Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tim Mercer.

Author of Bootstrap Millionaire and CFO of Cadence Ventures, Inc.:

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To inspire and educate aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals by sharing Tim Mercer’s journey from humble beginnings to financial success, emphasizing the importance of hard work, faith, planning, and leveraging government contracts and nontraditional financing.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

1. Background & Journey

   • Tim Mercer grew up in Mullins, South Carolina, in modest circumstances.
   • His path to success began with military service, which broadened his worldview and led him to entrepreneurship.

2. Bootstrap Millionaire Philosophy

   • The term “bootstrap” symbolizes hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance.
   • Mercer emphasizes that success doesn’t come overnight—it requires grinding, planning, and faith.

3. Importance of a Business Plan

   • A solid business plan is essential for securing funding and guiding business growth.
   • Mercer shares real-life examples of people failing to secure support due to lack of planning.

4. Cadence Ventures, Inc.

   • A boutique private equity firm offering nontraditional financing for real estate investors.
   • Focuses on investment properties and uses the property itself as collateral.

5. Government Contracting

   • Mercer began in government contracting in 2012 and credits it with helping him scale his business.
   • He stresses that while it’s complex and paperwork-heavy, it’s a valuable opportunity for minority-owned businesses.
   • Free resources like SAM.gov and Georgia Tech’s GT PAC can help entrepreneurs navigate the process.

6. Success Requires Sacrifice

   • Mercer highlights that every successful person has a story of struggle and sacrifice.
   • His book’s first chapter, “See the Glory, Don’t Know the Story,” encapsulates this message.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “If you want to have the things tomorrow that other people won’t have, then you got to be willing to do the things today that other people won’t do.” — Tim Mercer quoting Les Brown
• “There’s no success without sacrifice.” — Tim Mercer
• “You can only make as much as the customer that you have.” — Tim Mercer on scaling through government contracts
• “See the glory, don’t know the story.” — Chapter title from Bootstrap Millionaire

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jennifer Ledwith.

She has a business degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is the owner of Scholar Ready, an educational services company. She meets with clients online and her company Scholar Ready tutors Math, conducts personal essay writing workshops, and prepares students for PSAT, SAT, and ACT exams. Please welcome to Money Making Conversations Master Class Jennifer Ledwith.

Talking Points/Questions *

1. Why are HBCUs relevant?
Mr. McDonald, in your interview with Stacy Spratt of the United Negro College Fund, you mentioned the number of successful Black professionals who are products of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Moreover, I’ve seen this success in my family, which hails from Bain Street (yes – that Bain Street in Kashmere Gardens), beginning with my grandfather, an alumnus of Texas College and Texas Southern University.

2. Whether students select an HBCU or a PWI, it’s important for them to have choices. Test scores unlock access to scholarships and academic programs. Often, African Americans are locked out of these opportunities: on average, African Americans score a 908 (out of 1600) on the SAT and a 16 (out of 36) on the ACT.

3. PSAT, SAT, and ACT aren’t for Black kids? Why should we bother?
We should bother because of the opportunities for scholarships and the opportunities to improve literacy.

4. When should my child start preparing for college?

5. Understood from a young age that education and literacy were crucial to success.

6. People told her that her mother — a single parent with serious debt and no child support — made too much money for her to get any free money for college.

7. She didn't finish in the top 10% of her high school class (which is academic poison in her home state of Texas).

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Monique Strong.

President of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC). Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways:

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Breaking Barriers in Construction

• Monique Strong is a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated and white-dominated industry.
• She leads NABWIC’s Atlanta chapter, advocating for leadership, equity, and professional development for Black women in construction.

2. What “Construction” Really Means

• Construction isn’t just hard hats and manual labor—it includes:
  • General contracting
  • Project management
  • Estimating
  • Safety coordination
  • Architecture and engineering
  • Business ownership and development

3. Legacy and Inspiration

• Monique’s passion for construction was inspired by her grandfathers and her grandmother, who helped build the home she grew up in.
• Her journey includes a degree in engineering from Clark Atlanta University and further training in construction management.

4. Challenges and Triumphs

• Faced skepticism from family and industry peers.
• Overcame stereotypes and isolation as a young Black woman in construction.
• Emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are and embracing your identity as a woman in the field.

5. The Power of Mentorship and Community

• NABWIC provides a supportive network for women at all stages of their construction careers.
• Weekly calls, mentorship, and shared resources help members grow and succeed.

6. Why Diversity in Construction Matters

• Diversity reflects the makeup of the country and brings innovation and detail-oriented excellence to the field.
• Inclusion in leadership and contracting opportunities is essential for equity and community development.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “You don’t have to be hard. You just have to be hungry.”
• “We are the unicorns people are looking for.”
• “I like to take something that’s nothing and make it something.”

🎯 Advice for Women in Construction

• Get involved with a community like NABWIC that supports your growth.
• Seek mentorship from women at all stages—beginning, middle, and end of their careers.
• Embrace your uniqueness and use it to lead and innovate.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMI

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