Ep.18| Travel Tips with Jas: Finding Hidden Gems & Establishing Your Portfolio

Stop settling and start scouting. This week, we’re joined by a powerhouse homeowner and travel expert who’s pulling back the curtain on how to spot a winning property and navigate the travel industry like a pro. From her early beginnings to her biggest wins, she’s giving us the full rundown on her journey and the lessons she learned along the way.

It’s time to level up your portfolio and your passport. 🔑✈️


00:00:00 – Intro: Meet the "Pivot Princess" Jasmine Anderson 
00:00:25 – Growing up in North Philly and childhood travel 
00:02:59 – Being an only child and the need for solitude
 00:04:11 – High school independence and the hustle at Central
 00:05:57 – Transitioning from corporate HR to full-time entrepreneurship 
00:07:05 – The daily grind: Routines and time blocking for success 
00:08:05 – Corporate skills every entrepreneur needs: Communication and taxes 
00:09:42 – The "Chaotically Organized" Virgo: Managing overthinking 
00:11:06 – Surviving COVID-19: Buying a first investment property 
00:12:34 – The 2023 Pivot: Leaving the W-2 behind 
00:15:30 – Liability or Asset? Real estate and business strategy 
00:18:21 – Top travel destinations: Houston, Chicago, and more 
00:20:18 – The reality of content creation and marketing 
00:23:14 – Navigating the algorithm and content calendars 
00:26:15 – Why AI can’t replace authentic branding
 00:28:44 – Behind the scenes of event marketing 
00:30:30 – The resurgence of organic journalism and blogging 
00:32:00 – House hacking and managing out-of-state properties 
00:35:00 – Final advice: Momentum and showing your face
___________________________________________

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:05

Hey everybody, it's your girl Ken Low back at it again. And tonight we have the serial entrepreneur in Pivot Princess Jasmine Anderson.

SPEAKER_02 0:14

Hey y'all.

SPEAKER_01 0:15

How are you today? How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_02 0:17

I'm feeling good. I'm a little tired. It's been a busy month, but I'm good. And I'm happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01 0:23

I'm glad that you are here. So boom. I want to know all about your story, being from North and being the only child. Tell me how that was.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

Yes, yes. Okay, so we start from the beginning. Um, so I feel like a lot of people don't know that about me. I am a North Philly girl, North with the F, like real North Philly. Um, and I feel like that contributes to a lot of who I am, like just through the adversities. Um, not only like as an entrepreneur, but also a lot with travel. Um, like being from North Philly, like that's really all I knew. My block around the corner. Like my parents, we did not take vacations. Um, the first thing I went as a kid was Atlantic City. Really? North Philly and Atlantic City. I ain't see Wildwood till like I was 18.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

So you was 18. I'm trying to think. What did I see Wildwood? Okay, I was 12. Okay. I was a cool 12. Where y'all used to go? See, so when I went to Wildwood, like, okay, we would first stop at the, you know, the little hotel, boom, boom, boom, little little motel, you know.

SPEAKER_02 1:20

Why is that Atlantic City and Wildwood hotel so bad? Like, yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:24

Like, it was it was cute.

SPEAKER_02 1:25

We never got what it was. We never got the resort vibes. Like, take it.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Yeah, I never we never did the resort. Like, my parents was like, okay, it's a lot of y'all, so we're gonna have to keep it cute. So we would like go on the boardwalk, and then we would take the rides, and then like go to the beach. That was like our main three things. Literally, and that was it. Like, all right, back home.

SPEAKER_02 1:42

Right. I'm like, okay, these new kids getting all inclusive, yeah, okay. Even after the prom, they get it all. North Philip AC for me. So that that was it. That was all. So, okay, you're the only child.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

Yes, I am the only child. So, how did that shape everything else in your life? Like, um I'll be wanting to know because I'm the only one.

SPEAKER_02 2:04

So I'll be wanting to know. I feel like I have such a motherly, like sisterly vibe, even though I'm an only child. Um, yeah, it was just me and my parents growing up, but they always been like very open to like my friends coming over, blah blah. I never could go nowhere. I never stayed the night at nobody's house. But people were able to come to my house, and a lot of people like I felt like everybody felt like my siblings. Yeah. So that kind of take part in like me being like an extrovert and like being social and like, you know, interacting. But also on the other hand, I am my only child. I need my solitude. Yes. So it's a lot, I spent a lot of time alone. I spent a lot of time alone. Like, um, I work alone most of the time, you know. Like, I I need at least four or four days, just me. I understand. Yeah. Like, so that's that only child stuff. Anything, I'll be like, turn the TV down, stop talking loud. Anything, I'm like, I just quiet, peace and quiet.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Like, even as the oldest, like, because you always around your sisters, it's kind of like, I'm gonna hit a lot of people. Y'all want to be my kids or my sisters or my brother? Like, what's going on? So it's like, maybe let's make it six days alone.

SPEAKER_02 3:11

Cause I'm taking too much responsibility. Exactly. It's a lie. But that thing too, responsibility. I feel like being the only child now that I'm older, it's like when you're younger, it's like, oh, you spoil, you get everything you want. And I'm like, now I'm older. I need a brother or a sister to get their parents. Somebody come get your parents. They're calling me. They calling me, stressing me out. Come help help me. Like, I need a sibling, like at this point, like y'all should have the kids. Like because I can't do it all. Now, what schools did you go to growing up? Um, so because I'm from north, uh, actually, my elementary school isn't, you know how Philly School District is. My elementary school is not a thing anymore. They just saved my middle school. So I went to Conwell Um middle magnet school. I went to a magnet school. Um, I don't know what that means in Philadelphia school district anymore, but it was supposed to be a good school back then. Um, and then I went to Central. I went to Central for high school. I mean, that's that's my I was supposed to go. That's what they say. That's what they say. They say it's that shout out to 270. Okay. Um, but they say it's the best high school.

SPEAKER_01 4:18

I mean Well, how did it mold you? Because shout out to the central girls and gals. Y'all are doing great things. Okay. Love to see it. So how did that mold you into who you are today with everything that you do?

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Yes, yes. I always say, like, for me, central was like the college experience. Like, I feel like I went to college and I'm like, I already did all this stuff. Like, I like kind of like I was like, we, you know, we were just like shaped as young adults. Like we had, you know, central the whole thing is like the no uniform thing here in Philly. Um, so just that alone, I feel like gave us a lot of like not responsibility, but just like more about you thinking about, okay, how do I present in myself today? Like, you know, and that's something you gotta take into the real world. Yeah, you know, whether it's class or whether it's work or whatever. Um, so I feel like from that to just like also being able to leave the school building and come back and like it just really showed us like a lot of independence, yeah. It definitely showed a lot of independence, and I feel like it pivoted me into entrepreneurship, honestly, because like Central had some hustlers.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

No, y'all do.

SPEAKER_02 5:16

Yeah, shout out to you know, yeah, shout out to the Central Girl Keith.

SPEAKER_01 5:22

So you already know we're about to get right into it, everything that you do. So you were once a corporate girly, yeah, and how was that life being the HR and working behind the scenes?

SPEAKER_02 5:31

Yeah, I miss being a corporate girly sometimes. I'm not gonna lie. Um, you know I'm a Virgo, shout out to us. Okay, shout out to us, please. Um the best time. Yes, period. And I feel like because I'm such a Virgo, I be like, I do miss having a title. Like I miss having a title. Like I miss like, you know, having a little authority. Um, I also miss having PTO. Yes. Because as an entrepreneur, baby, it is no days off. Um, but corporately, I worked um initially when I graduated college, I worked in tech sales um for a few years and then worked in management, and then I eventually worked in HR. Um, and again, I love the corporate world. I feel like I'm a corporate girly. Um, but I'm such an entrepreneur that is the freedom, the freedom.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Uh how do you enjoy your freedom? Like, okay, you you in entrepreneurship, you know, you waking up like I could do this when I want, go here when I want. Yeah. How does that feel? Tell us like the day to day of entrepreneur.

SPEAKER_02 6:26

See, that's the thing. I feel like we think it's like, okay, let me get in. And one thing, y'all know I'm a travel, so I'll take a little trip. So it's like you see the vacations and it's like, oh, you you don't work. And I'm like, I work every day. It's so exhausting. So I feel like um you still gotta you gotta have a routine. Like as an entrepreneur, it's very important to have a routine. Um, I still wake up early. Like, I I cannot sleep past 8 a.m. Like, so I still treat my days, yeah. I still treat my days like a nine to five, even though I kind of break it into an early shift and a late shift, um, just because I manage several businesses. So I'll kind of wake up, do some stuff for like my first shift, and then I'll take a break. Like whether it be gym, cooking, whatever. Like, I'll take a like lunch break kind of um thing, maybe a nap, and then I'll clock in for my night shift. And then we gotta, you know, do whatever else needs to get done from the morning, answer any emails, all of that stuff. Um, so I definitely think routine is important as an entrepreneur.

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Okay. Now, other than routine, what else did you take from the corporate world into entrepreneurship?

SPEAKER_02 7:32

Um, hmm, that's a good question. Uh, I think communication, um, just knowing how to communicate is very important corporately, but as an entrepreneur as well, like emailing, like having like turnover times, having response times, um, making sure you have um a chain of communication. I feel like we get into the flow of like, oh, texting. Like I text my clients all the time, you know. So it'll be a lot of stuff just kind of off the offline. It's like so making sure you had that in black and white, yeah. Having an email chain to kind of say this is what we discussed. Um, so all of those things, because I feel like entrepreneurial ship could feel so free-flowing, yeah, that it's like you still gotta keep them tabs. You gotta, you know, make sure what did we do this month, what did we spend this month, how much did we make this month, like you know, expensing all of the things as far as like, you know, Ubers, going out to eat and taking meetings and all of that stuff. Also, taxes. Yes. Um, like I know we corporately, or if you work a job, it's typically a W-2. Um, and then I also worked in like contractor rules where you get the $10.99 and you're responsible for your taxes. As an entrepreneur, baby, they are just make sure you pay Uncle Sam.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

Yeah, I always hear that. Just make sure you make sure you pay Uncle Sam and that you don't forget that you gotta pay Uncle Sam. Period. Now, like, no, like we discussed you a Virgo, so you're very organized. How do you handle that day to day without having our, you know, our specific tricks like being an overthinker, being perfect, or being practical? How do you take the good and the bad of being a Virgo into your day-to-day as well?

SPEAKER_02 9:08

Yeah, um, that is such a struggle. Um, and for me, I'm like a chaotically organized Virgo. So I have like the way that I do things, but it's probably not the like best way. So I think that is like my thing where I'm like, I know I'm overthinking because I could be doing this better, because I know I could be like more practical in this way, but I'm like, I just have this like chaotic way of doing things and operating, um, especially because I can control my own, you know, like day-to-day.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:44

Um, but the overthinking, especially as entrepreneur, I'll be like, are they gonna email me back? Are they gonna sign this contract? Am I gonna get this client? Like, do I need to just go get a job? Right. Should I just get a job? I understand. Because I think that every month, I'll be like, I could just let me get on LinkedIn. Let me just do so well. I'm trying, sister. I'm trying. What are you doing though? Like, wake it up.

SPEAKER_01 10:05

That is it. I gotta take trying out and I'm doing it. Because when you think about, you know, when we say, oh, we're trying, like, we never sit back and think, like, you know what, I did a lot today. I actually am doing it.

SPEAKER_02 10:15

And that's a Virgo thing too. I mean, sorry to make it about us being Virgo, but we just go on to the next goal. Yeah, like the next one. Run in to-do lists, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

Like, yeah, I could get an award, be like, okay, well, I got it. Time for the next thing. We don't ever take time to really like bask in it, embrace it, ever, give it a little break.

SPEAKER_02 10:32

Ever. So as an entrepreneur or even as a creative, like what you're doing is like, we gotta take moments and be like, this is dope. Like, this is dope. Right. The growth of this is dope. Like, you know, like, and we gotta acknowledge that and not just keep, let me do the next interview, let me get the next, like, you know, it's like, no, let's take a second and be like, you did not start here, and I'm proud of you to be here. Okay, so yeah, we gotta acknowledge our all of our efforts.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

Absolutely, yeah. And speaking of effort, so let's talk about COVID. Okay, because that's when everything changed for you. So we were still working at the time, correct me if I was working. We're still working. Okay, so tell us about working to be a laid off, and then getting right into entrepreneurship, real estate, everything. We want to know it all.

SPEAKER_02 11:17

So much stuff happened since COVID, and I feel like we got in like a time warp because like I can't believe it's been six years. Because what really happened? So much has happened in six years, but it just flew. Um, so COVID for me was such a life-changing year. Although, I mean, I feel like it was for all of us. It was a very drastic year to readjust. And again, not to make about being a Virgo, but I do not like change. I do not like change. It's like you made it so easy to admit that. I hate change. And so I it took a while to be, you know, open and honest about that. I hate change. I do not like when stuff changed. I'll be like. Because I had my routine set up. I had my I was already flown. Everything was everything was flowing. I was already flowing. And now y'all talking about stay home and do this and do that and turn on your camera. Like, like, what am I gonna do, Neil? I gotta do that. Dressing me out.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

I know.

SPEAKER_02 12:08

So the readjustment just like really got me in like survival mode.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

I'm like, okay, I don't like this.

SPEAKER_02 12:15

I don't like the way I don't like change. I don't like stuff changing without I I'm a control freak. So I don't like not having control. So I was like, what can I do to gain control of my life without the things that I can't control? Because all the stuff that was happening, COVID, we can't control that. We gotta stay in the house. Um, so with it being us staying in a house, I'm like, oh, I need to get in real estate because apparently they're gonna make us stay in the house. Like, so people need houses. Um, so I bought my um first investment property, and well, I started the process of looking into it and all of that stuff in 2020 while working corporate. I worked two jobs at the time. It was crazy. I like, but I mean, again, it was just a time where it was like, just go for it. Yeah. So I worked two corporate jobs in the process of still like looking for a home, doing all of this other stuff, just dealing with the chaos of you know, COVID. Um, and I bought my house September 2020 and it literally changed my life.

SPEAKER_01 13:15

Like Virgo season.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

Yeah, period. Hello. In Virgo season. I didn't even realize it. Yeah, so it has been six years that I have been in entrepreneurship. I still was working full-time. Um, I got let go for my job. The company that I work for, I wasn't necessarily let go. I was furlough because the company was acquired and they downsized all of the you know corporate things that are just happening in today's times that are beyond our control. Um, so from that, I was like, all right, well, I got a little cushion because I'm in real estate.

SPEAKER_03 13:48

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 13:49

Um, at that time, I was really um pivoting with the travel thing and like really locking in on travel from it being like a you know hobby or side business to being like, okay, this is profitable. Um, so I was like, all right, let's just bet on it and see what happened. Then after a while, I'm like, I ain't had a job in a minute. I don't think I could get one. I don't think they're gonna want to hear from me. It's been six, eight, nine, twelve, fifteen months. Now how do you explain that gap? Right, right. How do you explain that gap? So I'm like, I just gotta keep going. I gotta, I gotta figure it out. It's not, right? Because what you said six years, so 2020 is when you really 23, 2020 is when I really started to shift to um entrepreneurship, and then 2023, um, that's when it officially is when I officially, so it's been officially three years this month. Congratulations. Yeah, three years full-time, no W-2s, crazy.

SPEAKER_01 14:45

Just doing it, yeah. And what was the feeling like, you know, being laid off, but also knowing that you were okay in entrepreneurship?

SPEAKER_02 14:55

Yes, that was like such an unreal feeling. First of all, firing me is crazy. I'm just crazy. Mind you, the job that fired me X me back in a pandemic. Like, so when the pandemic happened, they was like, we need secure work, we need people that we know that you know your stuff. Like, right now, a lot of people quit moving around. So they asked me to come back in the middle of the pandemic. I'm like, cool, the pay's right. And again, at the time I still was working in another job, so I'm thinking that's I'm working another job. But I eventually shifted back to working with the company that X me back. That was who I started my corporate career with. I'm like, okay, let me go back home type time. Child, it's like a relationship. When you leave, do not go back. Cause play in my face. Um, but I mean, I was understanding based on just the like, you know, business standpoint of it was structural changes. Um, but I was sad, like I was disappointed because again, it was like I had bounced back. I did a lot of like adjustments for this job, and I was, you know, I was comfortable. I was I was at a point of being comfortable working corporate, my business is doing like you know, what they was doing, I was comfortable. So I was like, mmm, yeah, y'all taking that money. Right. I need that. But I was like, all right, now I gotta make this money. I know I gotta make up for it. I gotta figure it out.

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Now, did you always know that this was the life you wanted? Like, or did it, but because you were so good at what you did, it just kind of came to you.

SPEAKER_02 16:21

That's such a good question. I I feel like I am always imagining and reimagining my life. Like, even now, I'm like, I like the you like when people be like, what do you want to do in five years? Like, I'm really not that person to be like, oh, five years, ten years, because I'm like, I feel like things are constantly evolving, like, you know, and just like kind of realigning and in a good way. And that's why we said the pivot princess, because you gotta pivot. Like, you don't always like it's not gonna always go as planned. And I've just become accepting of that, like working in events, working in marketing, like working in spaces where it's like stuff just happened.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:56

So I'm like, for me, I never planned on being a full-time entrepreneur. I always planned on working a job. I'm a Virgo, I need security.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

No, I you ate that up because I'm the same way, like, and it's so, and I really liked how you said imagining and reimagining because every day, okay, angel world as my witness. Like, I'm just like, okay, you know, I could do this. I could do this. But then I'm at home, like, but damn, I could really do the whole entrepreneurship thing, huh? I got the the personality for it, you know. I got the I got the gifts for it. But I'm like, damn, I need that.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

I need that man yon.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

I need that, yeah. I need that extra. That health insurance, boy. I'm telling you, hold on to it. Speaking of entrepreneurship and real estate, we're gonna get right into a game, okay?

SPEAKER_02 17:44

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:44

It's called investment or liability. Oh, okay. I like that. Yeah, I know you, I know you was gonna love that. I like that. So, oh, it says investment liability, and depends on the strategy. Boom. Buying a home in your hometown versus moving out of state. Investment. I said investment, okay. Turning your first property into a rental.

SPEAKER_02 18:07

Investment.

SPEAKER_01 18:08

Okay. Working two jobs to fund a long long-term goal. Investment. Starting a business during uncertain time.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

Liability.

SPEAKER_01 18:18

Liability. Moving to a new city for opportunity without a plan.

SPEAKER_02 18:24

Liability depends on the strategy though. Ooh. Depends on the strategy. Alright, so why, so why both of them? It depends on the strategy because a lot of people move and are very successful. So if you go now, you might not have the exact plan, like, okay, I'm going for this job per se. But if you like, for instance, I'm about to move to Atlanta and take the Ken Lo show down there. Yeah. The strategy in place, that's gonna eat. That's gonna eat if there's strategy in place. Thanks. That's gonna eat. So you might not be like, oh, Tyler Perry hiring me, but you might meet T Peri in the process.

SPEAKER_01 19:03

I might be at the studio. Depends on the strategy. Wanna bring carpet? Hello? Come on. Might have just manifested that.

SPEAKER_02 19:12

You might have just manifested that.

SPEAKER_01 19:13

Come back. Come back. Come back to us. Come back to us. Come back to us. Now, speaking of manifestations, right? Now, you travel a lot. I do. I do. And did you manifest that because the way you talk about traveling, it just happens so good for you. Yes. So how did you get into traveling and becoming a travel agent? We want to know.

SPEAKER_02 19:32

Yeah, so travel for me, I started as a hobby because again, like we talked about earlier, I'd never been nowhere. Like I literally ain't never seen outside of that little, you know, them blocks in North Philly, real small. My little block, like right across the street, see the neighborhouse. Um, so I knew once I went to college, like for me, real estate and travel were two things that I was like, I'm not making an option. Like, whatever I gotta do to figure it out, like I really wanna be in that. In it. Yeah, I'm talking about in it. So after taking a few trips, I'm like, okay, let me see what the travel agent stuff is about. But selfishly, it was to get discounts. I'm not made as well. At first it was a good discount. It was a good thing. But then after like actually traveling more, posting more of traveling, people seeing people's interests, um, I'm like, oh, people want to travel more.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

Right.

SPEAKER_02 20:24

Um, so I think it really just allowed me to like bridge the gap of like, you know, the social media marketing, but also something that I genuinely love. Like, I love to travel, like it's nothing like it.

unknown 20:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 20:35

What would you say is your best trip that you've taken? I knew that question was that is such a hard question. Uh oh my God. That's such a hard question. Okay, I gotta go top three. Okay, wait, top three. I gotta go top three. Now, we talking trip experience, not just destination. My first would be Paris. I knew you were gonna say that. I went to Paris by myself. You ate them with the food. Like, come on. Like, I went to Paris by myself. It was such on a whim. I was still working corporate. Like, and I knew that's when I was about to get fired. I got fired a month after that. Because they was like, you're doing too much. Too much. You're doing a lot on our money. You're doing too much on our money, actually. You're doing too much. Because why are you putting that PTO and going to Paris? Doing a Paris, boo. Out the country. Like, too much. So never talk. Paris. Hello. See you in the office when you get there. Paris was definitely number one. It was such a good experience. Um, people talk crap about Paris, but I'm a city girl, so I felt comfortable. I'm in the Ubers. I don't speak no French. Oh, you was really limited. I was in the Eiffel Tower and my phone died. And you were just in the moment, bobbing, drunk. Tipsy off the v and hole in the apple tower, like had a blast. So that was such a good time. Um, second would be something that's kind of more cultural, because I love a good cultural experience. Um, dang, now. I say that it's kind of tough between, but I'm gonna go with Cartagena. Cartagena is a vibe, Columbia. Um, you get the best of both worlds with culture, turn up, some of the best like nightlife experiences I had, but you also they have the first black town in the Americas um called Palenque. That's so it's so dope to be able to experience blackness in other countries. Yes, yeah, like and that's something that I find like with traveling, it's like no matter where you go, it's like wow, we really black. Like every like they love us over there, you know, in the like everywhere, even being from Philly, I'd be so you'd be surprised. Like, people love us. Um number three, I'm gonna have to go to Mexico. And I know it's controversial right now. I know it is, but hear me out. Other people would say that though. I love Mexico when we had the little hand games like I don't want to go to Mexico no more. I ain't saying that. Don't say that part. Cause I'm going back every time. Like I'm going back every time of Mexico.

SPEAKER_01 22:57

Now, tell us about the Blake experience that you had at what's the place called again? Carta. Cartagena. Yeah, so what was that like?

SPEAKER_02 23:04

Um, it's amazing. Like, honestly, it's literally like they don't have, I don't want to say that they don't have, like, I don't want to say what they don't and do and don't have, but they operate their own government. So what I can say is from like doing, I visited twice doing a tour, is they mentioned that no one in their town got COVID. So in that time of COVID when everybody was dropping like five, everybody was sick, nobody in their town um contracted COVID in any of those periods. So it was like they really own it. Yeah, they're like, like they make their own medicine, they make their own everything, like, yeah, like beautiful culture, like dancing, music, like just it's just dope to see, like, wow, we like black is really beautiful. I love it. Yeah, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

I'm glad you had that experience, like just thinking about COVID, what it did, you know what I'm saying? Like the impact it had on so many people's lives, and just you just getting that freedom from it all, you know what I'm saying? Like, I can only imagine how how that felt. Now, let's talk about you being a travel agent. How did you get deeper into that?

SPEAKER_02 24:10

Yeah, so for me, I feel like with the traveling, like I took my first international trip, I think in 2015. Um, and I took my first flight. I took a flight. My godmom took me to Florida, but I was like, I went to Disney World when I was a little bit younger, maybe like 10, like you said, like 10, 12. But after that, I feel like I didn't go nowhere to college. I had one of my friends went to school in California, so I flew out there to spend some time with her, and that was like my first flight, like that, something I could actually remember. And I'm like, why don't I be at the airport? Like, why don't I just book the flight and book the hotel? Like, that's it don't make no sense. So I just started doing that, and honestly, the more I started traveling, the more my friends started getting interested in it. And it just was like, it only makes sense to turn it into a business, you know. Like, I'm posting about it, my friends want to go, like, so let's just make it make sense. And honestly, I did not expect to be able to like post videos and people would be like, oh, I want to book this. I want to, I just didn't think that travel would become, I wouldn't even say become popular, what, but I just it just I never thought about it. That's funny you say that like I'm either.

SPEAKER_01 25:24

Like, you know, I never thought about it. Like, yeah, I'm from Southwest, you know. We from Philly, you you just around the corner. Like, you just go to the park, stuff like that. But see, my mom, I actually never seen my mom travel until I got older. Like, you know, she like, all right, my kids older now. Now I can go outside. Go outside.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

So, and I think this is what made her say, like, you need to go, you know, travel more.

SPEAKER_02 25:46

I need to travel too.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

So, and like even seeing you traveling more, I'm like, yo, like I'm and y'all be out, you be outside, but I'm like, you know what? It's time to be outside, outside. Yeah. So every time you drop a deal, be like, oh, we need to, we need to hop on it. You see me. I'm such a virgo. I be like, we gotta organize it. Uh-uh. That's like I'm here.

SPEAKER_02 26:06

But you know I'm a Virgo, so you know it's gonna be perfectly pleased. Yeah, that's and that's the thing. That's why that's why I love travel planning, because I'm like, I'm OCD anyway, so I wasn't going and letting you do it. Right, and I was gonna plan it anyway. I was gonna I was gonna make the reservations already. So don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Don't you worry, I need the money. I was gonna plan it anyway. And that's one thing about us, like, we help people, like we're good at it. So that's something we we love to do. Exactly. So I'm in my head, like, I don't want nobody, you know, booking a trip for me. I'm not gonna do no.

SPEAKER_02 26:38

But then I'm like, she going to such cool places, maybe I do need to. Just let me do it. I don't feel like a lot of my friends and colleagues are like, oh, we don't want to bother. Let me do. I love to plan. And that's the thing. We, you know, we like it though. We like pressure. I like pressure, like and it always eats every time. Like the itinerary always comes together every time. That's why we need you. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 26:57

Period. So, with that in mind, right? So the deals are dropping. What would you say, in your opinion, what would you say is the best city to travel in the States?

SPEAKER_02 27:08

Mmm, that's another hard one. Because spring is spring is here. Yes, it's spring break. And it's funny you say that because let's talk spring break then. I'm gonna go based off of that. And I'm I gotta do top three again because it's hard. Of course. Miami, obviously. Yes. I love Miami. Um you know how we feel about Miami. I know, I know. I heard I heard your high take. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. All right, we maybe but but from a travel agency. Yes, it's a frequent, it's a place that people want to frequent. Although I did hear your take, and I do not disagree. Um, we love it.

SPEAKER_01 27:44

Right.

SPEAKER_02 27:45

And we, you know, contribute to the tourism there, and that's why it's always a good time because we're gonna go. Right. Like, we're gonna have a good time, and that's why it's always lit. Because we go. Like, so even though they might not want it there, we make it fun. We make it what it is. Um, second, I would say this year, Houston. I hear a lot of lot of good things about it. And this year, particularly they did the rodeo for spring break, but Houston has been a really top city for people to move to for, you know, black uh millennials, um, and Gen Zers. Um, but yeah, Houston is a good time. Again, good balance of turn up and having like, you know, a little chill vibe, good food. Third, Chicago. Chicago. I love Chicago.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

So, what is it about Chicago?

SPEAKER_02 28:31

I love Chicago, and I feel like that's such a random one. People are like, Character? Like, what are they going to bring? Chicago's so black and like the most beautiful way. Like, I feel like the like black own, like it's just so premium, the food is so good. They also got all the designer stores. So if you're into that, but really Louie, Gucci, like then, like, if you really want to just go buy a bag, like no major city really has like as much as they have to offer when it comes to like fashion, architecture. The architecture there is amazing. Yes, and yeah, I think Chicago is great for us as black people.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

Oh, do I gotta go, y'all? Yeah, I'm not sure. I'll hit you up for that. Yeah, yeah. Quick little trip to Chicago. When it's not cold, yeah, when it's not cold, right? So, Neil, okay, now you're creating content for everything that you do. Yes. So unfortunately. How is that getting up, setting up your camera? Like, you tell us about that, like from a very rural perspective. Yes, it's annoying.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

Um, I think also like being on both sides of like the coin with um like owning a marketing agency and like having to do content for clients and then also kind of being a content creator. Um, I I guess technically I would consider myself a content creator, but also like I've been creating content for years. Like, I just feel like I'm just a social media girly. Like, that's just always been how I sell my products, sell my services. Like, that's just always been a thing. And now I'm like, okay, it's a thing, which is great, you know, because we're able to like, you know, generate additional revenue and all of that stuff. But it's a headache because it's so much innovation now. Before it could be like, okay, we could just take a picture and post it, or we could just do like a quick little video and post it. Now you gotta worry about the edits coming in, the first three to five seconds, gotta catch it and grab the people, and you gotta add in the sounds. It's so much. Um, and again, being on both sides of like having to do my content for all of my businesses, you know, like and just my personal brand, and then having to like edit for clients and like monitor trends and stuff for them, it's a lot. Like social media right now is just a lot.

SPEAKER_01 30:40

It is a lot now. Like you said, monitoring. So do you have a way that you plan this these things out? Like, how does that look as far as planning?

SPEAKER_02 30:50

Yeah, so um, so I own a marketing agency, the Virgo Social Club, and one of the main things that we do um when working with content creators or brands in general is content calendars. Um, so I swear by my calendar. So, like, you know, on top of how we were talking about routines earlier and just kind of like time blocking and having dedicated times, I do the same thing with content. Like, you know, like how you mentioned earlier 11 a.m. Yeah. You know, we just kind of have those things where it's like, okay, um, I know this time works for this page. Okay. I know this day works for this page, and just having the flow. And sometimes it's not even a matter of when it works for it. It's just a matter of this is the schedule for this week. You know, like this is when you fall in line. And sometimes we might do have to readjust them, okay. Next week, let's do Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday versus Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

SPEAKER_01 31:44

Now, does it change up frequently like throughout the month? I don't and I only ask that because you know, some weeks it may be like, okay, we have a great skyrocket. Right. It changes. Because you it and I feel like especially during like the seasons too, like you know when content may elevate. Like, you know, as it's getting hotter, you can see that people are on social media more, they want to be outside more, so everybody's posting, right? Yep. So go back. I think also just with the algorithm. Yes. Oh God, please talk about it. The algorithm. So how do you go?

SPEAKER_02 32:15

Yeah, how do you flow with the algorithm? Like at this point, I just I've just given it to God. Let the algorithm do what it is. Cause what I what can I do? What can I do? Like, how can I keep up with it? It's something new every day. Like, they're rolling out new features that compete with new features. You edit it in this app, then when you take it to this app, they say they don't like it because they're beefing with them. Because it's just all of this stuff. Like, yo, I'm just a creator. Like I'm just a person trying to manage 16 pages. You want me to you want me to have 16 algorithms? You want me to crack 16 codes? I'm not gonna do that.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

It's too much. 16 researches on what they need, what I need, how I gotta dress, but I like what do I gotta do? Like, like they literally want us to be AI. So no seriously. Sorry, it's speaking, it's so funny you you said that now. Who I know this is gonna be a lot. Sorry, y'all. I don't wake it up. So, how do you feel about AI and content creation and it taking over social media the way it is today?

SPEAKER_02 33:16

Yeah, I um again, as an owner of a marketing agency and a person who does social media management, manages pages, who does content creation for my events, for my clients and stuff, I hate it. We hate it. Okay, as consumers, we hate seeing the AI flyers. And honestly, AI works so well with us, like in content, you know, however, however, you choose to implement, you know, AI into your business model or whatever. But telling ChatGBT to make that flyer, it could be we notice it, it's just too noticeable. It's so noticeable.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

That's so true, and I think it takes away the authentic part of your business overall, because then you forget the why. Exactly. You know, you forget like how exactly the who. Who's that? Speak how do you walk and I forget the who? Who's that? Like that's not that's not true, boo. I put and not everybody's post is looking the same, yeah. Like the setup and everything, because and I miss how like when you see certain brands, you know, oh that's them. You know, we're not looking at this third, yeah. The color, the font, the way you smile and the way you look. Yeah. You know, it's just like that's not you, boo. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 34:31

And like I think it also like just kind of connecting AI and content in general. It's like right now is a very important time to show who you are as a creator and as a brand. Like, to the point where I was watching a commercial yesterday, um, I want to say Wendy showed their CEO. Who cares about Wendy's CEO? But because their sales are, you know, being affected, these people are like, I want you to know who I am personally. Yes. And it's never been a point in time where we cared that much about who was behind the brand like we do right now. So I think it's very important to like again, AI is helpful, but to show up authentically as a creator and as a brand right now more than ever, because of AI, that it's just so easy to blend in to be four for four, four for four, four for four, or four for four. It don't matter where I go get the four for four. I got four dollars. Right. So now you have to innovate. Yeah, so you're like, well, let me show my phase where it's like, boy, it's too late. Um, but that's those are bigger, you know, that's a bigger example from a corporation standpoint. But the flyers being another one of just being like, okay, we're automating this thing for our business. And it's like, now is the time to invest in your business. Yes. Because you're going to get that. That's when it becomes oversaturated. And it's just like, you like, all right, let me not pay a graphic designer or let me not pay a market manager, marketing manager, or whatever, and now you're missing it out on sales because people seeing it and they scrolling past it and they like, I'm not coming. Hello.

SPEAKER_01 36:04

It's starting to look too famous.

SPEAKER_02 36:05

Yeah, like it's me. Yeah. So show your face, show who you are, you know, show what works or what your your audience likes.

SPEAKER_01 36:12

Now, how does that conversation come up, especially when you do events? Like, do people always suggest it to you and how do you navigate the conversation?

SPEAKER_02 36:21

With like marketing.

SPEAKER_01 36:22

Yeah, like with marketing.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

Yeah, um, I feel like event marketing is always so interesting because people see the outcome. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 36:31

The consumer especially, right?

SPEAKER_02 36:33

People see the full rooms, but even like down to sponsors and partners and like graphic designers, for instance, like people see the full room, and that's it. Like, you know, so I think it's important to talk about the behind the scenes, like how all of this stuff comes together in marketing and in events to help people understand, like, it's more than just a lit three hours. Exactly. It's so much more that goes into it than just that. And that's why I think it is important to not be lazy and be like, oh, chat, make me a flyer. It's like, baby, we put too much, too much time.

SPEAKER_01 37:05

Too much money into this, like money to vendors, like you said, let's pay the 150 for somebody to do the flyer so we can get this money back. Exactly. And let's make it marketable.

SPEAKER_02 37:15

Yes. You know, because that's good, that's what you're exactly. And I feel like we just watering down marketing right now.

SPEAKER_01 37:20

I and I understand, like I understand when you want to have something done, but I don't understand when we talk about how we want certain things to look. You know, how we want people to perceive it. You know, so like this right here, I never thought Hello, you know. The material. The material. Y'all see the material. We see the graphic designer. No, y'all see the material. I said the graphic designer behind the Ken Low show. Uh Yoshi, ah. But um, like I always say I never wanted to lose the art of journalism, right? And I say, like, I don't think we should stop doing newspapers. I don't think we should stop those kind of things because there's gonna be a time when people, as we get older, people don't want to see exactly digital anything anymore.

SPEAKER_02 38:04

You know, that's why that's a perfect example. Like in journalism, that's why Substacks becoming a thing right now. Because people want to go back to a tumbler traditional blogger style, feel like they can connect to gossip girl and hear, like, you know, it's authentic, it's more organic. It's not the YouTube person who got a million followers telling you with this hundred thousand dollar camera following her around. It's like, no, this is me at my laptop typing on some Moesha type vibe. And that's why people are attracted to it. So again, that's just another way of like being authentic. Like, people want to feel that connection and tradition because technology is pivoting. We, I mean, obviously, interviews and videos always gonna do its thing, but some people want to read. No, they do. Oh, I missed the reading book.

SPEAKER_01 38:50

Yes, I was about to say, if you see, you see what I got going on, okay? I see the books. I see it going on. Now, do you think that businesses would still thrive if social media wasn't the way it was? Like, with with so much that you do, you're like, do you think it would still happen that way?

SPEAKER_02 39:06

That's a great question. Um, I don't know what traditional, what it would look like with it. That's what I'm thinking of. I cannot envision it. Like, I literally cannot envision it without Google, without Facebook ads. With like, even if you're not as deep as like, okay, I'm on Instagram or TikTok. I'm I'm, you know, I got somebody that's making videos for me every day or whatever, you still are marketing some way on social media. Yeah, exactly. You are. Um I just can't even imagine it. I mean, yeah, I can't imagine it.

SPEAKER_01 39:39

Because when I think about Instagram, remember, we were just a picture. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:43

Like literally, that was it. And now just knowing, like, again, the algorithm, um, going on Facebook and how you could buy stuff straight from the ads now and stuff. So I'm just like, I can't imagine it without like at this point, you could literally buy stuff from TikTok, from Instagram, from Facebook. Like, like, you don't even have to go to Google anymore.

SPEAKER_01 40:02

That oh my gosh. Then I think about it. You know, that is crazy how if you wanted something, you had you had to had to go, like, oh, let me, what's what's the name of the dress?

SPEAKER_02 40:09

Let me go type it in on Fashion Over All. No, it goes. Oh gosh, yeah. You just buy it right here, connect to your Apple Pay. That's it. It's crazy. Just pop up an ad boop, they got exactly what I need. I can't imagine.

SPEAKER_01 40:22

Oh gosh. What a time? Well, everything that you're doing, you know, like you really the girl that either somebody wanna be like or somebody wanna be with.

SPEAKER_02 40:34

So, okay. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 40:35

How do you navigate those kind of things? Like, how do you go about relationships or friendships?

SPEAKER_02 40:41

Being an entrepreneurial question.

SPEAKER_01 40:42

And being a Virgo, because we know we special.

SPEAKER_02 40:44

Yeah, let's get into the T. We're not talking about business no more. Okay. Um, that's a great question. Um, I think for me, particularly, well, in both friendships and relationships, it's important for me to delegate um the difference between business and my personal life. So I really don't mix the two. Period. Like, um, so by what I mean by that is like when it comes to expectations um or like I don't expect my friends, like my friends, like that I've been friends with for 15, 20 plus years or whatever, like those are people that met me and knew me before, sincerely, Jasmine, before all of this other stuff. So my expectations for them isn't to be like, oh, you better get on Facebook and repost my. They don't even live their life. Like, you know what I mean? Like, they live their normal lives, like, you know, so I think expectation when it comes to relationships is very important and setting those boundaries so that way I don't feel disappointed because a lot of people talk about, oh, your friends don't support you, or anytime my friend posts something, I just like it, I share it. Baby, my friend's market is not my market. Right. My friends who hardly care about Instagram and stuff, like I don't need them to post my flyers or post certain things because that's not what their followers or family is necessarily looking for. Um, and I think it's very important to kind of manage those expectations because a lot of us are like, oh, our family, our partner, our friends don't support these things. And it's like, that's not my market. Like, you know, like that's not my demographic all the time. Sometimes it is, you know, there's been times where I've had events and all of my friends showed up, you know. It's been times where I had events and I none of my friends showed up. I don't know none of these people in this room. Right. I don't know none of these people. Um, and same thing with clients and just certain things, like just, you know, so again, I think managing expectations, um also having the boundaries of like everybody don't care about everything, and that's fine. Right. You know what I mean? Like in entrepreneurship, and just just like it is with work, you know, you go to work and you you such and such with Joe, Bob, all of them, you like, oh, you come home, you kind of like it bleeds into, and sometimes that's selfish, you know. I I feel like I've been in a nine-to-five space where I haven't like I haven't been happy at work and I've allowed that to come home. Um, so I feel like as an entrepreneur, I don't do that. I don't try to, just like we talked about not really celebrating wins, right? I don't, I don't overdo that. I also don't overdo complaining about the things that I have to deal with, because I have to deal with them. So I don't expect you to be like, oh, like, you know, it might be like, how was your day? I'll be like, I'm good. You know, like I don't like I might, yeah, and not in a way of like, oh, I don't want to explain to you or I don't want to be vulnerable, but just in a way like you don't understand.

unknown 43:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:46

And that's fine.

SPEAKER_01 43:47

Oh, you just gave me a whole new perspective on it.

SPEAKER_02 43:49

Yeah, like that's fine. Cause it's selfish for me to expect you to understand when you don't live in that space. Like, you know, like I've dated people who do not operate in Entrepreneurial space at all. So I don't expect them to be like, oh, you know, how the call go, oh blah blah blah. Like, you know, like I just don't expect them to kind of understand the nooks and crannies of what entrepreneurship is. Absolutely, right? They're like you like we talked about the consumer. So they see the final product, they see the blah blah blah. So, you know, like I think just again, just kind of setting boundaries and expectations for people because it can be a lot. Like, you know, and it's like it's not like selfishly, it's like, I don't want to put that on nobody. Like, that's not nobody's. I signed up to do this. Right, right. I signed up to do this.

SPEAKER_01 44:36

Absolutely. I love how you said that, you know, when we want our friends or families to support us, you know, we not, well, not aren't thinking about it, but we do have to remember, like, what we're posted and not necessarily thinking about or like on a point.

SPEAKER_02 44:51

That might not even be on their algorithm. Like we said, man, let's talk about how the algorithms work right now. Your auntie might not have taught it. Like, he might have didn't see the flyer.

SPEAKER_01 45:00

Like, because I think and I think when I got to a point where I saw the show like, you know, taking off, I'm like, it's popping.

SPEAKER_02 45:12

Reports not stopping, it looks like.

SPEAKER_01 45:13

Yeah, I'm just like in my head, like, damn, I don't see enough of my own folks doing it, but I see other people doing it. But I'm also like, well, damn, y'all don't live my day to day. Like, now that you said that, I'm like, y'all actually don't live my day to day.

SPEAKER_02 45:26

Like when I became, well, I always like had businesses and all of those things, like since college. And when I tell you from having business to working on a five, don't nobody know what you're doing. They don't. And don't nobody care. Because they got their own, like that they live in literally everything. Nobody, yes. Like, and that's why I'm like, again, selfishly, I live in my own world. Like, and I would expect everybody else to. Right. Like, I would expect you to be in a kindla world. Like, that's it, you know, all yellow and pink, everything. Like, so I think a lot of us again just have the mentality, especially entrepreneurship, of just wanting to, wanting support. But just because it's support does not mean that is first of all gonna mean equals money, right? Or that it makes sense. All support doesn't make sense, you know what I mean? And that's where, again, you gotta know your market, you gotta know your goals, you gotta know, like, you know, it's easy to just get caught up in doing things as an entrepreneur. And that's why you kind of had an expectation of buy my stuff. Right, right. That's not your market. Like, they don't work out. Why are you selling them athleisure wear? Just because they're your folks. Like, you know, like put it in, put it on the runners. Find you a runner and put it, you know. So, but I think on the other side of that, and like friendship and like entrepreneurship is like also opportunity and like opportunists. Um, and I'm a firm believer, like, we should be opportunists. Like, you know, I think relationships should relationships should be beneficial. You know, I think I should be able to pour into you, you should be able to pour into me. I think you should want to benefit from me because I add value and I should want to benefit from you for the value that you add. So I think, you know, that's an opportunity exchange in that. Um, but I do think it's also like some people just want to be at the table, they ain't bring nothing.

SPEAKER_01 47:09

They just want to eat. That's crazy to me. Yeah, they just want to. One thing about me, like, and this might be a little too aggressive when it comes to me being a Virgo, but it's just like, because I know what I bring to the table, it's not the table. If I'm not bringing the table, yo, you want like you gotta bring something. Yeah, you can't. You can at least bring the market. Like, like, you want the kitchen swaying. Yo, like I went to the market and got all the stuff, babes. Sweating hours. And I don't cook, but at least I got the stuff.

SPEAKER_02 47:38

Like, at least I got the stuff. I know what I brought. Yes, but literally. And I think we deal with that as entrepreneurs that people kind of want to meet you where you're at. And it's like, you weren't with me on a journey. And not saying that, again, that's where opportunity comes. If we can meet at a point where it makes sense, that's fine. Um, but you can't just meet me here and you was here just like, oh, all right, I'm coming with you. Like, where's the work? Yeah, you or where's the help? Where's the help? I'll take the help because you could come if you if you're working. You won't, yeah. I don't need no slaggers. Hello. Oh shit. Hello. If you're working, you can come.

SPEAKER_01 48:15

When it comes to being an entrepreneur, like, okay, so when I see you, Jay's, I see you as the girl, like in the books that everybody talks about. Like, you know, I got my coffee, I'm on my laptop, I'm getting the things together. Here's that good-looking man. So, like, what does the idea relationship look like for you as an entrepreneur? Like, what does he do? Like, what does he look like? What is it? How does he have to show up for you?

SPEAKER_02 48:39

Okay, that's a really good question. Um, I think once upon a time, I wanted to date only entrepreneurs. Just again, like we talk about understanding, where it's like, okay, I need somebody that understands the you know, hustle and bustle. Um, and then after like uh dilly-dollying with that, I'm like, I don't think that's ideal for me. Um so from there, I was like, maybe opposites do attract. And maybe maybe corporate is the type, you know, type vibe for me. Um, and I do think naturally I do kind of balance well with um a structured man.

SPEAKER_01 49:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 49:21

Um whatever. Yeah, structured man. Um, but I think for me, it is all about balance. Like my last relationship was a long distance relationship because that works for me. Really? Yeah, really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:35

Well, I'm saying it like you know how we are, we have our Epson flow. But why am I not even saying that?

SPEAKER_02 49:40

Yeah, we both like as a Virgo, we are so touch and go. Like, literally. So, yeah, so sorry. I'm so sorry. Sorry to those men. So um touch and go. That's just like that's just and then I'll be like, but don't you love me? Right, but you love me. I don't talk to you in two weeks.

unknown 49:56

Right.

SPEAKER_02 49:58

Um, so for me, balance is very important. Again, understanding. Um, I am busy. Yes. Like, I am very busy um juggling all of the things. I travel a lot, and that's a big thing. Like, and I'm like always dating. I'm like, what's it gonna be like when I got a ticket trip?

unknown 50:15

Right.

SPEAKER_02 50:16

And the first trip always shows somebody's true colors. So I'm always like, you know, like that's always something that I kind of asked. It's like, what's it gonna be like, you know, like what's it? Because yeah, now we we vibe and you wanna talk to me every day. We text and FaceTime, like, what's gonna what is it gonna be like when I'm not here? Um, and that's difficult, you know. And I think a lot of traditional men like a traditional woman, whereas like, you know, just again, structured. So those type of men tend to like somebody a little more structured and like, you know, um, but I think understanding is important. Yes. Understanding is important. Um, but again, like I said, the distance worked for me, so as long as it's it's understanding, like I I never wanna, I don't want to say never, but I'm I'm one of them people that be like, we can have two different houses. I'm not made at it. I'm not mad at that.

SPEAKER_01 51:03

I'm not made at it. I'm not mad at that. It's an entrepreneur like talking to you, like from that perspective, I'm not made at it because it's like together, we probably probably would clash. I'm not a relationship girl, just thinking about it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:16

But you know, yeah, because like I be up, like it's sometimes I'm up late. Right. And like I said, I'll be on a night shift. I might be working on the laptop at one o'clock. That's frustrating for someone who has to wake up early, you know what I mean? Um, so yeah, it's just the schedules. And I think also because I work in events and marketing, um, the girl be outside. Yeah. The girl be outside.

SPEAKER_01 51:37

Oh, yeah, and dealing with that too, because you know men. Oh, my girl can't go outside. Y'all know y'all men in 2026. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 51:42

Yeah, and they don't like that. They don't like that. That is always that is always a thing. They don't like that. Um, but that is that comes with me. So, you know, that's just like it is what it is. You you probably met me outside. Right. You might be outside. Where are you meeting at? You probably met me outside. Um, so I think understanding, like that's the biggest thing is like I be outside, understanding that I'm working, I work untraditional roles. Um, I am a woman in male-dominated industries. Yes. So how does that feel?

SPEAKER_01 52:15

Like, does that give you a boost? Like when you think about it.

SPEAKER_02 52:18

Yeah, yeah. Um, I always say I have very masculine energy, and people be like, mm, your favorite color pink, and your nails always done. And I'm like, no, hear me out. What I mean is, and that that's literally what I mean, of just like I have to think, I don't want to say think like a man, but like I have to like operate in certain ways that I guess will be considered masculine. And just being a leader and you know, being an organizer, being a planner, like some of those things are masculine traits. So I've always been like, I got a little masculine energy on me. Yeah. But in a good way. Yeah, in a good way.

SPEAKER_01 52:54

Oh, jeez. How can I put this question? Because I got so much more to a ex. But I will I would say in like five or ten years when you see yourself, but as you explain, like you don't operate that way.

SPEAKER_02 53:09

So maybe living in another country.

SPEAKER_01 53:11

Yeah, I'm about to say, you're like, do you I'm you don't want to stay in Philly. I don't want to stay in Philly. Like, where would you want to be at?

SPEAKER_02 53:19

Oh, you told us either Maryland or Maryland.

SPEAKER_01 53:21

Maryland. Okay. I like Maryland.

SPEAKER_02 53:23

I like Maryland um for what I do and for my demographic. Okay. Um, I they actually, ooh, ease, that does. I like, I I don't even want to say I like, I work with brown and black. Yes, I was just about to say, yes. Mostly, primarily women-led businesses. Um, and like I said, creators and all of those things. Um, so for me, like my ideal clients are in the DMV area. DC, Maryland, Virginia. Um, so I like it over there. Um, I love Houston. I think Houston is a I would describe like as a travel um agent and as an entrepreneur, I would describe current 2026 or maybe 2025 Houston as 2010 Atlanta.

SPEAKER_01 54:12

2010 Atlanta. See, I haven't been Atlanta. I haven't experienced Atlanta yet.

SPEAKER_02 54:16

So how I remember when everybody was moving to Atlanta?

SPEAKER_01 54:19

Oh, now I do remember that era. Yes, I do. That's what Houston feels like.

SPEAKER_02 54:23

Where it was just like Atlanta's so black, it's so much opportunity.

SPEAKER_01 54:26

I see it a lot on my timeline, how everybody, like when Twitter talked about it, oh, Houston, Houston, Houston. And you could just see it popping up more.

SPEAKER_02 54:32

That's how I'm like, Houston is that girl. Like, you know, it's opportunity. Um, it's a lot of like conferences and festivals moving there just like because of yeah. Um, so I think, you know, if you a person to go with the masses because ultimately opportunities travel with the people, Houston is a good drawing.

SPEAKER_01 54:51

That's what's saying. Uh say no, I say no. So your ideal client, like what kind of who would you want to work with, actually? Not even ideal client. Oh. Because I know you get different kinds of people, you know. So who would you want to work with, like within the industry or like, you know, anybody locally but that's been like an influencer?

SPEAKER_02 55:12

Dang, that's a good question. Um, that's a good question. Honestly, because I'm ghetto, I've been trying to um I've been trying to plan trips for Mona.

SPEAKER_01 55:24

Mona.

SPEAKER_02 55:25

Don't call me white girl. Stop. I'm like, wait, I was like, wait, not the Mona, but Mona is just so all over the place. But planning the trip, like an actually well-curated trip, I would love to see her. She would eat that up.

SPEAKER_01 55:37

The way she would be on Instagram on a curated trip.

SPEAKER_02 55:42

Like, I keep telling her, like, I want to get her on a trip. So that that is definitely something I can see. And I mean, I feel like that's a a short-term goal. Um I think you can make that happen, though. I've been working on it, but the girl just so she she's the type that just go to the airport, book the flight right there. And I'm like, Oh, she you deserve better. Like, you deserve better, right? Let me get let me set, like, you know, like so that that's something. And I think just like um trip planning, travel planning for influencers or like larger creators is definitely something that I would like to do. Like, because I like to plan the details and stuff that it'll allow me to like kind of magnify on that part. Um, now, as far as ideal client, like or brand-wise, something I really want to do, and I just actually posted this on threads. I want to this year, because I've already speaking it into existence. This year have a networking event, um, an in-person networking event at a designer store. I don't know what this is. It would be so tedious. I don't know what designer yet. You got it, you got it. Like obviously, I'm thinking Louie. I'm thinking Louie. Yeah, yeah. Um, but um realistically, I would probably start smaller because you know, ultimately the goal is going to be, you know, to buy stuff, blah blah. Um, but yeah, I really want to do a in-person networking shopping experience for the girls at a designer store. Yes. Very cutesy, you know, champagne. Real cute. Real cute.

SPEAKER_01 57:12

So I love you. And speaking of brands, we never really talked about like the brands you've worked with. Yeah. So what to okay? So give me your top three. Give me a top three. I'm not gonna say name a few. Give me your top three and tell us about the experience of working with those brands.

SPEAKER_02 57:25

Okay, so my favorite brand thus far, um, like as a creator, um, would be Marshall's. Marshall's and Marie Claire. I did a partnership with them last year. They had an event here, like an event series they were doing at a few couple, like a couple major cities. Um, and they treated me so nice. It was a paid campaign. They they got me all dressed, brought me some outfits, and like, you know, Marshall got the fit. They got the stuff. Marshall got some stuff. Okay. Like, and I wrapped up. And they gave me gift cards, like after, and they put it right. It was just really a good experience. Um, and I enjoyed the event aspect too. It was a very valuable event. I liked how like cute and they did it, like how they stuck to their brand and everything, but made it very exclusive. It was so nice. They did that, so that was really dope. Um, I enjoy working with Garnier. Um, they always send me stuff, and they're a good brand, they're very responsive. Um, another brand that I'm like locked in with because I've been trying to be on my health and wellness journey, trying to is Rise Mushroom Coffee. I got a good relationship with them. I hear it's great. I hear it's great. I seen the edge. The coffee is good. I'm not mad at it. And it's beneficial, it's good benefits. Um, and a last one I would mention just for the travel aspect, take off luggage. Take off luggage, okay. It's a suitcase company, and we um I got a partnership with them too. Okay, so you know how we got spirit frontier, the budget airlines, where you get a personal item, but then you gotta pay for all the bags. Yeah. Takeoff luggage is literally a suitcase that fits under the thing. Like under your seat, you don't have to pay for it, but it's a whole suitcase. Like, they be hating to see me in the airport. I'm about to say, so you can fit everything in here. Everything. And it's if it got wheels on it, and you pop the wheels off, put the wheels in your pocket, put the suitcase on it. Ready to go. They love see me coming with the takeoff.

SPEAKER_01 59:16

I don't hate to see it. They can't take it. They cannot take it. Oh gosh, you are just so like well remembered. I love this. This is so great. Thank you so much for having me. Of course, of course. I was like, yo, we gotta get jazz. Like, you know, you're gonna say she be like, we gotta get jazz. What would the younger you say about today? What would she say?

SPEAKER_02 59:38

The younger me will be yagging. She is my biggest fan. Um, yeah, I feel like she's like, you we are really that girl. Yes. Like, we are really doing it, y'all. Okay. And honestly, I feel like I never really realized how much like confidence I had as a younger girl. Cause I'm like, honestly, I will also be like, we knew that. Yeah, we knew that. We knew that. Like, we knew we didn't know, like in, because I don't be knowing the plan, but we knew. We knew. We knew that. So yeah. Oh, that's a good one. Boom. What are you most proud of? Oh, that is so that's a hard one. Um I would say I'm the most I'm most proud of being able and doing, being able to create the life that I want. Yes. Oh, I loved it. Yeah, like I'm like, wow, this is fun. This is dope. Like, I I don't hate anything. Right, that's been just yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:42

Hmm.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:43

Wow. I can't wait till I can do your like and not that I'm not enjoying my life, you know. It's just that the fact that, you know, like you just put your mind into it. Like, you be like, you know what, I'm gonna do this.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:55

We talk about all the time. Yeah, all the time.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:57

It's coming. Like you you be like, you know, I'm gonna do this, and boom, you get it, just like that.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:01

Sometimes you just gotta get fired.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:03

Like, sometimes you either gotta get fired or quit.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:06

Pushed off the ledge and just be like, No, seriously.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:08

Like, I like yo, okay, I don't think nobody really knew this, so boom. So the job that I had before, the one I have now, um, I quit. Just like that. Like, I said I'm gonna go home early. I said I've had enough. I quit, and the next day I had an interview with Here Wick. So you just never know. Exactly. You just never know. I was like, one thing about the universe, it's gonna do what it's supposed to do. It's gonna do what it's supposed to do. And I think like one thing people don't understand about God, he went on you. Like he got the stuff. He went on you.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:38

Literally, like you said, the day after I got fired, I had a flight the next day to go host like a live podcast. I was like, I don't, I gotta worry about that when I get back. Yeah, that's it. Because I got my own stuff to like do cry. Right, right. I fight in the morning, I gotta kill. So it's God is gonna always make up for those things and show me that is you on the right path.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:58

Always. And I'm and I feel like I always crack a code every time like I do something because it's always about what you were letting in the way, you know, what you're not letting go of, things like that. And I'm just like, y'all gotta let that burden go. Get that demon off your back. That's the overthinking. Yeah, right. The overthinking. I'll be like, I don't think about this way too much, thinking I don't got this gift. And I'm just like, oh, you clearly you're going back to it. So this is your burden. Exactly. So, yeah, like for me, like even thinking about Lil Kennedy, I was like, she'll be like, girl, I didn't even know we was gonna do this. She's like a microphone. Okay. I know they're talking was gonna get here. Like, like, like I'll never forget just being in the car with my dad. We would talk from the time I got up in the morning to the time I got to school.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:44

I'm crying.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:44

And I don't know how he dealt with it. Like, shout out to my dad. Like, he'd be like, damn, I know he was like, This girl can talk.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:50

He was rapping.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:51

He just rapping.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:52

Look at me now, dad.

unknown 1:02:53

Hello?

SPEAKER_02 1:02:55

Hello.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:55

And he actually was the one, he did my first logo. He had gone to school young for graphic design. He did my first logo. He was like, just start a blog. And I'm like a blog. I love that. I said a blog. I said, that's not boring. He said, no. You can talk about whatever you want. I love that. And just from there, like, every time we talk, he'd be like, Ken, I'm just so proud of you. I'm just like.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:16

I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:18

Like, and my mom, she be like, she be like, you doing the stuff. Like, I'm just like, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:24

Doing the thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:24

Doing the thing. You are. Thank you. You really are.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:26

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:27

It's just like I love, and I get inspired by like people like you and seeing what y'all are doing. Cause I'm like, yo, listen. It's only what? It's only one way.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:36

Listen, it's only up. It's only up. It's the only up. And if they go down, it's gonna go right down. Like I had it's never going down. It's never just plumbing.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:46

Okay. And that's what I think where people like get things misconstrued when they think like, oh, rock bottom means the end. That's not the angle.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:54

Sometimes that's the what you need to make a flows, like you said. How the balls gonna hit the bottom, bounce all the way to here. Okay. Cause like, yeah, I I could go in.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:05

Yeah. But y'all know how I go. So we talked about, you know, what you're proud of, and we also talked about how you grew up, especially in school. So talk about college and then going into Mary Jane's closet.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:18

Yes, yes. So college, um, like I said, I went to Central. So I went to IUP, if anybody knows we all know. Yeah, everybody knows IUP. We was all gonna go there. Um I went to IUP. I actually went on a full academic scholarship, you know, central stuff. You know? Um, but all I have to say, it wasn't the ideal environment for me. It's obviously a PWI. Um, I really feel like I should have been an HBCU girl.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:44

You know what I think about that all the time? Like, I don't think that's a good one. That was Arcadia.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:47

Shout out to you know, shout out to Arcadia. Yeah, but I had many regrets, but honestly, I feel like HBCU's gonna be a good one. Yeah, like HBCU would have probably really done me right. But all I have to say, in college, I did start Mary Jane's Closet. Like college really did pivot me into entrepreneurship because I hated being there so much. Yeah. I'm like, I gotta do something that I love. Like, let me find something to keep me busy. Um, so Mary Jane's Closet was a passion project. At the time I was um, girl, I just been doing business for like just doing stuff.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:17

You know, you was made made for it, you just kept going for it.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:20

I was selling any and everything. So Mary Jane's Closet was basically a um reconstruction slash consignment online shop. So this was on the time when thrifting really started popping off. Everybody was like thrifting and like being thrifty, like when it came to like how we was dressed dressed in and stuff. Um so I was doing like destroyed denim and bleaching and everything and cutting holes and everything. Y'all know how it was. Um, and in college, I was like getting people to model. I was doing everything. Like that really showed me entrepreneurship, like building out the website, being my own photographer, being my own like person, having to send the emails, find people on this campus to model for me. Um, I remember getting paid to. Do fashion shows in college. They like, oh, we had paid you to, you know, I went right to Goodwill, put a little couple dollars in my pocket, put some pieces together for the models. Um, so that's really what got me started as an entrepreneur, like college and Mary Jane's Closet, really. And I came back to Philly, like, all right, well, I already been doing all this stuff, let's turn it up, like, let's make it make sense at home.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:21

So, how far did Mary Jane's Closet go back when you came home? Like, did you have an event for it at all or anything?

SPEAKER_02 1:06:28

Yeah, I was it. Mary Jane's Closet was the start of events and marketing and just entrepreneurship in general. Um, so I did a few events. When I came back, my first event, I was planning my first event before I graduated college. And I believe it was the same month of graduation or like like right when I came back. Um, and at that time it was called the Melton Pot. So it was literally mixing fashion, music, poetry. Like it, I had it was honestly, I wouldn't say a mess. Shout out to y'all if y'all came to the Melton Pot. It was a lot going on. It was a lot going on. It was body paint, it was uh spoken word, it was fashion shows, it was everything at one. It was literally a melting pot. Um, but it was enjoyable and a lot of create it provided a space for a lot of creatives locally here in Philly. I feel like we were still kind of figuring out at the time what we called the scene.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:21

Yes, I was just about to say that. Like I was gonna ask you, like, would you say that was your big breaking into getting into what you are in today?

SPEAKER_02 1:07:28

Like the art scene at the end of the day. Absolutely, absolutely. I would say that that period in Mary Jane's Closet, again, a lot of people know me for Mary Jane's Closet. Like a lot of people like have been around since their journey. Um, and that's why I'm like, I've always been a social media girl because I'm I was selling clothes, so I had to post online. Um, so a lot of my like network and like building my following has come from, you know, starting there. A lot of the people met me at the Melton Pie and then it pivoted into oh, can I do the next show? Blah blah. So then like I started doing events that didn't have to do with Mary Jane's Closet, you know, that kind of took Mary Jane's Closet out of it a little bit, um, and and different layers of just like solely focusing on the Philadelphia creative, and that's just I can't believe it's been that long. Whoa.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:11

So we got another game for you, my love, okay? Okay, it's called Buy It or Leave It.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:16

Okay, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:17

So I'm gonna present different properties, property scenarios on the TV. Okay. Okay. I can't look. Not shut, not shut. Okay. And you're gonna be like, I'm renting that, it has potential, or I'm leaving that one alone. Okay. Okay. So boom. Here we go. I hide an apartment in a prime location. Looks amazing, but the cost is high and profit margins are slim. Mmm. I'm gonna have to leave it. You gonna leave it? I'm gonna leave it. Oh my god. All right. Bando with potential. An abandoned row home in Philadelphia, low cost, but needs major renovation and comes with risk. What was the second option? It was it has potential. It has potential. Okay. It depends on the price. Something by the city. A beach house in a popular vacation area, great for short-term rentals, but seasonal demand and maintenance costs can be unpredictable.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:18

I would buy it because even if I'm not renting it out when it's not the like on season, I can stay there. Okay. So why are you skipping that one? Why are you gonna leave that one alone? I always say, like, the luxury real estate market is a scam. It's a scam. It is a scam. It's all gray and marble and it looks cute, but baby, I just personally don't. As an investor, I don't think it's worth it. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:45

Airbnb ready. A fully furnished short-term brutal already bringing in income, but comes with fees and less control.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:52

Mmm. I hate not being in control. But I will buy it. We'll buy it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:01

Easy. Already got a system in place.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:04

Yeah. That's too much work. Out of state play. A property in another state at a great price, but you're not local to manage it.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:14

I'm gonna buy it and I'm gonna go now. I live here and there. Like, sometimes you just gotta go. Like, and ideally it's in a city that I want to be anyway, and I planned on being there, so let me go check on my house.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:25

I love it. Okay. Content in cash. A trendy apartment in a popular city that's great for content, but not a strong investment.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:35

Mmm.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:41

It has potential. It has potential. It has potential. And in today's market with content, I feel like people are buying into, like, you know, spaces, co-working spaces that they can create and this stuff. So I mean, it could possibly be like a membership-based type of thing.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:58

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:01

Duplex helps hack. A duplex where you live in one unit and rent out the other. Lower expenses, steady income, but hands-on. Y'all know I'm buying that. That was my original hack. Because we have our marketing world here. This one is called Marketing Mind or Missed Opportunity. So I'm going to present a scenario.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:21

And you already know what's three options. I'm taking that play. It needs work, or it's a missed opportunity.

unknown 1:11:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:27

Okay. So scenario one. A brand goes viral overnight and gains thousands of followers, but they have nothing ready to sell yet.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:39

What was the second one? It needs to work.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:42

It needs work. It needs work.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:43

It needs work.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:45

A small business has a fire product, but their content is low quality and inconsistent. Taking a play. Period. Easy. Easy money. Easy money. Someone builds their brand on personality and lifestyle, but never clearly says what they actually do. Oh, I'm pissed.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:00

Taking a blag. Taking a blag? Okay, yeah, because I go, that's easy fix. Easy fix.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:05

Last one. A business is getting love and engagement from their audience, but it's mostly friends and people they know.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:13

Mm, we talked about that. Mm-hmm. It needs work. It needs work. It needs work. Because again, we talked about it. Your family and friends do not always equal, and most of the times don't equal your consumer or your demographic or your customer or whatever it is, you know. So just because you got a bunch of ridders, yeah, don't mean we gonna make a bunch of money. Right. So let's make it make sense.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:42

Okay. So what is your greatest advice for anybody that's in your field?

SPEAKER_02 1:12:47

Um keep going. I think a lot of us like feel like, especially like we talked about COVID. We talked about just pivoting, and a lot of us feel like we need to take pauses, which like, you know, mental pauses and all of that stuff is good, but like keep going. Because the moment you stop is like the the mo you lose the momentum, you lose the people, you lose the strategy, you gotta completely rebuild. Just keep going. Even in those moments of like, all right, I don't know what to post today, I don't know what product, what's gonna be our next collection or what's gonna be our next product, like just keep going. Sell the stuff that you already sold that they like, post the stuff, repost the stuff that they already like that went viral. Like to figure it out, like but don't stop because the moment you stop, you lose the momentum and you're literally gonna have to rebuild.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:31

Well, I love that advice, and I definitely understand because you know we get we get there. Like I don't know what to post today. Yeah, but don't post for a month, right? But keep going, keep going, post that old post some old clips. Okay, I want to say thank you for being here, Jazz. Love to love to have you, love to smile. Well, let everybody know where they can follow you at.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:50

Yes, you can follow me on everything sincerely jasmine, Instagram, actually on TikTok is SincereTrabels underscore TGI. That's my travel page. Um, but sincerely jasmine, no vows. So sincerely, make sure you put both E's and no vows in Jasmine. That's J S M N on every platform.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:09

And y'all already know where to follow y'all girl Ken Low.