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Black Rise
Welcome to Black Rise podcast, your gateway to inspiring conversations with the crème de la crème of Black talent, leaders of 7-figure and above businesses across a spectrum of industries. Your host is Flavilla Fongang, an award-winning serial entrepreneur and she will be your guide on this journey.
Black Rise isn't just a podcast; it's an extension of the first business platform dedicated to connecting the business world to talented, skilled and experienced Black talent. Our aim is to create connections, foster collaboration, and fuel growth by bringing together Black professionals, visionary entrepreneurs, and groundbreaking businesses. We're here to bridge the networking gap, facilitating collaborative growth not only within the Black community but also far-reaching into the broader world.
In each episode, we dive deep into the stories and experiences of our remarkable guests. They share their insights, challenges, and strategies that have propelled them to the pinnacle of success. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned professional, or simply hungry for knowledge and inspiration, Black Rise provides you with the tools and motivation you need to reach your own pinnacles of achievement.
But we're more than just a podcast. We're a dynamic community where excellence knows no bounds. When you subscribe to 'Black Rise,' you're not just gaining access to incredible stories—you're also opening doors to exclusive opportunities within our thriving ecosystem.
Join us on this journey of elevation, motivation, and empowerment. Let's rise together, break barriers, and create lasting change. Subscribe now to stay updated with our latest episodes and visit www.theblackrise.com to connect, collaborate, and embark on a transformative path to success.
This is Black Rise, where excellence and impact converge to redefine the future.
Black Rise
How to Navigate the Journey from Struggle to Financial Success with Emmanuel Asuquo
Have you ever wondered how embracing your identity can skyrocket your professional life? Well, Emmanuel Asuquo, the financial advisor who's turning heads, joins us to share his dynamic story. Together, we tackle the essence of financial literacy, the impact of positive role models, and the kind of community support that can propel Black talent in business to new heights. Emmanuel's journey from a Nigerian household in the UK to the forefront of financial advising underscores the significance of education and determination in creating pathways to success.
Relationships and likability aren't just buzzwords—they're the currency of progress. Reflecting on my own life-changing moments and the pivotal role of a supportive head of year, Emmanuel and I dissect the 'likeability privilege' that can open doors for those who might otherwise be overlooked. We navigate the fine line between authenticity and expectation within professional environments, discussing how personal branding can be a game-changer for those striving to make an impact. This episode is a testament to the power of connections, both within and outside the Black community, in shaping our futures.
Strap on your entrepreneurial hats because we're revealing the blueprint to creating multiple income streams. From establishing Belvedere Wealth Management to launching a comparison website, Emmanuel and I delve into the strategies that prepare us for financial stability and independence. But it's not all work—we also uncover the importance of balance, the value of investing in knowledge and self-improvement, and the joy of crafting a life where financial worries don't dictate your choices. Plus, get a sneak peek into Emmanuel's upcoming children's book on financial literacy, set to empower the next generation. Don't miss this episode where wisdom meets wit, equipping you to take the reins of your financial journey.
Experience Business Differently
Black Rise is not just a podcast but an extension of our Business platform. We are on a mission to bridge the gap between businesses and the immense potential of Black talent. We provide a dynamic platform where businesses and individuals can connect, collaborate, and prosper with Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and black-owned companies. We strive to showcase the value, creativity, and innovation that Black talent brings to the table, fostering partnerships that drive economic growth, diversity, and mutual success.
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Some of these workplaces know we're going to pay you well, but because of that we own you now, because you can't go anywhere else and get this level of income. But actually you can create your own income. There are 365 days in a year. Why do most of us only get paid on 12 of them?
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Black rice podcast. You get away to inspiring conversation with Black Rem de la Crème of Black Talent, who are leaders of seven figure and above businesses across a spectrum of industries. I'm your host, flavilla Fongang, and a world-winning serial entrepreneur, who will guide you on this journey. Black rice isn't just a podcast. It's an extension of our business platform, allowing the business world to connect with skilled, talented and experienced Black talent. Our mission is to serve as a bridge, connecting businesses with vast opportunities that lie in working with Black professionals, entrepreneurs and enterprise. We strive to showcase the value, creativity and innovation that Black talent brings to the table, fostering partnerships that drive economic growth, diversity and mutual success. Visit theblackricecom to find out more. Hello everybody, welcome back to another episode on the Black rice podcast.
Speaker 2:I hope that you've been enjoying all the fantastic conversations that you've listened so far on these fantastic projects that I've created. I feel like I'm still at the beginning. At the same time, I bring on this platform, on this podcast, what I know and I feel like I need to share it. I'm not about gatekeeping. I'm about really sharing the wisdom of individuals in this space who are doing so many great things but also realize that we need to be visible. The reason why I say that and quite often as us in the Black community, or if you're not in the Black community listening to this, you may feel there's only one or few of us who are doing great things the reason why this podcast exists is to really normalize as a talent across a number of industries within the Black community.
Speaker 2:Today I'm so excited to bring Emmanuel Asoukou. You probably know him and you probably either heard from him or you probably seen him. If you've heard of seeing him, you probably laughed him, because not only is great, I'm delivering great wisdom, but in a funny and very honest way. Sometimes you need people to tell you the truth. Tell you what you need to hear.
Speaker 2:Emmanuel Asoukou is a qualified financial advisor over 15 years. Don't be fooled by his young look. He's been in the business for a very long time. He knows what he's doing. On top of that you're probably seeing on DPC Video, channel 4, itv, jamie Vine and so on and so on. He's been on a number of shows really giving advice to help people understand the power of managing your money. We know that money is very important to achieve our goals. Money is not everything, but if you want to get out of the rat race, you need to understand, you need to have better financial literacy, and he's dedicating himself to really help us and help us make sure that we do better and we live this life happy. So, emmanuel, I'm so happy to have you on this episode. How are you, flavella?
Speaker 1:Queen? How are you? Thank you for having me. Guys, if you understand, I love my name for Flavella. It's Queen because I'm not going to lie to people.
Speaker 1:I operate at a very high level. I meet a lot of amazing people throughout the whole world. You see this woman here. She has inspired me for years. There's not many people that I looked at and say you know what I'm so inspired. I never forget our first interview on Instagram Live Back in the day before. I remember I had one red dress. I never forget she had this red dress on the way she spoke this is four or five years ago. The way she spoke, her energy and your story are inspiration, because sometimes we can allow so many things that happen to us in life to stop us from achieving. And I just see you and I've just watched you grow and grow and grow and walk in your power and I've seen how many people you brought along. And that's why I have to call you Queen, because you are leading our army and changing the nation. So thank you so much. It's an honor to be here.
Speaker 2:Oh, you know, it's a pleasure to have you too, because the two of us share the same drive and desire to not just work, not just achieve success for ourselves, but really helping one another, because it's so much more powerful if we can bring everybody to the table, and I know that this is going to be a great conversation and you know you give it so much Honestly. If you're not following him on Instagram or TikTok or wherever platform, please follow him Normally, always dropping some fantastic advice but also giving you easy, straightforward information. But we need I'm here for people to understand your story and understand your beginning. So, emmanuel, tell me about you are bringing. I want to know from the child what type of child were you shy and you became this very confident person, or were you always that person?
Speaker 1:Yeah, good question. I think I've always been outspoken. I've always been a person who's just China, just loud, just expression. I've never been able to really sit down, sit still, be quiet. That's not really in my blood. Like I've always been a fidgety type person. I always tell people if I went to school now they probably would have said I had ADHD or one of these types of things. But if my day that didn't exist, you just got in trouble when you had to behave yourself.
Speaker 1:You know you had to find a way to change my upbringing. You know I've got with my parents, mom and dad. They both came from Nigeria. So I was the first born in my family in the UK, oldest child. I have two younger, younger sisters. So there's that responsibility as a Nigerian that you have to, you know, set an example for your, for your younger siblings, and you know you have to be that leader, leadership role. So I think I've always had the responsibility of having to, you know, look after others and, you know, be a leader. That has always been on me, my whole, my whole life. So I think that's kind of shaped where I am today and the kind of mindset that I have today of wanting to help others, wanting to develop others, getting satisfaction and joy from not just winning yourself but helping other people win. I think that's come from, you know, being instilled by my parents to do that for my sisters and, you know, people that are younger than me and around me.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I mean we grew up with not much. You know my parents come from Nigeria, so they had to take the jobs that they were given. My dad was studying, you know he was. He was quite well off. You know, when he was in Nigeria at that time the naira and the pound were the same one to one, you know I mean. So he always tells the story how when he got a taxi from the airport, they charged him 100 pounds and he paid and he didn't really realize that that was too much. Like you know I mean, that's how much, how money was when he came at the time. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:But then when he came, you have to do. They wouldn't give him a job as an accountant, so he had to study. So you had to become a security guard and you know, obviously you don't have papers, so you have to do the cash in hand jobs and you've gone from being a being somebody in the country that you come from. In Nigeria he was somebody I remember. You just tell us a story how in Nigeria had a draw and you know he would tell my mom she wants money. Just go to the draw and now you're struggling to find money to feed your family. Do you know what I mean? And so forth. In this foreign country it's very. It's a very humbling experience and a lot of people don't appreciate that, but I feel like I watched their hard work and it kind of motivated me to want more.
Speaker 2:You know one thing that you say it ends beautiful because it's hard. When you come from a country, your own country, where you know that you have this great living and people diminish you or buy the way that you are, I think that you're not the same value because you're not. You haven't done this, you haven't done your qualification in the same country. It takes a lot of courage for a man to remain humble and not let this stop him from pursuing his dream, especially when you have children accounting on you as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, definitely, definitely. I think it's one of those things that now you know, me and my dad are very close and we have a very, very good relationship. I think when we were younger, you know, when I was younger, me and my dad we used to clash a lot. You know what I mean Because my dad just was education. Education was all about your exam results or your tests, and I didn't do that well at school.
Speaker 1:So you know I was very good at sport and you know I had other people's parents used to come and watch me play rugby, basketball, athletics. They used to leave their kids and cheer me on, but my own parents would never come to my games because they couldn't, because they had to work and stuff like that. Plus, they didn't take it serious. They're like did they come all the way from Nigeria to watch me play? Oh, they wouldn't take it serious. And so you know, there was a big conflict in regards to I was being celebrated for something, but my own family wouldn't celebrate me for it. Do you know what I mean? They didn't respect it, and so there was a lot of clashes in the house.
Speaker 1:And again, we have to understand that. You know our parents, they can, only they can only teach us what they know. And that's one of the reasons why I'm so passionate about financial literacy is that a lot of people are growing up in households where your parents can't teach you about financial literacy because nobody taught them. And so sometimes you know, you say I wish my mom would have told me about credit or would have told me about this, but how? No one told them. So that's one of the reasons why I feel like that's the change I can make in the household is to empower people to have these conversations. But there was a lot me and my dad didn't really didn't really get on like that when we were young. When I was younger, like you know, there was big conflict, big, big conflict, and then obviously I grew up teenager and I grew bigger than him and that was just.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, you definitely have a built for being a ready player. That now that you say that, and do you think that if your parents allowed you to follow your dream, you would have been that professional ready player?
Speaker 1:100% If my parents used to take me to games and encourage me 100%. You know, I played rugby at a very high level. I had other parents, other people's parents, that used to pick me up and take me and take me to games and so forth, because where I rugby I grew up in East London there weren't that much rugby there, so we had to go out to like middle sex and those types of places to actually play and because it was far, you know, and then obviously I'll come back late, and then I had school the next day, my parents weren't hearing it and so, yeah, I feel like if I had that real encouragement I definitely could have made it pro in rugby. I just, I just felt I just stopped fighting after. You just thought you're fighting your parents, you're fighting the system, because rugby is a very middle class sport. So you know, being a black person, unless you've got someone there that's that's pushing you it can be very difficult to even get through that as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. And you would have been the Lewis Hamilton of Redbeath only the first time In a common, you know. I mean, I think sometimes, as you say, your parents have this vision of what success, what are the roles of success looks like, and as a new generation, we realize that, you know, my mum would try to get me to do something, but I didn't listen. I think I've always been very stubborn, in the sense that also, I'm not the first born, I'm the third one.
Speaker 2:So again something, this other before my sister's before me, who were who had to follow the role where, in my case, I was like you know, I do what I want, and then now she's glad that they didn't follow the path that she created for me. But you know, it's hard for parents who have that doctor, engineer, accountant, lawyer that it is the only path of what they're proud of. Also telling their family, family of what you have achieved. It's really hard. But you also think, as you, as a father now, would you, would you be also more supportive of letting your kid, your children, follow whatever path they choose?
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely. The aim for me and this is where I think I'm learning it the aim for me, for my kids, is not to work forever. The aim is not whatever allows you to live life on your own terms. That's what I'm encouraging and that's what I want to provide for them. If they want to go to university, excellent, you know what I mean. But if they decide that, you know, at 16 they want to come and work in my company, I'll create an apprenticeship in my company so that they can do an apprenticeship and they can work in my company for those years.
Speaker 1:You know, whatever it is, and that's why I say it's so important to create these businesses and create these opportunities, so that we can start taking control and giving our kids the options. Because, again, when it came to going for work experience or when it comes to getting into corporate or getting into these jobs, it can be very, very difficult because you haven't got an uncle or an auntie or a friend or a neighbor or somebody that you know works in these places that can give you the yeah, they're all right, give them a chance. We haven't got that, and so nepotism can be very difficult. So if we create our own companies. We can allow nepotism for our children and our community, which is so important.
Speaker 2:It is so important. I cannot agree more enough, and that's why we are here building things, building black rice and building those. You know our adventures to support one another. So now, so you give up rugby. So what happened next?
Speaker 1:So we gave up rugby, I played basketball, still at uni. I went to university. So let me even tell you that. Let me even go back to school. I got four GCSEs, so it's four C's, you know them. Times needed five. I got four, and so two in English, maths and then P. Obviously I got P. You know I had to pass P. So those four, and obviously I couldn't. You needed five to get into college. So colleges, the colleges were saying that you only got four, so you have to come and retake some of your GCSEs or you had to do a lower course. You can't go straight to A levels. And then, my head of ear, he wrote a letter for me. He wrote a letter to the college to say you know, emmanuel has been on a steep learning curve, he's done really well. You know, give him an opportunity. And basically they read the letter and they were like, okay, and they, let me go in and do A levels and so forth. So I didn't have to reset.
Speaker 2:But how did you, how did you get this person to write a letter for you, though? What had that happened?
Speaker 1:Listen. I literally got my results told him. I told my head of ear this is all about relationships. So my head of ear remember. I said I played basketball. So my head of ear, he, before he became my head of ear, he was a teacher in the school and he used to open the gym for us in the morning. So we used to come in into school early in the morning. We used to play basketball in the playground. But because we play basketball in the playground, I remember I go to a school that's all boys school.
Speaker 1:This is the hood, this is the ghetto. Like my school, the pass rate for five, eight to season, my school before my year was 6%. So you're more likely to go to prison than you were to go to university. That's the type of school that I went to. Yeah, and so in the mornings, guys who come in, you play football. Someone bring a football, you play football or you play basketball. Those are the main sports. We've got hoots that are there. Well, we used to play basketball in the morning and we would stay out and we'll be late for lesson. Even though we got to school early, we'd be late for lesson.
Speaker 1:So what he decided to do was he used to open the gym. So he would open the gym so that we could come in and we'll play inside Obviously it's cold in the mornings, but who's we could play inside, but then he could control when it finished so that we would then finish on time and then go to class on time. So that's how, that's the type of person he was, and so we built up a really good relationship throughout school and so forth, and so he once I told him that I did not let him in, he was like come in, I'm going to write this letter for you, take it back. And literally I went in, he gave me the letter, I gave it to them and they let me through. And that's the power of relationship.
Speaker 1:In regards to just being a good person and people lacking you, that's something that I've always said is one of my superpowers is I'm lackable, like people like me, and people don't understand that. How powerful that skill is. When people like you, they want to help you, they want to give you opportunity, they talk about you in rooms that you're not in, just because they like you, and sometimes people need to spend time working on our character and how we are, and less of the skill. Sometimes it's not even about how good you are at the skills. I like that person. Let's give them a chance. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 2:Do you know what? I talked about this as well. Lackability privilege is such, so powerful and, like you as well, I use it all the time. But for people who don't understand what we're talking about lackability, how do you become a likeable person? I want you if you could explain how. For me, my vision of being likeable is not acting, the sense that you make some, you provide some form of value. Either you are a person who makes someone smile when you're around they, like you, provide some good value, or you know you're here to help, or whatsoever. That's what lackability is about. Like, how you put a sense of value and emotion to someone. Feel like that person. I want to help, but I want to go further for you. How do you? Would you define different, different, you know?
Speaker 1:No, what you said is amazing. It's exactly that. And, again, that's how we get on. We've got the same spirit. If people don't know, me and Queen are very, very alike. We're very, very similar and that's why we get on so so well.
Speaker 1:And what she said is so important, like for me, when I speak to people, I want that person to feel like they're the only person I talk into. Do you understand? Like I give people the attention they need and I listen to what they're saying and I try to think about how can I help you. So if I meet you and I can tell that you're a bit scared of meeting me because you're a bit nervous, I'm going to break the ice straight away. I'm going to crack a joke. I'm going to say something that's going to make you feel comfortable when we first meet.
Speaker 1:I want to know about you. I want to know about what. What makes you tick, what makes you, what are the things that are important to you and what can we relate on? I want to. I'm trying to find something that we can relate on straight away. So it takes because, remember, at the end of the day, when I walk into a room, I'm a big black guy, no matter what, the television has told you something about me before you before we've ever spoken. So I know that I have to fight, that I have to. I have to change that opinion that you're going to have of me, whether you like it or not, because you might not have come into the rooms that I'm in. I'm mostly the only black person in these rooms, so I have to know that you might not have you might not have come into a lot of encounters in your private life with somebody that looks like me. So I've got to now come in and make you feel comfortable, that, wow, no, what can we relate on? Because once we can relate on something, all of a sudden you don't see all the stigmas and stereotypes that the world has placed on people that look like me. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:And so being likeable is about, is about you really listening, taking time and add, like you said, adding value For me. I'm I'm blessed. God has given me the ability to make people smile, make people laugh From all backgrounds. I speak to people who are Asian, who are Chinese, who are it doesn't matter. God has just given me this ability. I just know how to make people smile, make people laugh or make people feel comfortable or make people feel warm. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:And so, because of that, people leave remembering. I am rememberable. Like people meet me and they will tell me two, three years later. Do you remember what we met on distance? You said that I'm like, I can't remember Like, but to them it's the moment that they remember me, to me or speak to me or one of my videos. Like people remember I have a way to impact people and that's a skill that God gave me and I know how to use it and use it well. So being likeable is really important, because sometimes there may be two of us and someone might be slightly more talented but because of the lackability factor, people say but I just like you, man, I just like it, let's just give, let's just give him a chance. He never lets us down. And when you get the opportunity, then it's preparation. Then it's about being prepared to make sure you don't make that person wish that they picked the other person. You know what I mean, but being likeable is so important.
Speaker 2:So important. And then what you say lackability attracts opportunities. And people say how do you do this? Because normally I've paid attention to my personal brand, but also I act as a likable person and therefore people want to be around people that they like, and that's how people forget your colour, people forget that you're black. We just like you. And that's how you put the stigma, the stereotypes against us.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and that's the thing I get it. Sometimes people like you know black power and all of this, but the reality is that me just being me like it just makes people feel like I have had it where people have said you know black people, but you know Emmanuel is. And people like you know what you're right. You're right, emmanuel is different. Do you know what I mean? And it's just have to make people question themselves and say, well, we can't say all because we know one.
Speaker 1:And it's the importance of us and you do it as well the importance of us remembering that we represent a community, not just ourselves.
Speaker 1:So when we get an opportunity, or when we are on stage or when we are speaking, we represent a community. So we need to hold it with pride. And that's one of the problems that I see a lot is that people are so focused on themselves that they will, you know, not take the opportunity serious. They will mess it up, and that messes it up for a lot of others, because what you don't realise is that we're not in our country. So when we get an opportunity, you're now representing everybody. If you don't represent well, if you don't give, put your best foot forward, if you don't work with integrity, if you don't deliver the right service, if you don't act on your word. It affects us all and so it's so important that once you get that opportunity, you understand this is more than just you, this is us. Do you know what I mean? And once we start to move like us, you know we'll see a big difference in the way that we are treated and the opportunities that we get.
Speaker 2:I love that. This is us. This is not just you, it's just us, and I think that's the problem. When one of us do wrong, it affects all of us, so we have to be. You are best to do to be great in front of people who are not accustomed to that. But I think one thing I love about you is that you didn't lose your authenticity, and I think sometimes the issue is, when you go into spaces that you are not the majority, people will sometimes want to fit in so much and lose who they are. So how did you not lose your authenticity? But also, this is also part of your personal brand. This is what makes your memory more and I want to be honest with you.
Speaker 1:At one point I lost it. I'm going to tell you the truth. When I first started, you have to understand I'm 22. So basically, I've become the youngest financial advisor in Barclays in the country. Long story short, I used to look at this building in Canary Wharf because I live right next to Canary Wharf. I used to look at this Barclays building and I said one day I want to be in there and by 22 I became the youngest financial advisor in Barclays in the country.
Speaker 2:Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. How did that happen? First, you have to explain this how did you become the youngest financial advisor at Barclays?
Speaker 1:Because that's also an achievement, yeah so basically what happens is that and I always tell this story I come home to my council estate. If anyone knows the stairs on the council estate, it's very dirty, you know. There's spit, there's weed, there's people, there's the rubbish shoots. But if the shoot gets full, people then start leaving their rubbish on the stairs. It's a very disgusting place and there's loads of flies in the stairwell. I come home and basically my mum has slipped and she's sitting on the stairs. My mum has a bad knee because she's got arthritis in her knee, so she's got a bad knee so she couldn't really get up. So I've helped my mum up. She's got home and I've seen her in that situation and we didn't mention it the next day. My mum's smiling, going back to work. I have to pull her to the side because my mum is almost like my best friend. So we talk on her. We talk on her. Although she's my mum, we talk on her level. Mum, what are you happy about? You saw what happened in the stairs, what happened yesterday. Why are you so happy? And she's like I'm happy because I have the opportunity to, you know, support my family and I have the opportunity to go and work and support my family. So forget whatever bad happens to me, because I can provide for you. I'm going to wake up with a smile and that day I said to myself God, you've got to find me a way that my mum's investment in me will not be wasted. I have to provide for her. I have to make sure that she doesn't have to work this hard forever. And so I go to my room, I look out the window and you know, in In the night the lights on a light in my house. If you left the light in the kitchen used to get in trouble. So I look out the window at night time and I see all the lights on in canary-woolf and I'm like I've got to get to canary-woolf. They're rich, they can leave the lights on, you know, mean. And so I Look at these buildings and I'm like I've got to get there. So basically I just focus on I don't know how I focus on. I've got to get there, go get there. I get a job in Mark's, those fences in canary-woolf. From there I use that to get a job as a cashier in Barclays. I work hard doing my degree I uni and then I basically finished my degree and they give me the job as financial advisor 22 and I'm now this financial advisor and I can, you know, give my money so she can relax up and spoil her a little bit, and and it was great.
Speaker 1:But it was one of those things where it's about having a vision beyond yourself. Like you see, sometimes I think, as adults, as we get older, everything becomes realistic. I don't know if you ever hear this line, but you've got to be realistic. When you're a kid, there's no, really you don't, there's nothing. You want to be an astronaut, you're gonna be a national, you want it.
Speaker 1:Whatever you want to do, you just say it and you're like and sometimes we have to ignite that kid Inside of us that just says I want to do this, I'm gonna do it, you know, I mean, and forget all the hurdles and all the barriers. If this is what you want, go for it. I said to myself as a child I'm gonna get there. And it happened. And I don't even have a, I have nobody over there, don't have a partner, I don't have a uncle, I don't have anyone over there to support me. But I made it happen because that child in me believed, and so I always tried to keep connected to that child like child, like emotions, I say I want to do something. I'm gonna go and do it rather than remind myself oh, but you need this amount of money, or you need to have these connections, or you need to have it forget.
Speaker 2:You know what you think is exactly what the problem is happening sometimes, that we create hurdles in our mind. We see all the reason why it would not work. Instead of figure out that, let me just be a bit delusional. Let me just figure out. Let me let me talk about the right people, and maybe somebody even if it's not me, even just Sometimes you know some, you know, I know that the two of us are very close to Ability and God. Right, and sometimes that's my space that you have the idea will come to you.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean, it was on time to realize that sometimes that you have to believe in something and think so much about it and somehow the idea will come to you, but also doing the, taking the right actions, searching and and so, but if you see the hurdles, then it's only problems that you're gonna have exactly. But if you need so much on your ideas, like I don't have the money to do this and I'm gonna do it, okay, then Figure out another way. There's always a solution to a problem, but if you see problems instead of solutions, you will never succeed in your life. And that's exactly what you describe here. And the power of thinking big. We start big. You know, I don't even remember the festival we did at the festival and he says something that made me laugh, but there was so authentic that we need stop thinking about having, you know, no or lashes business. Let's build techniques.
Speaker 2:Yeah let's be.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:FMCG businesses out there. Let's think big.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, exactly, exactly, rather than staying in our comfort zone. So that's, that's how I got to. You know, barclays, like it was the the situation and sometimes what. The reason I always Start the story with my mom is that the reason I got to where I got to was from a point of pain, a point of a point of struggle, and I know that a lot of people, especially from our community, may be going through struggles, maybe going through hurdles, maybe in a point of pain, and I need you to understand that that pain can keep you trapped where you are, or that pain can propel you to where you need to be. And for me, I use the pain to propel me, to open my eyes, to give me the hunger, give me the focus to get to where I want it to be.
Speaker 1:But for a lot of us, we are so focused in the pain that we're in that we just stay in it and we allow it to chain us and Hold us and stop us from even trying, because we start saying, why bother, because I'm going through this, or, you know, we start to lose our faith like if there was a god, why would this be happening to me? And we get wound up in that and all of a sudden we get stuck where we're at and years pass and we're still there. And the reality is, is that actually, sometimes those moments are there to propel you to where you're going, to remind you that as you go along on this world called success, they're going to be things that are going to want you to go left or go right. But when you remember your reason, remember your why, remember the pain that you've come from, you continue to move on straight. You don't allow yourself to be distracted.
Speaker 1:And I was so focused on getting to these buildings that you know my friends they went to ib for and all these other, I didn't go, my friends went. You know all this clubbing and I did. I was studying, I was focused and when I achieved and now I'm here today, my friends they support me, but you know a lot of them. They still need money from me or support from me, and I know I missed out on certain things, but I'm in a better place for it and it's because I had that focus and that desire that propelled me ahead. So sometimes you can be in a position of struggle, you can be in a position of pain, you can be in a position where you feel like you're not where you want to be. But I promise you, if you take that and and apply it to something positive, apply it to something bigger than yourself, apply and make it a focus and you dedicate and you sacrifice towards it, you will achieve it.
Speaker 2:Hmm, oh my gosh, I can't even add anything to what you just said, but I think it's just so perfect, and so I, you know, I think about my own, my, my journey is also very similar to to use. We didn't come from very wealthy. We didn't go up in with silver spoon in our mouth. But your past doesn't have to define your future exactly. But make when you're young. Define the future you're going to create.
Speaker 2:Yeah you know, I think this is called a delay Great, not gratification, but delay pleasure. Yeah, if you can go and go out and spend your money. But what are you doing? How you investing yourself right now, which is so powerful? So you became the youngest financial advisor at Barclays. And then what happened?
Speaker 1:So then what happens is I'm there now and all my colleagues are old enough to be my mom and dad. I mean, I'm, I'm 22, my youngest colleague is like 45, you do in post a syndrome?
Speaker 2:if you did, how did you come with it?
Speaker 1:Yes, 100%. I started. There's this, there's this program called Made in Chelsea, and I started, I started watching Made in Chelsea and I started like copying how they spoke, because they used to tell me that obviously I'm from east London, I'm from, you know, I speak a bit, a bit hood. And they used to tell me, you know, clients are not going to accept this and you need to. We are here taking, we are working with the most wealthiest people in the country. We need to speak in a certain way.
Speaker 1:And so I started changing the way I spoke. I started changing the way I dressed, um, I started to change the way I walk. Um, I no longer sounded black. I almost had this kind of white voice that I used to, which I told myself was Professional. You know what I mean. And I started talking this way these guys I don't drink or smoke, but you know these guys will go to the pub.
Speaker 1:Those times you could still smoke in the pub I would have to follow them to the pub and I'll be drinking, you know, coats and orange juice, and they'll be laughing at me like get a real drink down. Yeah, you know me, I don't, I don't drink. So you know I mean they really wanted to push the boundaries that make me, you know, change the person, who I was Um, and in that environment it was very hard for me to be authentic to who I was Um, and so I did that for a number of years, but I kept not fitting in. So I kept getting, you know, because you can only think for so long, do you know. I mean you can only pretend For so long, and then eventually it has an effect on your mental health, it has an effect on your attitude, it has an effect on you know, all of a sudden, you just start to, you start to rebel.
Speaker 1:Do you know what I mean? And so what happened was is that you know, a left bar, please, went to another bank. Then I went to another bank and then, before you know, as I, then I went to an investment firm and in, in the end, I realized I just need to be me. So obviously social media came out and I was like, okay, I can be me on social media, and so I just started doing my own videos and doing stuff.
Speaker 2:When was that? When did you start doing social media?
Speaker 1:That was 2017, started 2017. So I started in 2017. So, yeah, that was when I was just like, okay, cool, I can, I can do this, because I never even use I don't even really use Facebook them. Back in the day I never liked social media because I was like I like meeting people in real life. Remember my, my superpower is making people like me, people like me, that face of me. So I never really, I never really liked social media. But then obviously I realized it gave me a space where I could be myself, because people will look at me now and say, oh, your videos, they're funny and you have to understand.
Speaker 1:When I was reading the textbooks, the only way for me to understand them was to break them down in how I understood stuff. So the reason people are you make finance so simple. No, that's the only way I could understand it. When I was reading these books, I couldn't understand the words they were saying. They were blowing my mind, and so I had to. I had to make it simple for me to be able to comprehend it, to pass the exams, and so that's when I said, okay, well, actually I can't be the only one that doesn't get all this, all these big jargon words that they're talking about. You know, let me try and make it simple and so, and make it funny and make it entertaining rather than being so serious. And so that was my space to be able to be myself. And then I realized actually I don't need to work for these people. I can, I can do this for myself, and so I left there, left. The banks are just one on social media. And you know, here we are today.
Speaker 2:Wow. So that leap of faith, was it scary for you? Or were you, or did you? Did you have that confidence you know I can do it? Or did you wait to have enough social proof to leave? What was that moment when you say, okay, you know what, it's enough. Because I I think about my first time I'm on my I mean my my fifth career, but I have to change all the time. But I think it's interesting that you, at some point, you know enough is enough. You can't really fully focus on something if you don't go 100%, if you have that safety net. Yeah, you know what I mean. Yeah, what's that more like? Okay, now I'm comfortable to live.
Speaker 1:La-la when I tell you what happened to me. So I'm, my wife is our fourth child, my wife is having our fourth child. Yeah, my fourth child just happened, our fourth child. And these people, they I go off from a paternity leave two weeks off from work. I come back, they make me redundant. They make me redundant. No, no warning, no, nothing. They make me redundant.
Speaker 1:Luckily and this is where I talk about being likable the lady in the HR, this beautiful, beautiful lady in HR, white lady, and she, she, she stopped the person I wanted to do it with my boss. She, she would have. She knew he was being wicked, so she was like I'm not gonna even give him the greatest faction, the satisfaction of actually me actually sacking you. I'm gonna do it. So she came instead of him. So she told him no, you're not gonna do it, I'm HR, I'll do it. So she came and she told me and she was like listen, I'm gonna give you as much as I can, the maximum amount, like when I tell you the way she even calculated the days, she gave me the maximum amount of money that she could give me as redundancy package, the maximum. Like she stretched it, she gave me everything she could give me.
Speaker 1:And so what happened was is when I added that, with the savings that I had, plus that I didn't need to work for nine months and see, sometimes people think they're doing you wicked, people think they're they're putting you down, but actually they're pushing you to where God wants you to be. And so, because I had this cushion, I was like now I can go full-time, now I can focus. My wife said babe, don't, don't go and apply for another job. And this is the importance of having the right partner around you. Because when my wife gave me the green light, she said I believe in you. That was all I needed, and it didn't matter what anybody else said. I just needed my wife to say I believe in you, I believe you can do this. And she was like yeah, I, you can do this. This is 2019. So I went full-time March 2019, by August 2019. I got my first TV show on channel four.
Speaker 2:As we continue this engaging conversation, remember that black rice is more than just a podcast. We're dynamic platform where businesses can connect, collaborate and prosper with black professionals, entrepreneurs and black owned companies. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and empowerment Re-shapes industries and builds a future where black excellence flies globally. So don't forget to subscribe and give us a five star review on iTunes. Wow, wow.
Speaker 2:A few questions I want to ask you because, really, I think when people look at success of people, they don't look at people around them, and I think what you say. You know, I think, a very great partner who elevates you and supports you. It's super, super key and you've been with your wife for a long time and I've met a she's just phenomenal woman and I think that my father, that she's there and supporting you, makes your life as well easy. I don't want to come back home to drama. You haven't done this, you haven't done this, you haven't done this. She understands the vision, she supports you and people out there who are thinking about their relationship what advice would you give them to finding a right partner?
Speaker 1:You know. What it's so important to understand for me is that know where you're going. I think one of the problems with finding a partner is that you haven't found yourself. Until you find yourself, there's no point adding a partner to you that you're lost. Do you know what I mean? So the biggest thing for me was, luckily, like I said, I started young, so I knew where I was going, I knew the direction I was going in, and so then I identified a partner that could follow the journey that I'm on, because until I knew myself and what I wanted out of life and where I wanted to be, I couldn't. And again, we evolved. So I'm not saying I'm when I was young, I'm exactly where I knew I would be here today. No, but I knew what I wanted. I knew I wanted the key principles of who I am and what I needed. Do you know what I mean? And I always tell this story.
Speaker 1:So I am a guy that, especially when it came to partners, I preferred bigger women Like size 14 plus. Let's say that was my like. I like juicy. You know what I mean Curbs, and you know what I mean. I'm just happy. You know what I mean. I like you. You know what I mean. That's the problem I am. My wife was a size six, yeah, so my wife was a size six, slim, very pretty, but very slim. And so if I was to go on my type, I would have said, no, she's not my type, so I would have missed out. Do you know what I mean? But I identified the core values, the core things I needed when I was my wife. People like this is she doesn't look like your type, like this is. This is very different from the type of, you know, women that you normally break around. Do you know what I mean? And I was like no, this is, this, is what this is my wife. I know, this is my wife, you know, and and she has been nothing but a blessing to me. And I tell you, it's always ups and downs. So I'll give you an example.
Speaker 1:You know when there was a time when I, when I left the banks and I went to another company and it didn't work out, and so I had to quickly get a job, and so I was on, you know, when I was working in the banks and so forth, I was, I was earning between 60 to 70,000. You know, that was when that was good, good money, like you know, that was really good money. And I had to get a job at 30 K, just to you know. I mean so that 30 K was only enough to just pay the bills, just like I wasn't even I didn't have enough money for travel to work, do you know what I mean? I had to. I had to travel that off times and and just try and make it work.
Speaker 1:And my wife used to make cakes and so I remember I had a Mercedes outside and had monthly payments and my wife, I didn't have money to put. All I could afford was the monthly payment. I couldn't afford to put petrol in that car. And I remember my wife used to do cakes and she made cakes and and she put petrol in the car so we could drive. And I remember we're going to one of my friend's birthday parties and it's in the O2. I remember everyone knows me, he and I'm the big money man.
Speaker 1:Remember, I've been, I've been a finance, I've been earning big man money since 22. Do you know what I mean? So to these people it was you know. I mean they always know me as the money guy. So, obviously, my wife, I didn't have no money. So my wife had the money. So I was happy for my wife to pay my wife, before we got into the restaurant she just put the cash in my hand and she was like are you back? I'm like no, baby, you see your money, you pay, it's not a problem, I can, I'm cool. She's like no, you know, your guys have always seen you as the guy paying. You pay, it's not a problem, and I never forget that. Do you know what I mean? And I give you example today.
Speaker 1:Now, for example, my wife got made redundant recently and you know she was applying, applying for jobs, and she never got. She wasn't getting getting the jobs. And you know what I was able to say to her Don't worry, you just chill, I'm going to, I'm going to cover your salary and you could just go do courses, go to events, work out what you want in life now, and you don't need to worry about the bills. I got you covered for this period of time because I could see there was getting the nose and the rejections was affecting her. And the reason I tell that story is because it's it's ups and downs. Relationships are ups and downs, like you're not always up, you're not always down. There were times that my wife has covered me and I thank God. There are times where I can cover my wife and and as long as we have, we understand that it's our money, is our journey. Like, forget whatever else has to say. That's what's most important and that's one of the core things has helped us be successful in our relationship.
Speaker 2:It'd be successful and I have a happy marriage. Because I think that will sometime upset me and annoys me about social media. You have this woman say, oh, I want him to earn this kind of money, and so on and so on. It's like, you know, is he your bank account? Exactly, this is how you see relationship and I think you write to say that at some point. You know, relationship is never 50 50. There's some point I'm going to be there more for you and I'm going to support you. You're going to have as its ambition I'm going to back it up and and support you. At some point You're going to need me, yeah, and I think they.
Speaker 2:There's a false image that I'm really scared of this new generation who have this highest potential and also put a lot of pressure on men to have this big earners buying this thing and providing it, and you have this soulless relationship where you're not based on true partnership, and this is what we can learn from this, which I really love. The second question I wanted to ask you and really I see this happening a lot within our black community that we become entrepreneur by default. Yes, you know, I get something I think about. My journey to entrepreneurship starts because I wasn't in a position where they couldn't see my talent. Yeah, no, it's funny because when I spent a lot of time, I keep seeing who are my LinkedIn page bring my account, hoping that I would fail Again. You talked about this very evil manager that wanted you to be in a certain position. Do you think that you became an entrepreneur because it was your default choice and there was no making happen, even the corporate ladder?
Speaker 1:100 percent. They couldn't. I couldn't handle it, like when I tell you me as I am was so frustrated for these companies. Do you know that they wanted to hire me because I'm qualified and black and young. They want they could take so many boxes to show that they're open, and this is, before you know, diversity and inclusion. It's just a case of they wanted to show that they're progressive, because financial advice is mainly middle-aged white men. That's that's how it is, and so they wanted to.
Speaker 1:These companies wanted to be at the forefront, but they didn't understand that when you bring in someone different, like they can't just fit into your. I can't be a middle-aged white man. I can't act like them and be like because that's not who I am. Do you know what I mean? It's like I hire you being different, but when I bring you in, I want you to be the same and it's impossible. Like the two doesn't make sense, and so that friction, like you said, meant that I just realized I couldn't do corporate. It couldn't work for me and like it's funny now that you know, like I said, I used to be a cashier of our please. I was the youngest financial advisor of Barclays and now I'm Barclays ambassador, and you know Barclays pay me way more now to work with them this way than they did when I was actually their employee. Do you know what I mean? And sometimes you have to believe in your source and understand that you know what they are saying. They were telling me oh, it's like when I said I'm leaving, I'm going to go and teach normal people about finance, they laughed at me. They said well, you want to give financial advice to poor people? Always understand that. It's your vision, like nobody else has to see it, because it's not their vision, that's your vision for you. And so they laughed at me on the way out. And now today, they tell people how they used to work with me. I'm now their claim to fame. I'm now.
Speaker 1:I went to see that company that I told you, that sat me just before, just after my wife gave birth to our fourth child. I meet them at events and you do it amazing. Oh, it's fantastic. You know, when I tell you the humble pie is unbelievable, it's unbelievable, and I don't even say nothing, I don't even I don't rub it in, I just I just think in my head.
Speaker 1:When I was with you, you know what I mean. You you was. He wasn't respecting me. You didn't respect who I was. You felt like you could laugh at me and I and I always the only way to put it to get done. And now and now, you wish I was working in your company, because your company would have. Your company doesn't even have half the exposure that I have, like the amount of millions of people that I speak to on on a weekly, monthly basis due to being on national television on a regular basis. You wish you could get that exposure. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:And so the point being is that anyone listening needs to understand that, like you, have to believe in your source, and for a lot of us, it means that you have to go out and do it your way and show them that there's another way. And so that's what I was able to do, and not only that me doing that. Do you know how many financial influences now are full time and been able to leave their job because I took the leap that they've seen me? It's inspired. So sometimes you have to understand that your vision is not just for you. It's now to inspire others to be able to do the same.
Speaker 1:Do you know? What I mean Is and if I didn't take that leap, somebody else would have. I never believe that they wouldn't have got there without me. I always tell myself, if it wasn't me, it would have been someone else. So never, ever think that, oh, if you don't do it, do you know it's going to happen? Are you going to be? Is I ever going to? God's going to use you or you're going to use someone else? The mission, the way we done.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you know what? It's something that you think that very important is sometimes the biggest mistakes that Large enterprise make when they hire us. They hire us to do exactly the things that they already doing, instead of hiring us Understanding that we bring another type of business opportunities. If you don't understand that we, we don't need to speak like you. We need to speak. We don't need to act like you. We can act and Attract a different type of niche, and that's all you were able to do. Right, and I think it's so important and this is so powerful. This is so powerful and you know, I think about your story, something like when I, when I finish University, all the companies that I'm working with right now, none of them wanted to hire me.
Speaker 2:Yeah again, I probably wasn't prepared and I didn't do the preparation really right. But again, being comfortable as well in a situation where you are not welcome, and not be afraid to be fast, yeah, it is something that there's so many of us who are need to be fast here here. Yes, because we can inspire so many. Like you say, it's something. I started gta black women in tech and I'm seeing so many other organization and I welcome them, like more of us are trying to solve this issue around black women in Tech, or black in technology. We're gonna fix it together. This is not just my problem, it's everybody's problem. Yeah, but we need to be visible, we need to be comfortable, and I say that the time we need to be comfortable being rubbish to be great. Yes, we need to be comfortable taking the leap of faith. We need to be comfortable being the first one and doing something and then see how often we inspire others to think that, wow, if a man can do it, I can do it too, and that's what you did.
Speaker 1:That's exactly. And and what you said about being first guys, it's so powerful I don't think people understand. For a lot of us you've got to be the first, like when I've trained Harky's. At age 22, I could ask my mom and dad for, oh, what should I do on my first day? Or? They never been in this position. They, they've been there. They've been there, but does that mean that I don't go? Does that mean that I don't turn up? No, I gotta go and learn. And then guess what I gotta do? I gotta share.
Speaker 1:One of the big problems I was speaking it on social media yesterday, you know is that we do things and we just do in silence because we're scared that if we tell people you know people, people will try and stop us or things won't work out. The problem with going in silence is that, yes, you get there and you achieve, but you've bought nobody alone. Nobody's learned, someone seen the ups and downs that you've gone through. So it brings that false narrative that, oh, you can just do it, I just did it. You didn't just do it. There were. There were things that you went through, that there were ups and downs that that need to be shared. There are, there are things that you've learned on the way that need to be shared, but now somebody else is gonna go and make the exact same mistakes you made when they don't need to, because if you shared your journey Now, the next person gets there quicker, and that's why it's so important that, yeah, maybe don't tell everybody, but we've got to start sharing the journey with those around us, to empower those around us to know how to get there, to see it, because sometimes seen is believing.
Speaker 1:Like I said, people have watched my journey on social media To national television. So now, pete, there's a blueprint people can follow and say, okay, if I do XYZ, I can do the same thing. But and they can believe it because they've seen it and there's a power in seeing things happen, do you know? I mean, as opposed to just saying I did it, you can do it. I think exactly exactly.
Speaker 2:It's two things I want to ask you I want to talk about after that. I want to talk about financial literacy, because having so important as well in black community. But I know my journey to getting myself my myself sitting sitting on the red sofa on BBC. But what has been your journey to work, finding yourself on on television? What did you do and how did that happen? Did you work with an agency? Did the agency found you? How did that happen?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, like I said, once I left the company and I was full-time, I was doing content. That's when I decided, you know, I want to do Instagram lives. So I started doing no, not, not Instagram. I started doing content all the time. So I started, you know, posting all the time. I started doing Instagram lives just giving tips. I started to Comment on other people's other people's stuff. I started doing events and talks at church for free, just for free, just out there.
Speaker 1:There was, there was a point where almost every flyer that was coming out, you'd see my face on the flyer because I just needed to be out there. At the end of day, I didn't need the money I had, I had enough in savings. So the focus was being visible, getting out there, improving, working on my craft, getting myself ready, doing videos. I used to do video after video, content after content, and so what happened was is that and again, connecting. So I connected with a lady who was doing something similar to me at the time, who called Bola soul, and she was doing financial literacy as well on social media. She was the only other person I saw. So I was like, if this is somebody doing what I'm doing, then I've got to be friends with them and sometimes this is a thing we got too much pride. You know, you say you don't want to beg for him or you don't want to. I said, listen, if you do what I do, we've got to know one another. So I started, I started just liking her comment content. I she's. She brought out a jump part. I bought one of her jumpers, hoodies. I did a video in a hoodie either Committed, and then all of a sudden she was like bro, we got a meat that we went, we went for, we met, we had a coffee. From there we became friends and we're very, very close to today.
Speaker 1:And what happened was is that she went for an audition for a show and at the end of her audition they asked her Do you know anyone else that does this? She's like oh yeah, my boy E-man. If I never, if I never, if I never had that relationship with her, she wouldn't remember to mention my name at the end of her audition. So, because she mentioned me, they contacted. She gave them my details, they contacted me. I ended up getting on the show. She didn't even get on the show, but she was so happy for me. While I was there. She was calling me while we were filming.
Speaker 1:So the show came out in November 2019. So that was my first kind of experience. Which show was this one? Which was it? This one, save Well, spend better. It was on was on Channel 4 and Primetime Channel 4. So that was my very first TV show, did that one?
Speaker 1:And then, obviously, what happens is that I met someone on the show, anna Williamson. She does celebco dating and stuff like that and she gave me her agent again, being likeable, when people like you, they create opportunities for you. So she gave me her agent. Her agent became my agent and then from there we started reaching out to people, but they weren't interested. They weren't interested. We would literally not to all the television shows. My day, my agent was reaching out to all of them. They weren't interested. Then we had locked down in April 2020 Now March 2020 we had locked down.
Speaker 1:Then after that we didn't have George Floyd. So remember, lockdown meant that everyone was talking about money and finance and furlough and all people couldn't work and so forth. So with a lot of financial information. Then George Floyd's, where they meant they were looking for black people. So they were like, wow, who's the black person that talks about finance. Sometimes you got to do the work and the opportunity will find you. I Was doing the work and then, when the opportunity came, if I said, oh look, george Floyd, they're looking for people to talk about finance. Let me start doing content now. It would have been too late.
Speaker 2:And that's what you see, know. Because, then, what you say so important that you need to start building content for tomorrow? Yesterday, yes, yes, people start and look for you. They need some proof that you've been doing it for some time and if you get one like two likes on your post, it doesn't matter, because you've got consistency, the work, and that's what's so important. People miss out the imponses of doing the work, even if nobody pays attention.
Speaker 1:Exactly. So what happened is, is that then, from there, all of the shows, all of them now bombarded my agent Because, remember, my agent had been sent it from January, my agent was sending them stuff. They were saying no, no, no, no, no. Now they go back to the emails who's black? Oh yeah, remember that, remember that this is why it's important who is working for you? Because my agent had been sending their messages, messages when they were looking they could remember me.
Speaker 1:So, all of a sudden, all these opportunities came, all these TV are. I haven't stopped doing TV since. Do you know what I mean? But it was because I was prepared. And guess what? All those videos, like you said, all those videos. I did that in front of camera learning a script and insane, in front of a camera on my social media that got 10 likes. Most of the people that liked it lived in my house, do you know I mean all of those, all of those videos ended up Preparing me for being on national television to talk to millions. So sometimes don't be little, the small start, the small beginnings, because actually those small beginnings are preparing you for where, from when you get to the big opportunity, do you know I mean, and so that's how we got to where we're at now.
Speaker 2:Wow, wow and and and. People really, really, really underestimate the power of putting content with Consistency. I would repeat, with consistency. Choose your platform. For me, my platform is LinkedIn. I must say I'm I'm better on the time on Instagram I it's very differently. But choose your platform, what works the best for you and be consistent. Honestly, it will pay off. I haven't heard about somebody who's very clear about the niche and talk about what the value they offer wasn't being able to tap and gain opportunities from us. Right For me, who works very well for me.
Speaker 2:For you, instagram is your space and somebody Advice people. This gives you power and this is why we come back to personal brand. When the company decided that they don't want to Rebuild and you know there's a massive layoffs happening in technology right now If you have your personal brand, you will fall back on your feet. Nobody will know right. Can we talk about financial literacy and I wanna. I want people If it's a question, black people need to ask themselves about financial literacy. What would that be? If it's one question, multiple question, what do you think we need to ask ourselves when it comes to financial literacy?
Speaker 1:I said it before, I feel the biggest question you have to ask yourself is do you want to work forever? That's the number one. Do you want to work forever? Because the way that we use our money Would suggest that we want to work forever? Because if you make money and you spend all that money before the end of the month and then you wait till you get paid, you will always have to work for money, exactly, and and that's what a lot of us are setting ourselves up for always having to work.
Speaker 1:How many, like I've see it? Our parents, a lot of parents. They retire and they still need to work part-time, two, three days a week because they just have just worked and the pension isn't enough, do you know? I mean, to pay off what they need. And so it's so important that you actually say to yourself Do I want to work forever because some of the decisions that you're making one of these I'm off to Dubai and you're on 25k. No, that's, I mean on sense is one of the most expensive holiday. I'm not saying I'll go holiday, but Dubai is not the one for you. You need to be going to a Portugal or Greece. You need to know where your salary is telling you where you should be going, like, do you know? I mean, and even then holidays, and even the main thing they should be thinking about when you're at that level, do you know, I mean, you should be thinking about what are the courses I can take. So sometimes we are we're spending 600,000 pounds on a holiday and we, and then we've got all these pictures on Instagram and social media. But we have, but we could have spent that same money on a course that now adds another 1015k to our, to our salary. You know, I mean, we could have spent some of that on some mentorship that allows us to really Identify what. What are we working towards? Where do I want to get to? Where do I want to be?
Speaker 1:So, for me, I'm not saying, don't enjoy life, because people always come up for, like, are you man? You don't want to have a good time? No, enjoy life. But life is not just enjoyment, because you will enjoy today, like there has to become a point where you know it's like I always talk about it like farming, like the farmer there's a point where, before the farmer has to pass to put the seeds in the ground, we have to, so, like, I feel like we are a generation of reapers. We just want to reap, we just want to take and take and take and take, and so what happens is that eventually you're gonna go there. There's nothing to take because you didn't put nothing in, you haven't put nothing into the ground, do you know, I mean? And so for me there's a there's a time where we have to farm and and we have to really so and that's where I talk about investing.
Speaker 1:But we're talking about, you know, making our money work for us. You know, whether that be a business, whether that be Isis or stocks and shares, whether that be property, whatever it is that that you want to invest in. Invest in something that's gonna generate income for you so that you can live on your own terms. How many times have we gone to work and our bosses talking to us recklessly and we really want to slap somebody, but we can't Cry and wipe our eyes and then come back out and pretend like nothing happened.
Speaker 1:But if you know that you're living that life, why are you not trying to find an alternative? Why are you not creating income streams or money that allows you to say, actually I don't need your job anymore, like I can go and get a job that that's gonna pay me less, because I have these income streams that will make the difference. So so I don't have to settle for what you want. Do you know some of these workplaces? No, we're gonna pay you well, but because of that, we own you now, because you can't go anywhere else and get this level of income. But actually you can create your own income. There are 365 days in a year. Why do most of us only get paid on 12 of them?
Speaker 2:It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense. You know what you say is so important that it is the end. People need to stop thinking about having just one stream of income. You should have multiple streams of income. So if something goes, you know you get layoffs happen. You know that you make money because you've put an e-book out there or training course out there, or maybe you have this, you know Etsy account with on-demand printing or whatsoever. You build your brand. You know you have some brand that comes in. We're not telling you to do all the things out there, but think about how you can multiply different streams of income and I think that's so important.
Speaker 2:And I've been in a situation where we talk about where you know your boss is a hobo person and you coin it's like no, and I guess, if you like, use that pain to change your journey. Don't just be like that's how it is. It's like I want something else for myself and therefore I'm going to act differently. I'm going to act and you saw right that some people should definitely not go on holiday and I said to people over time like I probably spend about five to 20K on training and coaching every year, exactly. So what do you think what are the things that are giving me? Because, also, it tells me that I'm going to improve, increase my price because I learned something new. Now I don't have to do this.
Speaker 2:So if you're not elevating yourself every day and I think I was at an event last week that I put together and someone says sometimes I have a fear of I'm not going to be relevant anymore you say, don't focus on what you can control, focus on what you can control. So go to a course, go to a conference, learn new book, follow some influences to give you the right information, not just the entertainment pages. What are you following You're feeling your mind with? I think that's so important. Yes, you can enjoy yourself, but are you spending 100% and 90% of your time enjoying yourself and not enough elevating and growing yourself? And when you talk about investment, investment in knowledge, investment in the right assets, sort of just liability all these things are so important, investing in your time. But I think you know you say you know how your family men you might like investing your time as well to make sure that you have time for yourself, exactly.
Speaker 1:It's always a gesture in your life working right, yeah, no, definitely, and do the things you enjoy. Like you know, like when you, when I got the email, I said, yeah, come and do this. I was like, of course I'm going to make time to do this. This is important to me, like you know. Like spending time on your platform and supporting you is important to me and also it's therapy for me. But I can do this because I run my time Like, do you know what I mean? If I want to take an hour or two to do something I enjoy, I can do that. I don't need to. I don't need to wait two weeks to book a day off. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:I run life on my own terms and I'm not anyone that's in corporate. I've been there, so I'm not. I'm not trying to put it down. What I'm saying is is that, is that what you want forever? For some people it is, and that's fine, but for me, I realized that I'd rather even make less. Like when I first started this, I was like, the first two years I started this, doing this thing, I made. I could have made so much more employed than self-employed. I could have made so much more, but now I work less hours and make four times the amount I used to make in corporate.
Speaker 1:So for me, I know the balance and, like you said, I've got four kids. I'm not going to miss them. Grow Like. I'm not going to. They're going to grow up with me Like I act there. I'm at their teachers' teachers' days, I'm at their sports days. I'm at, I'm at. Whenever they tell me, dad, I'm doing this at school, I'm there. I control my diary and these corporates. I make them work around me. I give them the times that I'm available. You're not going to tell me this is when I'm available, oh sorry, I'm not available that day. So I have to make them work around my life because I'm the one living it.
Speaker 1:Like, what is the point of me making all this money and my child is having something and I can't be there? Because at the end of the day, my child is not going to remember that the light came on. I know because I didn't appreciate it myself. They're not going to appreciate that when they open the tap, the tap was on, or that you know that. They expect that that's not something that they compute. They want to know that when, when I say I want to, I need you, you're going to be there physically. You're going to be, listen to me, you're going to help me with my homework. You're going to be there for me to lay on your lap and just talk to you. My kids just just lie on me and just talk to me and they know that we have that, that space, because I decided that what's most important to me is is time, not money is time, and so the value of time is I make money in order to give me my time.
Speaker 2:This is priceless and I and that's so important because what you're going to leave your kids with is the best memories, and I think that's so important that we leave them something more than that we want to. I want to talk back in terms of your expertise, because obviously you are a brand, but do people know exactly anything that you do? So I would love if you can take a bit more time to explain how you you different ways you help individuals.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I guess the main platform is is the E-Man Effect UK. The E-Man Effect is a financial education platform and basically I created it because when I was a financial advisor, I found that the clients that I was working with never looked like me, never came from a similar background to me, and I wanted to kind of change the narrative and empower people from normal backgrounds to start investing and, you know, be the financial advisor that my parents couldn't have. You know what I mean. So I created that platform to bridge the gap. But again, when you do something well, it brings change. So I started working and getting people up there and then now people did need financial advice. So I realized well, my clients have gone from a place of not knowing. Now they know, they're educated, they're making the right decisions. Now they need a financial advisor.
Speaker 1:So then I, you know, I partnered with my friend, geron White to create Belvedere Wealth Management. So Belvedere Wealth Management is a financial advice company. It's regulated by the FCA, on the FCA register, and it allows us to give financial advice. That's pensions, investments, life insurance, wills, trusts, all of the regulated, complex stuff for people who have, you know, assets typically people that have 50,000 plus. We tend to help them, you know, get invested and so forth, and so those are the two main companies. And then I recently launched so did you say they thought at 50,000? Typically around 50,000. Some people, obviously, if you've got a good income and you've got money left over each month, you know from 500,000 pounds a month, then people you can start smaller than that and build up over time, but typically most clients would have 50,000 plus is kind of where most clients sit when it comes to financial advice.
Speaker 2:I would say obviously and again, I'm being completely unbiased and I didn't know even that you were involved into it because I'm also working with one of the partners at Belvedere, so I didn't know that, but I can. I would say that everybody just, even if you're not there, just have a conversation. Yes, I think sometimes you have a conversation to see where you are right now and at least prepare yourself to get into there. So you can, because sometimes you people sometimes have this misconception I need to make a million pounds before I need a wealth manager, so I don't need this like hold the phone.
Speaker 2:People make a million pounds. Maybe they've done something to get there right.
Speaker 1:Definitely. I mean I've had clients that started on, you know, 100 pounds a month and now they've got over 100 grand. Do you know what I mean with us? So it's not necessarily that you have to start there, but it's about you know where it's, about the journey that you're on and where you're at. You know what I mean. And also you know with financial advice there are fees involved. So sometimes that 50,000 is just a kind of benchmark to say somebody earning that the fees will make sense. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes that when you're starting at a lower level, the fees mean that it's better that you start on a on a other platform, like a Vanguard or Moneyboxer, and start there and build up before you bring in an advisor. So those are the types of conversations you have, but, like Queen said, like once you, once you get there, just just, just just have that conversation. The initial conversation is free. So get in contact with us. You know the initial talk is free and then if you're ready to be a client, we'll tell you. If you're not, we'll tell you what you need to do and then you can come back then. So definitely feel free to get in contact.
Speaker 1:And then I've got onestopsavecom, which is my comparison website. So, again, you know the way that when I came into the game, everybody kept calling me the black Martin Lewis. If you don't know who Martin Lewis is, he's like a financial, a financial guru here in the UK that helps people with money and saving and so forth. And when I, when I first came in, everyone's like, oh wow, you're like a black Martin Lewis. You're like and I used to love it because I actually really looked up to Martin Lewis and all that he was doing when I, when I first came in, and you know he has this site called money saving expert where people go on and you know you can, you can compare stuff and so forth.
Speaker 1:And basically we have we've created something similar in regards to allowing you to compare car insurance, home insurance, van insurance, pet insurance, all those insurances there and we're also going to allow you to compare. You know credit cards and loans, and we're also bringing you know deals as well. So you have like like the best coupon vouchers and stuff like that. That's coming as well. But also we're teaching you how to how to make money, which is very different from all the other ones. So you know we have a teacher about different side hustles, how you can, you know, start creating side hustles, how you can make, make income, and the website is growing as time goes on, so so that's kind of my big. Can you repeat all of the website again for me? Yeah, it's called onestopsavecom.
Speaker 2:Onestopsavecom. You heard it, people. I would definitely check it out. I've been on this brilliant navigation. It's good and, honestly, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no definitely, and it's just about it's target out at working class people, like the average working person, the everyday person, because, again, a lot of these websites are targeted at more middle class people and we wanted to try and make make sure that, you know, it was less texts, more videos, easy to understand, easy to navigate, so people could compare and so forth. So, yeah, that's that. Then also, I'm an author, so I've got a book called Get your Money Right which came out last year. It's done really, really well and that's out. Also, I've got a new book coming out, a kids, kids money book coming out in September. Yeah, so, yeah. So you know, the first book was with HarperCollins, this new book is with Puffin under Penguin. So, yeah, we're, you know, we're doing really well in life. I'm not going to lie to you. I think things are going really, really well.
Speaker 2:I'm so happy for you, Honestly, when I hear your story and to see the story of the inspiration of authenticity and keeping it, keeping it honest with people and and really having clarity about your niche and what you're offering and really giving. And again, you know, the sooner when you figure about financial literacy, the sooner we can have it at the young age, the better we set for life. You know, I love the, the, the evolution of where this is going. This is good.
Speaker 1:No, thank you. You know, the plan like with one stock save is we're going to build it, we're going to grow it and that's going to be my exit strategy. You know my plan is to to grow it to a certain level and hopefully set it in the future, and you know we'll be financially free. You know, from a council state to multi-millionaire. That is the, that is the plan and it's we're on track and it could be.
Speaker 1:I'm not saying, and when I say this stuff, people feel like, oh, you know, not everyone can be a millionaire. I agree, not everyone, but you can. Do you understand? Like, yes, not everyone, but you can. And it's about you understanding that. Not, yeah, it's not everyone, but are you going to be part of the people that are? Are you going to be a part of the people that are not? Like, and that's your choice, like, that's your choice, that's on on you.
Speaker 1:So don't ever allow people to say, well, not everyone can. Not everyone can be a footballer, that's correct, but if nobody tries, there are no footballers. Do you know what I mean? Yes, not everyone's going to make it, but people need to try for somebody to make it. So you ask yourself are you going to try, are you going to put the effort and and guess what? Sometimes you might try to be a footballer, not make it, but then all of a sudden you become a lawyer or you become something else, and now you've got all these connections from people that you work, that you trained with, like I've seen. I've seen these stories where just trying has created an opportunity for you to do something, to pivot, to do something else.
Speaker 1:So don't throw like oh, not everyone can do it, so I'm not. Not everyone can be an entrepreneur here all the time. Even when not everyone can be an entrepreneur, it's okay. Not everyone can be an entrepreneur. Like, everyone can have a side hustle, I don't care what. No one's in, anyone can have a side. You don't have to be an entrepreneur to be to have a side hustle, to have an ex-seeing account. That you don't need to. You know what I mean. You don't need to have an entrepreneurial spirit, do you know what I mean? You just need to be able to spot good goods that people want and provide value. So don't ever limit yourself saying, well, not everyone can do this. Yes, not everyone, but you can.
Speaker 2:You can exactly focus on you instead of focusing on the rest of the world. I think it's so important to again I repeat that it's always a mindset. Everything succeeds is a bar mindset and if a million pounds seems so much, divide into 12 months, divide into weeks, it won't be so daunting if you look into it. But I think it's also having clarity about you know your, your own ability and your, your own faith and your own confidence. Confidence like ability, trust, mindset. All these elements start even before, before, I think, the, the skills. If you put your mind at it, the rest will follow. And this is not just a mindset, but you also have to educate yourself, build right relationship, understand relationship and how to build them, to be a likable person. It's been such a great conversation with you so I was about to ask you like, what does the future future looks like for you? But you kind of told me already.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely yeah, the plan is to build up, build up. One stop, save, get, get. That you know. Grow that we're going to get some investment and keep building. That you know. Obviously, continue to do what we're doing. You know a national carry on with the TV, carry on with the social media A lot of if you haven't seen me, you'll probably now see me more and recognizing more. Like you know, we're doing a lot of stuff with Barclays, so I'm very proud to be their ambassador and that we've got a lot of ads on on social media or wherever we tip to Instagram, youtube. So, yeah, we're just growing and just helping more and more people. Is is the plan and and looking at ways to do it.
Speaker 1:And I always tell people I learned one skill. If I ever tell anything, I learned one skill and I just learned it really well, and now it pays me in multiple different ways. Sometimes it's not. You don't have to have huge amounts of like learn loads of different things, just learn one thing really, really well, and all of a sudden it can be a course. You can turn it into a book. You can, you know, become a speaker. You can, you know, create a business from it. There are so many different things you can do, you know. So I don't feel like, oh, I haven't got anything. Just learn one thing. Just do one thing really well. Understand one thing better than the average person, and then you can add value to others. So just start off really simple.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's so true, and you already you know, I would say to that's a learn one good skill, do you understand? I think about like, even if you learn history and you become really good at telling history, you can still be good at it, you still can make good, good good money, really good money.
Speaker 1:I was on a TV show the other day and and then they had a historian and she was talking about what happened with you know, royals, what happened with the world, what happened like news things that happen in news. A lot of it comes from history. So just those types of things can you can still end up on television as an expert from a from a history background. So don't ever limit geography. Like all of these things can are needed in the world, like if you become really good and an expert, people will reach out to you if you have a knowledge higher than others, in in in one, in that one thing Master your craft and share it with the world, and that's how opportunities come in.
Speaker 2:And this is exactly what we you know we've done master your craft and share it with the world, and that's how opportunities come to you. Hey, man, it's been such a pleasure to have you. Honestly, I know I've been with you for hours, but you've heard it. You got the manual, you got opportunities, and I know what's the best way to be, to be in touch with you. Is it more LinkedIn? Are you more Instagram? Would you prefer?
Speaker 1:Yeah, either either. So LinkedIn is there, so it's Emmanuel Sukho on LinkedIn. Obviously, on Instagram, tiktok, it's the E-Man Effect, the E-Man Effect UK. So that's on the social media. But then also I've got Emmanuel Sukhocom. It's the website, so you can contact us on that as well.
Speaker 2:Yes, and follow us Great news and also give you some good tips as well, and the news that I highly recommend to read it. So stay in touch with people who are just doing some great things out there and don't be afraid to craft, to master your craft. Master your craft, yes, and share with the world, and that's how we can change the world together. And remember this is the chess game. It's time for you to win the game. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Black Rise. We hope that you found this conversation as inspiring as we did. Let your takeaways on social media and tag us as we wrap up. Remember that you can always stay connected with us. Join us on this journey of elevation, motivation and empowerment. Let's rise together, break barriers and create lasting change. Subscribe now to stay updated with our latest episodes and visit theblackrisecom to find out more. This is Black Rise, where excellence and impact converge to redefine the future. Until next time, keep rising.