 1:01:37

I'm thinking, maybe on a certain maybe when my podcast stands, five or something, making sure that everybody and those who are outside of the stage they'll appear on Zoom or whatever, and then everybody in the stage. I'll find a common ground where I'll be planning it and all the guests just come together.

Cortney 1:01:57

You're in Mecca right now, anyway, Atlanta.

Starting a Business With Limited Finances

Paula 1:01:58

so you know, it's the hub. It's the hub Most people can drive or fly. It's very cheap to get a flight to Atlanta, Yep. So, speaking of finances, right, you are the king of starting businesses with very, very low amounts. So many aspiring entrepreneurs, including me myself, we face financial barriers, right. What advice do you have for individuals like me who are looking to start the entrepreneurial journey, but maybe limited by their financial circumstances? Because I know that's one thing where people always be like, oh my God, I need to have money to this. You know, I'm a person who works and I still leave paycheck to paycheck, but because I don't believe in failure and I find ways, so I still do whatever I can. But there are those people they let that be their decision maker, like I can't do that because I only have $10.

Cortney 1:03:00

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, you know, first thing that comes to mind is don't let your money hinder your motivation. Don't let your money hinder your motivation. Money is a currency. It's gonna come and go, like it can't just sit. It's going to come, it's going to go and you have to. You gotta respect that and you have to redefine your relationship with money as well.

Cortney 1:03:23

That's another big thing that I've had to really do even this year, and I'm still working on that, because I grew up in poverty, like I didn't grow up with money. I didn't grow up knowing how to manage money and how to earn money and spend money and use it as a tool. So you have to really understand your relationship and redefine your relationship with money and you gotta change your mindset. It really all starts with that Making money. It can be pretty easy, but having the mindset to make money, that is the difficult part for a lot of people. So you have to really shift your mindset from a lack mindset to a growth mindset. Lack mindset says, well, I don't have money to start a business. Well, the growth mindset says, well, how can I start this business with no money? It's a small tweak, but it's a big tweak at the same time. So don't be a pessimist when it comes to money. Don't automatically think, oh well, I don't have it, I can't do this or I can't do that or I'm limited by money. No, you gotta leverage the power of broke. You gotta, if you feel like there's a difference between, there's a difference between not having money and being broke, broke is just you have a broken mindset. With money, not having money, that's just different. You just ain't got it. It's easy to get money. You can get a job, you can start a side hustle. You can sell something. You can have a yard sale. You can. Everybody has a gift or a skill and somebody gonna pay you to do it. Doesn't matter what it is, somebody will pay you to do it. So there's a lot of different ways to make money and when it comes to business, you have to look at that business and literally write it out, plan it out.

Cortney 1:05:07

What money do you actually need to start a business? And I will venture to say that the majority of businesses and ideas that you have, you don't need money to start the business. You don't need money to get started. You may need money at some point you will, but to get started, you really don't need a lot of money.

Cortney 1:05:27

For example, with Vicky Cakes, we started this company. Now, personally, we have money, but we're like we don't want to put a lot of finances into this. We wanna just start slow, see how it goes from there. And so I bought the domain name, which was $12.17 with tax, and we because I'm a web designer right, I created the little website, I created the products and we did pre-orders. We did pre-orders, people bought the products and we used the money that we got from selling those products to buy the labels and buy the bags and buy the ingredients we needed to actually create the products. And so we did that and we just kept doing that and kept doing that until we were able to take it off a pre-order and just use the money to reinvest.

Cortney 1:06:15

And you have to be in a position a mental position too. It all starts with the mind. You gotta be in a position where you're gonna reinvest back into your business because that's how it's gonna grow. You can't spend everything that you make because then you're gonna end up with nothing, so you gotta reinvest back into it. And so that's just a few tips on how to start a business with little to no money.

Paula 1:06:38

And that's so true. I feel like even when I hear people oh, I wanna be a podcast, I don't have a mic or something. And I'm like, do you know, even when I started, I ordered the cheapest mic on Amazon and I didn't even use it because I was recording on my phone with Anchor app where I was editing. I didn't have no fancy music. I learned everything. So I feel like sometimes we put excuses into why we can't Like even this. As I tell people, as long as my rent is paid and I buy groceries not a lot, because I have my days where I cook or not, and sometimes food goes bad and you're wasted so I buy groceries for what I want that week or so, and as long as that's taken care of, whatever money I have, I'll be like, okay, I can't afford to do everything at once. So what do I need most right now? I need a domain. So this week we're gonna buy a domain, next week we're gonna buy. I only did a professional intro and outro for my podcast this year. After last year I rebranded my logo. So every like I tried to find ways to give. I might not reach there as fast, but maybe I'm not supposed to reach there as fast because I believe in I'm supposed to be here and I will get there. When I get there and as long as I'm learning along the process right, and that's all that matters. I'm learning, I'm finding ticks and their resources. Use the resources. That's why community is also important. The community helps direct you into the right resources.

Paula 1:08:05

I use Tick-A-Mule a lot for my product. They have those free. Whenever they send. They always up offers. If you sign up for the newsletter and they'll be sending like in case, key orders like, let's say, for 50, they normally charge them $100, but then they'll have like a sale for like this one week you get 20 key orders for $19. Why the fuck not Listen? I tell them I start ordering that and when I go out, I give it out to people like so that they can remember my podcast. So you can also market and I know, okay, now I have the key chain. If I really like it and eventually I wanna buy them, to sell them, I know where to go and buy them because I got them in a cheap price. So use the resources. I feel like we need to stop making excuses, even though I know finances can be a tough topic, whether in relationships in business. It's never easy talking about your financial.

Cortney 1:09:07

It can be real sticky, you know. Another thing that you can leverage is credit and credit accounts. So, depending on what the business is, you can have credit accounts with, like ULINE again, depending on what type of business you have but you can get a credit account with ULINE, just open a new account and then you can buy supplies that you need, you can buy ingredients that you need or whatever materials you need. There are other, I would say, like websites or business service websites out there where they'll give you a credit account where you can buy the stuff and then you can pay for once. You're able to create and sell the product Again, depending on what it is. But a lot of times, you know, most people don't need money to start a business, they just need an excuse not to do it.

Paula 1:09:57

That's the word yep. So you've been an award-winning graphic designer. What are some of the trends and strategies you believe are essential for success in the web design and digital marketing industry today?

Cortney 1:10:11

Okay, man, that's a loaded question.

Paula 1:10:16

You see, sometimes I don't just talk shit, you know, sometimes I actually talk some proper shit.

Cortney 1:10:24

No, that's good, that's good. You know what I would say for anyone who wants to get started with any type of design or service business, especially graphic design, web design you need a portfolio. That's the number one thing. You need to be an expert at what you do. A lot of times people try to, you know, be life coaches and they ain't been through shit in their life. You know you're trying to start a business and you don't know nothing about it. Don't start a business based off a trend. Start a business based off of what's within.

Paula 1:10:56

Your knowledge.

Cortney 1:10:58

Yes, exactly. And so with graphic design, you gotta have, you know, the skills you need to have a portfolio that's online, that where people can, you know, see your work, because what I do is very visual, and if people can't see what you can do, then they're not gonna hire you right. So you gotta do as much work as you can. I am on a countdown to 100 websites right now over my career, so I'm on website number 90. So I'm hoping to finish up 100 websites by the end of the year, and so for me, like that is a big milestone, you know, for me.

Paula 1:11:38

What number are you on right now?

Cortney 1:11:40

90.

Paula 1:11:41

90,. So you have 10? 10 more to go, make sure your mind is on the 10 list. Okay, just say All right, all right.

Cortney 1:11:55

Bet bet bet yeah.

Web Design and Entrepreneurial Challenges

Cortney 1:11:58

But you gotta have the skills. You know that's the number one thing, and if you don't have that, then you don't have anything. So when it comes to web design and being successful there, you got to have the skills, you gotta know your shit and you gotta be able to do it better than the yesterday version of you. And don't try to keep up with other people. You know, because you're gonna always lose when you compare yourself to somebody else, because even the moment you begin to compare, you're like, oh shit, what are they doing this? And I'm not doing it? But you are written lost, you know. So you compare yourself to the yesterday version of you and try to be better than that person.

Paula 1:12:30

And that's true, and on both part, the comparing and knowing your knowledge. So I must start with that one, because when I did grad school right, I hated Doing the dissertation right and I hate doing research. I really hate research. Like once you tell me to do research and shit I only want to do if I really want something or love something, I'll go research, but when it's just something I'm forced to do, like no. So when I finished grad school, my dad was like, okay, let's do PhD next. I was like I don't know. I went from undergrad to grad school. I've done my part, I'm done with school and only because I know PhD you need to really do. It's all about research and writing the paper. So I'm like I don't even know who I am right now because all I've done is going to school. I haven't been out in the world. I don't know what I would want to study for my PhD, so I need time.

Paula 1:13:28

And then when I started going through my mental health and and speaking about my journey and sharing it, it made me research more, learn more, talk to people, want to have conversations with people who have mental health is. Then I looked at my dad and I, okay, now I can see myself going to PhD because I know I'm passionate about mental health. I know what I've gone through, I know what I want, so and I can literally. That's why I like being on panels of mental health, because not only do I know the knowledge I'm still learning but I know what I went through. I know from having the conversations with people come on my podcast while we went through so and I'm constantly learning and the mentor is my depression that I had when I started to where I am now. It's not the same. It's it's changing and growing with me. So I have that knowledge to continue that. So I hear you and that people tend to jump on shit without the background or the knowledge. And I don't mind if you're self-taught, but at least Self-teach yourself for real instead of making it till you kind of.

Paula 1:14:34

And when it comes to comparison, I used to be the same when I started my podcast. As I come, my God, should I do this? Why is everybody's video like this? Do I need my videos to be like this? Then at one point I was like if I keep comparing, I will end up not liking what I'm doing. At the end of the day, this is my baby. There's no right or wrong way to do it. As long as I'm having fun and I'm sticking to my value and my brand and our Wanted, that's all should matter.

Paula 1:15:03

And people have reached out to me. Oh, my god, as this so-called Social media experts and they're like all your video is not getting a lot of traction because it needs to be like this. You see how everybody else, their videos like this and the ones I'm like, let them. That's everybody. That's not me, that's not my brand. I don't like it. I'm a promote, the way I want it. And until somebody who actually Believes in in my branding and then I don't need a social media market I, first of all, I can't even afford to fucking pay you, so please be gone. It's like, and.

Paula 1:15:37

And that's when I realized, oh my god, I've really grown, because right now I don't care about comparing it with other people as long as I am happy with it and my message is being hard and people still get the message and see it. And now I had a guest. I was recording with somebody yesterday and every time was like when I do this for you, I'll make sure it's purple. When I do this for you, I'm like you get it. That's my brand. You know, papa is me and he was even like we have to make sure the tongue is out. I'm like you get it.

Cortney 1:16:05

And that's what.

Paula 1:16:06

I want. I want when people see it from a father like, oh, that's Paula's shit Cuz why, different. It's my shit and it's recognizable and I must.

Cortney 1:16:16

Yes, yes, on brand, yes.

Paula 1:16:18

You know, I remember sometimes those these guys are doing a live right and I was on the comments talking shit and then the guy was like man, I feel a tough and though like why is just? Like, oh, paula is on the comments just talking shit. And one of the girls like, but that's Paula, you know she's sticking to a brand, cuz she's. So we will say, right, considering your background and where you started, can you reflect on a particular challenging moment in your interview and your journey? And now you overcame it? Oh, Gosh.

Paula 1:16:59

Just one, you don't have to yeah, there's a lot.

Cortney 1:17:02

I'm trying to filter, kind of filter, through my mind how many. You know which one I want to. So a challenge, a moment. You know I would say MP. There's so many like there's.

Paula 1:17:19

One, one, the one that's really was they tough questions?

Challenges of Business Without a Blueprint

Cortney 1:17:23

a Lot of what we go through as entrepreneurs is Challenge like every, because I wasn't taught how to do this shit, like nobody gave me no blueprint on how to Accomplish anything, to do anything. So that's really been the the toughest challenge and the biggest flex is like I didn't have a blueprint, I didn't have nobody to sit me down and teach me how to do stuff, and even the people that I've asked to help me with certain things it's like you know, you know forget it because you know you're not actually helping me, you're not assisting me. So that's been the biggest Right and it's like people, you know, some people would say, oh, I got your back and I want to support you, but it's like no, you know where to be found. You, you're silent, my line is dry right now, my line is dry, you're not, you're not helping me when I need the assistance. So I would say honestly, like the non answer answer is that All of it has been the biggest challenge that we don't have a blueprint man and we don't know how to do this stuff. We're learning everything as we go and but what we're trying to do is, as we go along, we're trying to, you know, cut down the trees and cut down the bushes and pave the path for the people that's coming behind us and people that want to do it and the people that is working alongside of us. You know, people like you're yourself, right, like I have a podcast. You have a podcast. Like we got to share and help one another because nobody gave us no blueprint to podcasting, nobody gave us no blueprint to business and to entrepreneurship. So it's like you got to figure this shit out on your own, and when you do, that's when you can create the blueprint for somebody else, and so that's been.

Cortney 1:19:12

The biggest challenge is just, a lot of times, not knowing. You know, my wife and I look at us, look at one another. Sometimes we like, damn, what should we do? Like I don't know how to you know, we there's no, there's no framework for this. You know, like we've been on yeah, okay, I'll give you, I guess I give you one, one example. So we, we went on good morning America and I think 2020, and we sold 154,000 bags of pancake mix in a day, so that that equates to like half a million dollars in a day, and we're we're seeing it like, just come in, come in, come in, and we weren't able to fulfill all of these orders like we were still working out of our kitchen. You're not your bad.

Cortney 1:19:57

We were not prepared for that level of success and this was not at the height of COVID. So during this time I actually caught COVID called it. So all right, let me paint the picture for you. So I have a, I got a four bedroom house, we have a bonus room and we have an office. Every single room in this house, except the bathrooms, was filled with pancake mix. I remember sitting in this particular office right here and we had workers downstairs in our kitchen. It's like 10, 15 people Just working and going throughout the house doing different things, making mix and filling bags and selling bags and carrying things around. And our garage is like just packed with Boxes and packed with orders and I remember people coming up here and like, courtney, where should I put these, these products?

Cortney 1:20:55

You know we ran out of room and I'm like dump them over there in the corner. You don't just dump them on the floor over there in the corner. So we literally this half of this room was just filled with pancake bags, of pancake mix all on the floor. And so what happened was One person got COVID and they didn't know it, they were working here and they brought it here to the house and it just spread pretty much like it was like four or five people that caught COVID. My wife caught it, my daughter caught it she was, you know, she was like three at the time, I believe and and then I caught it and I got the worst out of everybody. So it shut me down for three weeks and I Honestly thought I was gonna die. I really did.

Cortney 1:21:43

And in the backdrop, you know Again, we have, you know, 10,000 orders to fulfill. I Got COVID, my wife got COVID, and so we had to call ABC and be like, hey, our whole team got COVID and so we got to shut down our operations and that was one of the most difficult phone calls that we ever had to make and I was down with COVID for three weeks. My best friend he he's from Ghana but he lives in Philly. He flew down here to help my wife and my sister-in-law like just pack and fulfill orders, and Again I had COVID. Other people in the house had COVID but he sacrificed and came down here. Thankfully he was okay, but it was one of the craziest times that you know we've been through as a business owner. As business owners and I also remember we got this giant mixer to help us mix the pancake mix and it weighs like 300 pounds and Delivery truck. They just dropped it off literally on the side. It was on a pallet and they dropped it off on a sidewalk and it was like heavy as hell.

Cortney 1:22:52

And so with COVID, like just sick and struggling and limping down the stairs, I had to go outside and my wife and I had to drag this damn thing up the driveway and Into the garage, into the kitchen and had to set it up. And I'm literally sick with COVID and I at all of this time I'm just thinking I'm I'm just gonna pass out, I'm just not gonna make it, I'm literally not gonna make it. And when the health department called me and told me, mr Sergeant, you tested positive for COVID, my heart just dropped and I literally thought I was gonna die right there in that moment. I didn't have any symptoms at that time but I'm like damn, this is it. I'm about to die Because this was a hype. People are dying, people like in the hospitals and everything. So eventually I recover, but we lost a lot of money and a lot of you know customers because we can fulfill all of the orders. Thankfully we were able to get a lot of it out, but that was a really, really difficult time, you know, for our business.

Paula 1:23:50

They do say when it rains, it falls. And I don't mean to laugh, but you know God really needs sure does know how to teach us things.

Paula 1:24:06

Sometimes you're like God, I don't know what this is supposed to teach me, but can it not Like? Can you teach me in another way? Like because, ah, man, damn, I don't know if it was me how I would have been feeling, like I know that was like a big moment, a big opportunity, and but shout out to your friend man, I say make better friends than most Americans know, but you know we have to have people we are liable to die.

Cortney 1:24:36

You know what? I tend to believe that because I have two, actually, he and his wife. They are the most genuine people I have ever met in my life and I'll take that to the grave with me. He's from Ghana and she's from Tanzania.

Paula 1:24:52

Oh, my God, I'm from Tanzania.

Cortney 1:24:54

From Tanzania. Okay yeah, they're like trying to drag me to Africa and I want to come. So bad I really, really do and I'm just. I just need to get my life set up right and get the business to set where I can. You know, I can leave for a month or so, but I can't wait to go.

Paula 1:25:10

Oh, you should. It's going to be amazing and, as I said, you know, we African people we really do do know how to to love and we, most of the time, when we make friends like, when we really be like yo, this is my friend, it turns out like we take you as family, like you're no longer just friends Like, and we take our friendships very serious. I want to do a documentary.

Cortney 1:25:30

I want to record a documentary when I go and I want to interview people there and, like I, really I want to learn the difference between African Americans and people who actually live in Africa you know, and we're born and raised there. Because I feel like there's a lot of differences and at some point I just want to move. I just want to pack up my shit and just leave. Honestly, I really do. That's my purpose for going Go about the land and see where I want to move to.

Paula 1:26:00

Oh yeah, in Zanzibar at one point it got filled with so many Europeans, especially Italians, and I had this guy who was my dad's friend, is an Italian, ended up opening a bar by the beach. So whenever I go to Zanzibar, I love him, I stay with him because I get to drink free from his bar and I get the nice spot on the beach Like I literally wake up, sleep, wake up, swim, wake up, like I eat and drink right over there. And he ended up also opening a tattoo shop. So I was like, tell me how you ended up moving here? And I was like I just came and I loved it and I threw away my passport and I never left. I was like just like that, just like that.

Paula 1:26:40

Yes, yes, now when you end up going and doing your documentary. I know you already have one, Tanzanian, but you also have another one. I have good connections. I'll connect you with good people and let's get that documentary for you created.

Cortney 1:26:55

For sure, for sure.

Paula 1:26:57

Oh my God, it's been so nice hanging out with you. We are coming almost towards the end of our chilling session, but, as someone who has overcome significant obstacles, what motivational advice or words of wisdom do you have for individuals pursuing the entrepreneur dreams, regardless of their starting point?

Cortney 1:27:21

Believe in yourself, Believe, Believe is the single most important element that will get you through everything in life. If you believe it, you literally can accomplish it. You really can. Everything goes back to belief, and your belief will fuel your dreams and it will fuel your vision. And you have to believe it when no one else believes it. You have to believe it when the shit gets hard, when it feels like I can't do this shit no more. You have to believe that you can because that'll push you. Everything else, like physically, if you're going through pain, like that's going to pass, You're going to go through some crazy shit in your business and in your life. But if you believe in your vision and you believe in what you want to accomplish and, in the end, and you believe in your why, then you can do anything. You just got to believe it.

Cortney 1:28:14

There's a quote that says the man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can't they're both right. Both of them are right. The one who thinks he can do it yeah, you can do it. And then the man who thinks he can't do it no, I can't do it. Well, yeah, you right to, because you don't believe in here. So belief. That is the number one piece of advice that I would give everyone. Believe in yourself.

Paula 1:28:38

Thank you very much for that. And, with that said, since you are a fun believer in believing in yourself, what would you say is your long-term vision and goals for your various businesses, and how do you plan to continue growing and innovating in the future? Because you know, we're just going, we're looking ahead, you know.

Cortney 1:29:00

Yes, you know, as crazy as it may sound, my ultimate goal for my business is to not be in business. It's honestly. I tell people all the time if I didn't have to have a business, I wouldn't. I would just do the things that I love to do. But one of my lifelong goals is to build an estate for my family.

Cortney 1:29:23

That's really what I want to do, whether that's here in Texas or in Africa, wherever I want to build Africa, yeah yeah, I want to build an estate for my family that will be there as a haven for generations to come, and everything that I do in business is helping me, you know, to accomplish that goal.

Cortney 1:29:45

I want somewhere that my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren can say this is our family property. You know, I did a lot of lineage work to like look back into my lineage and find some of my ancestors and great-great-great-great-grandfathers, and you know I found that my great-great-grandfather was a slave, like that. That's not. That wasn't that long ago. And you know he didn't own any land. He was property. He was owned, you know, and none of my family actually owned any property, none of my family have been millionaires or they've never, you know, been rich. And so I want to be that sergeant that when my great-great-grandchildren are looking back, they're like oh, this is where it started with my great-great-grandfather, courtney Sargent the first. He started this legacy of success and this legacy of belief and this legacy of entrepreneurship and family lineage. That's what I want. That's my lifelong goal.

Paula 1:30:52

And you're on the way. You're on the way, you're already doing it. You're already doing it. You know, and sometimes when we have, when we have vision, when we have long vision and bigger dreams which we all should have bigger dreams because you can achieve it, you know, the bigger it is, the harder you go. But we sometimes forget to congratulate ourselves on those small steps, on those small wins, because we are, we are looking at the destination. We forget to look at the journey and give us grace because, as you yourself, from where you are at the Trail of Paks in Mississippi, and look at you where you are right now, all this shit you've done. That's a legacy I've already created for your family. That's opening doors for other generations. That's opening doors for other black people. That's opening doors for other entrepreneurship People who listen and hear your story. That's motivating them and giving them like damn, he was just like me. I grew up here, so I can make something out of myself because he did and he believed in me himself.

Cortney 1:31:59

So If you allow me, I want to share one more piece of advice that I've never shared publicly and this is literally like hot off the press. So I've been inducted into the Marquis who's who of America. So this is thank you. This is a historical dictionary of who's who of. You know people in America who have achieved some type of prominence, people like actors and directors and presidents, and you know congressmen and everyday people who are making waves in their industry and doing big things, and it's a very highly exclusive and selective group of people. And so I'm excited and proud to announce that I have been inducted into Marquis who's who of America and I will be. My photo and my bio will be printed in the and it's like the book is like this thick, is really big book, and it sits next to the Bill of Rights in the Library of Congress, and so your boy's going down in American history, so I'm excited about that.

Paula 1:33:08

And let me tell you something well, and and fucking dissolved. I am so happy for you, I am so happy for you. So is there going to be like a unveiling something, something like a ceremony or anything?

Cortney 1:33:20

You know what I don't know? Maybe I need to do that. Yes, I'll get the physical book that's printed. But yeah, I need to do some type of celebrations, some type of party, something.

Paula 1:33:31

Yes, you should do that, and that could be the first way of also bringing your family together. Remember, we're talking about you being the bigger person and you know, bring. There's no better thing than having family and friends celebrate your achievements. And you know, sometimes we tend to not be, we tend to not celebrate because we feel like other people might think we are, you know. But it is perfectly okay because you have done the hard work, you have done it and let's look at it the positive way, because you celebrating that could also be motivating somebody, because they'll be like damn, I can, I can also do better, I can, I can do bigger things.

Cortney 1:34:16

So please do you know. Yes, yes, Thank you so much.

Paula 1:34:20

My pleasure and I told you I'm rooting for everybody black and I love to see my people win, and especially people who have worked that and deserve it. So I am very happy and proud of you.

Cortney 1:34:32

Thank you so much. Thank you for having me today, and this is absolutely not the last time we're going to talk. We are fucking your family now and absolutely yeah your family.

Paula 1:34:44

We've been family.

Cortney 1:34:45

Yes we're going to be going up together.

Paula 1:34:47

All right. So as we come to an end of this, please let the people know where they can find you, where they can find your business. This is the time where you sell yourself and sell whatever you got, going on and giving the people details on where they can catch up with you, get your services and all that good stuff.

Cortney 1:35:05

Yeah, for sure. So you can find me at Courtney S Sargentcom C-O-R-T-N-E-Y-S-S-A-R-G-E-N-T. Courtney S Sargentcom. That's my personal website. My company, sargent Branding, we offer branding and web design services. You can learn more about that at SargentBrandingcom. Vicky Cakes if you love pancakes and you want to try it out, you can go to VickyCakesOnlinecom. And then we're all over the internet. If you just search my name, you can find me pretty much anywhere, but I'm most active on Instagram and LinkedIn, so you can connect with me on both of those places, and if there's anything at all that I can do to help anyone, please let me know. I have an open-door policy, so just hit me up and let's go up together.

Paula 1:35:53

Thank you very much. And whether you love pancakes or not, the holidays are coming, you need stockings and you need gifts to give people. Support, block families and if it's not for you, buy it for your friend, for your sister. It's that time to be sitting with families and eating pancakes during this fall season. That's coming up and buy it for anybody, or just share the business, because sometimes people think supporting is only buying something. But just sharing and telling your people about it is also another way of supporting.

Cortney 1:36:26

Absolutely. I missed the last question. Let's blow this up.

Paula 1:36:28

Oh yeah, by the way, by the way, let the people know about your podcast and where they can find it, because that's another thing.

Cortney 1:36:39

I forgot about the podcast. So the podcast is called All About the Brand and I talk about personal branding and web design and just give you the best tips and advice on how to improve your online presence and elevate your brand. So All About the Brand podcast, you can just search it and it'll come up online.

Paula 1:36:57

All right. Well, thank you so much for that, and, kari Kodni, we're just getting started. Thank you for coming to our talk show with me.

Cortney 1:37:05

Thank you, I enjoy talking shit with you.

Paula 1:37:08

Me too. All right, thank you, ship Talkers, for tuning in and spending a valuable time with us. We appreciate you To connect with us more. Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter and catch all the SHIP Talking Vibes before anybody else. You can subscribe to our newsletter through our website, wwwtalkshitrepeacom, and on our merchandise website, wwwtalkshitrepeashop. And while you're there, feel free to shop away. Talkshitrepea is available on all social media platforms. With the hand-out Talkshitrepea, follow us and engage with us. Better yet, if you're feeling generous, give us a review on our podcast and all raters on Spotify. You can also share a beer with me. We're my beer lovers, that I mean. What better way to support the movement than sharing a beer with me by buying me a beer at BuyMeCoffeecom? Thank you for listening, sharing, engaging and support in any way that you do. Remember, new episodes are out every Wednesday and for Part 2 is ending on Fridays. Let's talk and all listen to some shit. Happy Shit Talking.