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Uplift: Top ten tips to grow your business and brand and how to avoid scams.

2025-10-1832:30

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald, interviewed Attorney Jalene Mack. Widely known as “America’s Favorite Entertainment Attorney.” The episode focuses on protecting creative and business assets, avoiding scams, and building a solid foundation for success in the entertainment industry and beyond. 🎯 Key Themes & Takeaways 🔹 The Lure of the Bad Deal Jalene warns about scammers posing as producers or financiers in the entertainment industry. These individuals often: Claim to have access to major networks or funding. Ask creators to sign away rights or pay deposits under false pretenses. Lack a verifiable digital footprint (e.g., no IMDb, LinkedIn, or credible references). Rushion emphasizes the danger of the “lottery mentality” — believing one deal will change everything. 🛡️ Legal Red Flags Never assign your copyright without legal review. Be cautious of contracts that require you to relinquish ownership or control. Escrow accounts can be manipulated if you don’t control the signature authority. Always verify the legitimacy of a deal and the people behind it. 🧠 Jalene Mack’s Top 10 Business Development Tips Identify Your Project Know what you’re creating (film, TV, product, etc.). Define the scope and format clearly. Make Sure You Have a Plan Create a business and finance plan. Know where your funding will come from and how it will be used. Form a Team Surround yourself with experts (lawyers, accountants, producers). Avoid “yes people” — you need honest feedback. Prepare a Budget Hire a line producer or financial expert. Account for everything: cast, crew, locations, marketing, etc. Form a Business Entity Establish an LLC or corporation to protect your personal assets. Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) Required for tax and banking purposes. Open a Business Bank Account Keep personal and business finances separate. Protect Your Assets Register copyrights and trademarks. Use NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) to safeguard ideas. Contracts Always put agreements in writing. Hire an attorney experienced in your specific industry (e.g., film, music, TV). Marketing Don’t assume people will show up just because your product is good. Build a brand and promote it strategically. 📚 Jalene’s Book Title: The Business of Stage Screen and In Between A practical guide for performers, playwrights, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs. 🗣️ Final Thoughts Rushion praises Jalene’s decades-long expertise and her role in protecting creatives. Jalene encourages listeners to invest in legal protection and business planning to avoid costly mistakes. #SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMISteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family Business: Grew their business from a single office to over 1,000 virtual tax locations.

2025-10-1835:38

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mowbray and Cherina Rowand. 🎙️ Interview Summary: Mowbray & Cherina Rowand Purpose of the Interview To showcase the entrepreneurial journey of Mowbray and Cherina Rowand, co-founders of The Rowand Group and One Stop Taxes, the largest Black-owned virtual tax preparation service in America. The interview highlights their business evolution, scaling strategies, community impact, and the creation of the Black Tax Festival. 🧭 Interview Outline 1. Background & Origins Both from Memphis, Tennessee; met in high school. Started tax preparation in 2010 as a mom-and-pop operation. Transitioned from brick-and-mortar to virtual model by 2015. 2. Business Philosophy Entrepreneurship is defined as service to others. Mowbray is the visionary; Cherina is the implementer. Emphasis on scaling with structure: legal, accounting, HR. 3. One Stop Taxes Grew from a single office to over 1,000 virtual franchise locations. Offers free training, no startup costs, and shared revenue model. Built a platform allowing clients to submit documents and sign remotely. 4. Virtual Tax Model Designed for convenience and accessibility. Clients and tax preparers never need to meet in person. Platform includes document upload, e-signature, and cloud storage. 5. Franchise & Training Learning Management System (LMS) for onboarding. Training includes tax prep, customer acquisition, and platform use. Strategic partnerships with local businesses (e.g., dealerships, daycares). 6. Black Tax Festival Annual event held in Atlanta (Oct 16–18). Combines networking, education, and recognition. Includes IRS updates, business workshops, and the Titan Awards. Open to all entrepreneurs, not just tax professionals. 7. Expansion & Diversification Own restaurants in Memphis and the Dominican Republic. Franchised Fat Tuesday and Esco Restaurant (did \$1M in first 6 weeks). Own a yacht for rental experiences in the DR. Plans to develop a restaurant strip near FedExForum in Memphis. 💡 Key Takeaways Vision + Execution = Growth: Their complementary roles fuel business success. Virtual is Scalable: Transitioning to virtual allowed exponential growth. Community Impact Matters: Black Tax Festival fosters education and recognition. Diversification is Strategic: Restaurants and real estate expand their brand. Mentorship & Learning: They study successful entrepreneurs like Tilman Fertitta. Faith & Family Drive: Their journey is rooted in love, planning, and purpose. 🗣️ Notable Quotes “Entrepreneurship means being a servant to other people.” “The same thing that works at \$1M doesn’t work at \$15M.” “We had to fire ourselves from some jobs and hire professionals.” “We built a platform where you can do taxes from your couch.” “We started before social media—we know belly-to-belly marketing.” “Recognition matters—people don’t get it at home or work.” “We’re trying to bridge the wealth gap through proper paperwork.” “We bought a yacht in the Dominican Republic to rent for experiences.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.