Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Isaiah Tatum.
A 24-year-old entrepreneur, touring artist, and hotel owner:
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview showcases Dr. Isaiah Tatum’s extraordinary journey from homelessness to becoming a venture capitalist, hotel developer, and touring saxophonist. It aims to inspire young entrepreneurs by highlighting the importance of faith, planning, mentorship, and financial literacy.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Early Passion for Music
- Began playing saxophone at age 10.
- Influenced by legends like Kenny G, Curtis Mayfield, and Aretha Franklin.
- Practiced obsessively, leading to proficiency and touring opportunities.
- Maintains a strong connection to music despite business ventures.
“I couldn’t wait to get home and play… I practiced six hours a day.” — Isaiah Tatum
2. Entrepreneurial Drive & Financial Literacy
- Overcame homelessness and used that experience to fuel ambition.
- Became an equity investor in Jazz Pharmaceuticals at 18.
- Invested in real estate and hotel development with a focus on recession-proof models.
“I didn’t want to be an artist who had to stay on tour to maintain. I wanted to be financially free.” — Isaiah Tatum
3. Hotel Ownership & Strategy
- Owns two Candlewood Suites and an Embassy Suites in Georgia.
- Focuses on extended-stay models for consistent revenue.
- Emphasizes customer experience and operational efficiency.
“Even if they’re spending $160, make them feel like they’re spending $1 million.” — Isaiah Tatum
4. Mentorship & Education
- Studied finance and earned credentials from Wall Street Prep.
- Values mentorship from icons like Kenny G and Keith Worsham.
- Now mentors others and encourages financial literacy and self-confidence.
“Don’t look for who you are to fit in with everybody else… Elevate yourself.” — Isaiah Tatum
5. Vision & Future Endeavors
- Developing new properties in Tupelo, MS and Nashville, TN.
- Planning a Sweat Hotel concept and returning to music with a new album and tour.
- Driven by a daily mindset of growth and execution.
“Even though I’ve done really good, it’s about what I’m doing tomorrow.” — Isaiah Tatum
📌 Notable Quotes
- “Faith and a plan. A lot of people jump out there on faith. You better have a plan in your back pocket.” — Rushion McDonald
- “I fell in love with credentials… I wanted to maximize every opportunity.” — Isaiah Tatum
- “Let your results speak for themselves.” — Isaiah Tatum
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, Ra Sean McDonald, I host this weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides off for everyone includes you. It's time to stop
reading other people's success stories and really start living your own.
If you want to be a guest on my show,
Money Making Conversations Master Class, please visit that website, Moneymaking
Conversations dot com and click the be a guest button.
(00:23):
If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer,
a nonprofit I want you on my show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Now, let's get started.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
My guest hotel ownership includes two candle Will suites and
an Embassy suites. He's a touring artist and venture capitalist.
That's three things. He's one of the youngest individuals to
ever receive an honorary doctorate as well as receiving an
Outstanding Citizen Award from the State of Georgia. That's five things.
(00:52):
Please work with the Money Making Conversation Master Class. Doctor
Isaiah Tatum, Hey doing, Doctor Tatum Man? You see it
laid back now, I've seen you out man, way more energy.
You're not gonna play it cool on my show. You
can't take these man, because you inspire your inspiration.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I appreciate it. I brought you on here to tell
your story. I appreciate it. And how old you right now?
I'm twenty four, twenty four years old? Can you can? You?
Can you scroll that back down a minute? This twenty
four year old? Brothers?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Did he say two Canada will sweets and sweet? He's
a touring artist and adventure capitalist and he's twenty four
years old?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Okay, how I'm just gonna throw that out, but we're
gonna get more details right right there?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
You can.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Faith means a faith and a plan. Faith. I don't
tell people to jump out there on faith.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You better have a plan in your back pocket because
in the end, people gonna ask you for that plan.
People gonna ask you for direction.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And you gotta have that all in that.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
So let's go back music playing a major role in
your life early on.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Let's go there first one music. I began playing the
saxophone when I was ten. I kind of grew up
basically raised around my grandparents. So some of my favorite
artists are Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Wold, Mack, Retha Franklin. You know,
I mean, I love all of the great So when
I was ten, I didn't really I wasn't in the football.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I wasn't in the.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Play football though, and so you know, I was just
listening to music and I started playing the drums feeling around.
My grandfather introduced me into golf, so I started at
d and so once I became ten, he brought me
a saxophone, and then from there I got to listening
to Kenny g Jerald Albright, you know, David Sanborn's all
(02:41):
the greats. And from there, basically I just fell in
love with the instrument.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And I'm like, one day.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I want to because I couldn't sing, so one day
I want to be able to emulate the same emotion
and everything that they do with the sacks, where I
can transpose it and do the same they could. And
so you know, it started, and it was something that
was cool. But I knew I was different because all
the other kids hated taking the instrument home. I couldn't
wait to get home and play, and I sounded horrible.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
But it was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Because it was like, oh, I practiced six hours a day, Okay,
I'm okay.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
On Monday, Tuesday practiced a little bit more. I'm getting better.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You know, Wednesday, I'm practicing a little bit more and
I'm getting better. So I kind of progressed really quickly,
and by it I was twelve and thirteen. I'm playing
with people in high school and I'm so much more advanced,
and I'm like, I'm actually good.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
And you know, I can hear it. I can hear
the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I would just look on YouTube and mimic everything Kenny
and these other people were doing, and so then I
began to actually know that I was good. And from
there I had an opportunity to meet Kenny G. And
we just kind of kicked it off from there and
been like the best of friends.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And from their open I think I was about thirteen thirteen. Wow,
picked it up at ten, picked it up at ten,
make Kenny G at thirteen. We stayed in contact.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
I mean, you know from there on, you know, he
liked me because I was very inquisitive. I asked a
lot of questions, right, I believe that I believe that
you got that. Ask a lot of questions.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
I'm going to ask you all the questions, how do
you do this, how do you do this? How you
do this?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
And so basically, you know, from there he was like,
I like this kid, you know, he's very inquisitive, and
we kicked it off from there and the next thing,
you know, I became very proficient in what I was doing.
And next thing, you know, I'm touring.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Congratulations.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
You know my background, part of my little background A
lot of people don't know. Was that a B flagcall clarinet,
first chair. Then I went over to Alto tanem based sound. Okay, yeah,
I went through the whole ranks. You know, the winds.
I had the winds, you know, but I would The
reason I bring that up is that music played a
(04:47):
lot to my success today because it really helped me.
I fell from a memory stand form, from an educational
plantpoint within. My academics talk about how music really can
be an asset to young people other than what they
hear rappers do and all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Just the basic core of music is important.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I feel like music is so important because if you
really go back in history, you really understand the core.
To me, music is universal, right, you know, we can
be in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the way that
you can communicate without speaking the same languages through music.
So I feel like a lot of young people are
(05:30):
really missing the basis of how fundamental music is. It's therapeutic,
you know, it can be calming, it can be used
to sleep, and so many different killing properties that consist
with music. And so I mean, oh my goodness, I
can just go on and on because.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It plays a role with me.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Now, you know, I know I didn't continue playing an instrument.
I regret that they could always think about you know,
you know, like anything, if you walk away from it,
you don't practice it, that that skill goes away. Oh
you know, and now you're becoming an adventure capitalist and
you know, owning hotel properties.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
The fear of walking away from music.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
I never said I I mean, I technically I wouldn't
say I walked away. I just felt like my other
ventures have kind of veered me to my focus.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Now. Your second question was touring though touring Yeah, yeah, okay,
I mean I can never get away from touring.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Okay, Opportunities aren't the same now as they were years
before for me, and so basically my other ventures have
been able to put touring on.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
The back end for me. But I got to get
back out there. So I got a lot of surprises
coming with music and you know, working on just about that,
doctor Tatum. Okay, it's that.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
We know in the world we live in today, multiple
streets of income, right people say that nowadays, people will
go get it back in the day when I grow up.
You're too busy, You're doing too manythings, do jokes about Jamaicans.
You know, five jobs now five jobs a compliment? Yeah,
multiple streams of income right now, when you talk about touring,
(07:08):
you talk about venture capitalists, you talk about owning hotel properties.
Are you looking at it from a multiple streams of
income positioning? Are you just saying this is what I
want to do with my life.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I basically, for me, I never chase things for the income.
To me, I really like I fell in love with credentials.
I fell in love with because in my life it
was a lot of things that early on, a lot
of people said things that I couldn't do right, you know,
from overcoming homelessness, living in the hotels for two years.
It was things that motivated me to say, God, if
(07:41):
you give me an opportunity at this thing again, I'm
going to take advantage of every opportunity I can. I'm
going to maximize each opportunity that I can and I'm
going to try to put my businessman hand on and
monetize each opportunity that I can. So now I'm looking
at it as multiple streams of income. But when I
wanted to do it, I wanted to. You know, when
I would go and I would.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Ride by these gorgeous houses, five ten million dollar houses,
and ride and go see these dealerships and all of
these expensive cars. It was like, I want to live
my life like that.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I don't want to have to wake up and damn
I got to figure out how much pay the light
bill and How'm gonna have to do all of this.
I didn't want to live that life, so I really
wanted to on it onto how I was able to
maximize all of my opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
You know what I love about this conversation, Like what
you just said was a vision board, and that was
happening when I was in high school. I just to
cut out the cars I wanted. I should drive through
the neighborhoods that I couldn't afford my little beat up
Pinto and go I want. I like the yard because
my wife always said, you really know what you want,
because it's been in my mind right since I was
(08:44):
a teenager what I wanted. So my goals have always
been before even existing vision air boards because of my age,
I just had dreams and they were locked in.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
That's the same way with me, they were locked in, Isaiah.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It's locked in tight and then you know, and it
doesn't really change. I think you know, it expands over time,
but it really doesn't change. You still have the same
goals and things that constantly motivate you and that motivation.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Because I want to ask you about the motivation inspiration,
because I know I've led with the venture capitalists, I've
led with the properties that you are on and one
of the youngest people that's been part of that whole
franchise out there. We're going to get to that, but
I think it's important that people know there's a backstory
to this.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
You know, you know, you wasn't born with a silver sponer.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
You had to build a reputation, and that reputation started
when you was ten years old. Yeah, it did, and
you your passion and your hard work.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Started there, right, correct, correct? Correct.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
The music has played such a role that you haven't
left your music left.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
How did you think about hotel properties?
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Well, in about twenty nineteen, I kind of because it basically,
so we're being a venture capital list and private equity
investor and so on these fancy.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Words, you know, Jackapitlis equity investors. Okay, first of all,
we'll avoid the English and education one on want of
money making conversations masterclass. Equity investor, what is that?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
So equity investor basically would come in the same thing
as a venture capitalist would basically put up equity or
funds for a company that's starting or something. Basically, so
say you got a company that's a million dollars, they
come to you and say, hey, Isaiah, we need three
hundred thousand dollars. We'll guarantee you thirty percent equity or
three six percent equity. However much of the company that
(10:41):
you guarantee for putting up that amount of money. So
it's basically, in short terms or layman's terms, what a
venture capitalist does or somebody who puts up equity and
so basically getting into that. In twenty eighteen, I was
one of the first people that invested into Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
So Jazz Pharmaceuticals could create it which as pharmaceuticals, so
(11:01):
it's a pharmaceutical company and so they've created one of
the first COURTSEHEP narcolepsy treatments.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I don't know if you're ever familiar with the medication
zium so ziraum.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I was one of the first people to be a
part of that in twenty eighteen when it got FDA approved,
and so that has really played a lot into my
career as expanding things. I mean, it's a lot of
things that you can't say because it's NDA's on certain things.
But it's okay, so.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Doctor Tatum, now that Doctor Tatum has nothing to do
with medicine. Now, okay, let's go and get that clear.
Which is a compliment it academia, but a drug. Yeah,
how did you see that?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
So, I mean basically everything that they presented, like, man,
I see, I'm the kind of person where when you
when you I'm all about careers, I'm all about a personality.
I'm all about meeting somebody and when a person can
come to you and present this product and helping out
people and being something, I'm all for it.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
I'm all for it.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I'm all about morals. I'm all about things that I
care about. So anything that can help, you know, people,
help the natural cause of things cure cancer, things like that.
I want to be a part of, you know, And
so it was I thought it was a great opportunity.
The business was great and it started, you know, and
I mean ten million dollars right now it's evaluated that
I don't know, one point four billion dollars or something.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
So it has been very great.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
And I mean part of KKR, the Carlile Group, Blackstone,
Oh my goodness, it's so many groups.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
That Oh yeah, Blackstone, that's the that's the billion big
people like that they are. They are getting people elected
in at the White House. That's how powerful those names
are that you were mentioning. Now that's that's the first step,
because I want to charge your progress here. You know,
(12:54):
ten years old giving us the axophone, right thirteen man
Kenny g got the tour.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
At the tour and it took a minute from thirteen
sixteen years people fourteen.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Jump out the out track.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
But then and then your investment in a pharmaceutical product.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
And are you following just good instinct? Oh no, I
do my due diligence.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I mean a little good instinct, but a lot of reading,
a lot of research. I mean, you know, a lot
of understanding what the product is a lot of understanding. Hey,
you know, what's the return on this? What is going
to be my return on the investment? How much can
I guarantee? How much can I make from my equity?
Speaker 2 (13:35):
You okay, you're.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Twenty four now, right, Okay, twenty one you got your
first hotel property, so I'm.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Sure we do.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
It's eighteen eighteen, you running these thoughts into your mind.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Eighteen.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I was on my own at eighteen, and so, I
mean I just was a sponge, Like I wanted to
learn map is one of my favorite things. Finance everything.
I don't feel like nothing is more important than finance.
You know what I'm saying? Money is important, right, right?
And so I wanted to be a person where I
didn't have to go to work. I didn't want to
(14:06):
be an artist that had to stay on tour to
maintain I wanted to be a person to say, hey,
if I don't want a tour right now, I don't
have to tour.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I can still maintain my life. And so I really
really studied and really really try to basically understand everything
where I wouldn't be in that position.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And so I was a sponge. I would just read
re read, listen, meet people. I mean talk to so
many different people. I meant tons and tons of people,
different produced shares and certain certain things.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
And then I.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Just throw out these words that you know, people in
fourties fifties are afraid to say out loud.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yeah, especially people who are of color. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
And I And that was another motivation for me, because
you know, when you would see people of color and
you would see the other races, I didn't want to
be something like. I didn't want to follow the same
footsteps of a lot of people. I wanted to be
a person. When I'm in the meetings, like when I'm
with my accountants, they can't make a decision without me
because I know what they're talking about. You can't go
(15:10):
in there and say this is what we're paying on time. No, no, no,
I know what we're talking about. I know the percentage,
I know the interest rate on playing you know, so
they like, he knows this stuff. But it helped you
in each venture because it's like when you're going on tour,
how much is this tour bu's gonna cost me?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
You know, how much is this production going to be?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
It makes you ask all the right questions, so I
think that really has helped me scope basically, you know everything.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
That I've done. Please don't go anywhere.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
We'll be right back with more money Making Conversations master Class.
Welcome back to Money Making Conversation master Class with me
Rashawn McDonald.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Now let's get to the big Tea's at the beginning,
the first hotel and that you even at when we're
talking about twenty you started this vision of trying to
get in this direction.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
So I mean I was a part of the Coolju
Bay Fund, which is a multifamily real estate development in
northern California. So I was already a part of real
estate before the hotel. COVID hit.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Stop stop. I'm looking at the young dude. They he's
talking like a forty. You just throw it out, this
turn it out, and it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Because so many people at a young age are told no,
stay in your place.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
That's a bum, that's above your abilities.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
You know the relationships, that's a scam. And all I
keep hearing is due diligence, doing research, understand the value
of relationships. You don't jump in without a clear understanding
the direction. Those are adult experience, well heated advice term
(17:02):
that you tell people and that comes from somebody in
their forties and fifties who was talking to you.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I felt like I seen so many people go wrong.
It was easy for me to not do what.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
They did right, right, right, right right. But I had
a lot of older mentors, you know.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I mean even to this day, me and Kenny Gy talk,
Me and Keith Sweat, we talk all the time.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
You whatever, you Lenny. It's so many.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I've had so many great people who've poured into me
where you know, they can tell you what to do,
what not to do.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You can look at them and.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
And I just was wanted to be around people who
had a lot of things going on and you know,
just giving you motivation. They waking up, not drinking, not smoking,
and healthy. I wanted to be that person, you know.
I wanted to mimic those habits, and I think it
transpired very well into everything that I've done.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Okay, now we can go back. I don't feel like
I got to stop you. You just when you get
me away, you blow me away. I gotta come back
and go Okay, now we get back.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
To property, first property, first property.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
So yeah, I developed his ninety eight rooms and Exit
two sixty nine, Kennesauth, Georgia, Kendl Woods, Swites. So I
basically found the deal was that was his name, Keith Worsham.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
He basically brought the deal to me. And it was
during COVID.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
So I wanted to find a venture that was recession proof, yes,
and so during that time money was different. A lot
of companies was down, stocks and things, everything was down.
So I was looking at something. I want a.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Business that can make money every day, that's basically.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
A money making machine, prints money, you know, something that
can perform in COVID. And when I did my due diligence,
the thing was not full service hotels like the big mariauds,
but extending days. And so when I looked into it,
I'm like, you can clear this kind of money. You
only got fifteen employees? Got this and that you can
(19:01):
make this kind of money how much I need to?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
And then it's like dang.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I always this was my dream to own my own
hotel one day, so I was like, how can I
be with that?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
That was a dream.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
It was a dream because we lived in a hotel
for two years. Okay, so you know, being in four
hundred square feet of a room, you know, was rough,
but I was like, God, you.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Got to get me out of this situation, right And so,
you know, it was a dream of mine.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I always wanted something that I can build from the
ground up and ride by it and say, wow, I
built this.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
This is me right here. And it was a challenge.
It wasn't easy. It was a challenge. I learned a lot.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
The person that I learned from and I think his
name was Neil Platel he passed away, and so but
you know, they gave me a lot of porners on hey,
this is what you do, this is what you don't do.
He built twenty hotels. So I felt like all of
my experience came from people who've basically been through what
I'm going through, or to their previous owners, so they
(19:59):
can tell you all the dudes and don't's better than
anybody can versus somebody who's just trying to sell you something.
So it was had its ups and downs, but it's
been pretty great, we know. It was the thing.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I heard out so quickly was the fact you said, Rishwan,
fifteen employees naming our rooms, And.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Then I went wow.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Other than the electricity, and the water and security. Then
your expense is a washing and a.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Drying, right, yeah, I mean, you know, and payroll and housekeepers.
But I don't have a full service kitchen. I mean
I have a you know, like a food Kiosta so
to say. So, yeah, so when I looked at that
model and I've seen.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Which I never had thought about, and then.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
COVID you know, if you think about it, because my
main clientele, it's not the generic people like a full
service hotel. It's mainly people who's who's coming from insurance companies,
you know, traveling nurses, traveling doctors, construction workers. So you
have a buffalo the people coming in at once. So
it extends that you're not just staying for one or
(21:05):
two days. You're staying for at least five days or more.
So you got nine eight rooms you have, I mean,
you know companies they might get thirty rooms at a
time and they might be traveling for thirty days.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Wow. So you know, you can look.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
At your revenue and say this is the amount of
money that you can make, you know, and you can
basically look at things and say, okay, from this month
all the way up to November, I'm looked up so
you can see your money.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, there are certain models out there that to me
a printing money, like people with accounting tax preparers.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Guess what, the laptop and the software.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Okay, especially nowadays they don't even have to print out
tax returns anymore.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
The military and file online.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, and so, but I never saw it from that
perspective because I would go, man, it has to be
there is difficulty in any business that you do. But
what is that model? What is that profit margin? And
then the fact that you said we'll shana, I don't.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Have a kitchen. I'm not getting into that.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
I'm not trying to say you come down now at
your property. Do you do the free breakfast or things
like that?
Speaker 3 (22:09):
That's your Probably at the Candlewoods, it's a kiosk where
you could buy your own but the embassy is a
totally different.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Okay, that's the next conversation we're about to have, right.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Okay, So let's so it's two candle Wor tweets that
you got right, So they near each other, they Georgia.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Offer exit from each other. Okay, cool, Yep, you're not
competing with yourself? No, no, Because.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
The way I look at street, so when I'm looking
at these billion dollar companies, right and Samsung, you learn
how to monopolize the market. You have the top performing
properties there. So I'm basically when I designed and developed
my hotels, I wanted to develop them like a rich Carton.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
I wanted to be able to have the same you.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Know, like I tell my general manager, when people come
in here, address somebody last name. If even if you
don't know who they are, you can look at their reservation,
make them feel welcome, make them feel at home.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
We have water.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
When holidays come, you know, dress decorate like, make it
feel good. So when people are coming in here, even
though they might not be spending no more than one
hundred and sixty dollars, make them feel like they're a
million dollars.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Now that's part of the what IHG okay? Can you
can you tell people some of the properties that are
tied to.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Ih Candlewood Sweets, Intercontinental Suites, what else IG has?
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Because I am a's a lot of member of IHG,
so I know I got my little van number. I mean,
it's really an incredible property to be a situated. I
O resently, I just bring that up. If you if
you do your homework. Just type in IHG dot com
and all these hotels popper and go. Yes, they so
want to this twenty one year old young man who
(23:56):
now has three properties. Now you said NBC sweets a
little bit different. That's different to the different A little
more expensive, at more aggressive, a little bit more aggressive.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
It's a full service hotel, so you have a full kitchen,
you have a but it's still a it's more of
a you have the sweet style rooms, but it's more
of a full service operation. So, you know, versus you
having fifteen employees, now you got sixty four. You know,
you got food and beverage directors, you got you know,
regional manager, you have a lot of more different positions.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
You got these nice little canter with sweets. You know,
fifteen people of.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
You kind of want to have both of them, you
know what I'm saying. And so with me, it was
like it was a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I see, I see you're going up the food tape.
I'm going up. I'm going up. I'm going up.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
I'm also working on and you can't no, you can't.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Oh no, you can't skip nothing. You got to take
your piece.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
And so so so that's the process that you are,
that you're educating yourself, as you say, doing your due diligence.
You know, faith plays a tremendous role in your life,
but a business plan is how you operate right now.
With that being said, do you are you the mentor
now the people even though you're a young person.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Yeah, a lot of people. You're playing life now. A
lot of people tell me that I'm a mentor to them.
A lot of people tell me that I give them motivation.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Because I try to always be a constant sponge, like
every day I feel like I can learn something new.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
I try to push myself.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
That's why in twenty twenty one, I went to war
and online Wall Street Prep.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
That all produce there CPA, they all go through that.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
So I wanted to be able to have the proper
credentials so I can actually say when I'm in front
of people that you're just not talking to somebody who's
just done reading and things. I've actually had the credentials
to be able to operate at the level that I'm
operating in.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Okay, I got it. I have to do my due diligence.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
If I'm shit in front of African American young man
bought his first property twenty one years old. He's twenty four.
Where are these properties located in the state of Georgia
if somebody is listening to the show, because you know,
we like to support each other.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I know, I know.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
So the first property is Candlewood Suite in Kensall, Georgia,
right off exit two sixty nine Ernest Spirit Parkway. The
other one is a candle Wood Suite Truist Park off
of Truist the ballpark.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
What's that Codplace Boulevard. I know exactly what that s at.
And then my.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Last property is the MBSCY suites Halsion and Alpharetta in
the new facility. That's the next exit up after Avalon.
And then I'm working on some other properties as well.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Okay, my next question of future Endeavorence. Yes, the music man,
I can talk about mister music man. Yeah, you know,
money made conversations mass multiple streets of income.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
We have not slid the music and tour to the side.
But everybody can't do the tour, don't have that gift
that God gave him. But they can't figure out how.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
To get in to hold their properties based on the
knowledge or providing with you what are some of the
stipulations that one has to do to try that you
had to go through to be able to be considered
a property owner under HG.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
So number one, you have to be able to have
the money to get into it. Just real money plays
a role. Before they say hello, money plays a role,
you know, I mean you got franchise fees.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
That's one hundred thousand dollars that caught you about sixteen
eighteen million dollars to develop a property. So but I
would say, you know, if you want to get into it,
have a know about construction, know about you know, really
try to get the.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
GC license, be able to have a GC license.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
So basically it's a general contractors having I can't think
of the actual name of it, but it's something that
you can be able to go into a property and say, Okay,
this is how much it's gonna cost. This is how
much I'm going to be spending here. You want to
make sure that because you have so many rigorous inspections.
You got you know, fire inspections, I mean age back
inspect You have so many inspections when you're developing these
(28:13):
properties that if the concrete is an inch off, they'll
come out and make you tear all this stuff out,
and you think it's a joke until you got to
pay fifty thousand dollars to tear some concrete up right.
And so it's a lot of things, dudes and don'ts
that you have to. And I felt like I had
the blessing to have a previous owner be able to
walk me through, you know, the steps, because if not,
(28:36):
I would have made a lot of you said, due diligence,
due diligence, due diligence, and one of these future endeavors.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
So future endeavors.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Right now, I have land for two true by Hilton's
in Tupelo, Mississippi. I'm working on a Hilton in Nashville, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I just I just love he's so young and so
component that working. We're working on the Sweat Hotel, Key Sweat,
get it to the hospitality.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
You're gonna have a real swing hoteltel.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
So we're working on that. Album is coming from me.
I'm probably gonna go back on to it maybe sometimes
next year. I'm gonna figure it out. I'm working on
it and.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Really get that there has to be what is your
support group?
Speaker 3 (29:28):
My support group, they're pretty good. Okay, I got a
real strong support group.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
They they're real low key, out of the way, but
I have a they think I'm crazy because I can't.
My mind is just every day I wake up, I'm like,
I gotta do this, I gotta do this, I gotta
do this.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And so, I mean that's a mind of a young person. Yeah,
I feel the mind of an achiever. So why they.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Tripping My support group is high because sometimes, like I
feel like a lot of people don't want to let
go of what I've already done.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
But with me, it's like that yesterday, I have to
move forward.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
So even though I've done really good, with me, it's
about what I'm doing tomorrow, what I'm doing today, you know,
it's about how can I continue to grow as a person.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
And so that's something that continues to motivate me. And
a lot of times they'd be.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Like, oh, You've done so much, they just want to
hold on to all and I'll be like, oh, yeah,
that's cool, but I got to move forward, right, So
I mean, but other than that, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
You know, it's really you know, we mad KEITHWD introduced
us to Eatailer.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
We hit it off, we tax a lot.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Yeah, and I enjoy communicating with you. And you know,
I just you figured it out, man, and I've been blessed.
You know, it's blessing is there. But you figured it
out through consistency and staying true to your dream true.
And I always because, like I told you the Cheard
(30:53):
McDonald you see today, I was this guy between the
ages eighteen and twenty three. And what's putting the words
like lucky right place at the right time. Never about
looking in the mirror and saying, this is a unique
talent that you have. You've accepted that, Isaiah. What does
(31:16):
that mean to you? And how can you express that
to anybody else out there who may have these visions?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
But people keep telling them that'll never work for you. Well,
a lot of people told me that, you know.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
I look at it where like a lot of people
use the word humble, telling the person to be humble
and have humility. I look at it as sometimes I
tell people, don't lure who you are to fit in
with everybody else just because they don't understand what God
has put on your life and who you are and
your skill set. You're in the wrong circle. Elevate yourself,
(31:53):
because I mean, for real, you know, I look at
things like, don't you don't want to be putting in
a way where a lot of people tell you, all men,
you know you feel this way. You feel this way
because a lot of people might feel that way about me.
They say, oh, he's arrogant, he's conceited, or things like that,
and I feel like I'm not like that. I look
at it as where I'm confident into what I've put out.
(32:14):
I'm confident, companient into the work that I do. I'm
competent into the results that I have received.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Over the years.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
So I always say, continue to grow, continue to flourish
on your talents. You know, if somebody is telling you no,
come back and prove to him.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Don't say nothing. Let your results. Let your results speak
for thisself, and then they'll see and come back. You know.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Well, sir, Well, sir, your results are pretty impressis thank you?
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Hey, you be quiet, let me talk about you.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Age of ten, picked up a saxophone, stumbled through it.
I know how big that saxophone was at the age
of ten, dragging the dollars.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
In middle school, dragging down the street heavy, every bleave.
It is a difference between that B flat.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Claring that case and that's the whole case and being
a Kenny G relationship an artist. I think that that
played a major role in yourself. Music played a major
role into who you are today twenty one years of age.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
IHG. If you want to know, they are for the truth.
I HG.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Two kind of with sweets and embassy suites. You're talking
about Mississippi, talking about Tennessee its future endeavors. Congratulations, man,
Thank you being appreciate, humbled but confident, and I think
that's two things. Yeah, and being able to have as
well as being a visionary. And the interesting thing is,
(33:38):
as I closed this interview, is that you know there's
a journey out there.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
When I remember.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
I look back when I was in my twenties, my
thursdies and for you know, in my sixties now and
I go and I can tell people honestly, I had
a career. But you know, early success and success now
are two different success journey and you're establishing a foundation
that your journey is going to be We're supposed to
(34:05):
be when you're fifty, sixty, seventy eighty until you retire
from life.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Congratulations on getting you and.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Understand it, and thank you for coming on money Making
Conversation master Class.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
You know I had to come on here. You have
to come on here.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Brother.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversations Masterclass
hosted by me, Rashawn McDonald. Thank you to our guests
on the show today and thank you our listening audience. Now,
if you want to listen to any episode I want
to register to be a guest on my show, visit
Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversations.
(34:44):
Join us next week and remember to always leave with
your gifts. Keep winning
Hi, Ra Sean McDonald, I host this weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides off for everyone includes you. It's time to stop
reading other people's success stories and really start living your own.
If you want to be a guest on my show,
Money Making Conversations Master Class, please visit that website, Moneymaking
Conversations dot com and click the be a guest button.
(00:23):
If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer,
a nonprofit I want you on my show.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Now, let's get started.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
My guest hotel ownership includes two candle Will suites and
an Embassy suites. He's a touring artist and venture capitalist.
That's three things. He's one of the youngest individuals to
ever receive an honorary doctorate as well as receiving an
Outstanding Citizen Award from the State of Georgia. That's five things.
(00:52):
Please work with the Money Making Conversation Master Class. Doctor
Isaiah Tatum, Hey doing, Doctor Tatum Man? You see it
laid back now, I've seen you out man, way more energy.
You're not gonna play it cool on my show. You
can't take these man, because you inspire your inspiration.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
I appreciate it. I brought you on here to tell
your story. I appreciate it. And how old you right now?
I'm twenty four, twenty four years old? Can you can? You?
Can you scroll that back down a minute? This twenty
four year old? Brothers?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Did he say two Canada will sweets and sweet? He's
a touring artist and adventure capitalist and he's twenty four
years old?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Okay, how I'm just gonna throw that out, but we're
gonna get more details right right there?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
You can.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Faith means a faith and a plan. Faith. I don't
tell people to jump out there on faith.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You better have a plan in your back pocket because
in the end, people gonna ask you for that plan.
People gonna ask you for direction.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And you gotta have that all in that.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
So let's go back music playing a major role in
your life early on.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Let's go there first one music. I began playing the
saxophone when I was ten. I kind of grew up
basically raised around my grandparents. So some of my favorite
artists are Curtis Mayfield, Bobby Wold, Mack, Retha Franklin. You know,
I mean, I love all of the great So when
I was ten, I didn't really I wasn't in the football.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
I wasn't in the.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Play football though, and so you know, I was just
listening to music and I started playing the drums feeling around.
My grandfather introduced me into golf, so I started at
d and so once I became ten, he brought me
a saxophone, and then from there I got to listening
to Kenny g Jerald Albright, you know, David Sanborn's all
(02:41):
the greats. And from there, basically I just fell in
love with the instrument.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And I'm like, one day.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I want to because I couldn't sing, so one day
I want to be able to emulate the same emotion
and everything that they do with the sacks, where I
can transpose it and do the same they could. And
so you know, it started, and it was something that
was cool. But I knew I was different because all
the other kids hated taking the instrument home. I couldn't
wait to get home and play, and I sounded horrible.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
But it was a challenge.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Because it was like, oh, I practiced six hours a day, Okay,
I'm okay.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
On Monday, Tuesday practiced a little bit more. I'm getting better.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You know, Wednesday, I'm practicing a little bit more and
I'm getting better. So I kind of progressed really quickly,
and by it I was twelve and thirteen. I'm playing
with people in high school and I'm so much more advanced,
and I'm like, I'm actually good.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
And you know, I can hear it. I can hear
the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I would just look on YouTube and mimic everything Kenny
and these other people were doing, and so then I
began to actually know that I was good. And from
there I had an opportunity to meet Kenny G. And
we just kind of kicked it off from there and
been like the best of friends.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And from their open I think I was about thirteen thirteen. Wow,
picked it up at ten, picked it up at ten,
make Kenny G at thirteen. We stayed in contact.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
I mean, you know from there on, you know, he
liked me because I was very inquisitive. I asked a
lot of questions, right, I believe that I believe that
you got that. Ask a lot of questions.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
I'm going to ask you all the questions, how do
you do this, how do you do this? How you
do this?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
And so basically, you know, from there he was like,
I like this kid, you know, he's very inquisitive, and
we kicked it off from there and the next thing,
you know, I became very proficient in what I was doing.
And next thing, you know, I'm touring.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Congratulations.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
You know my background, part of my little background A
lot of people don't know. Was that a B flagcall clarinet,
first chair. Then I went over to Alto tanem based sound. Okay, yeah,
I went through the whole ranks. You know, the winds.
I had the winds, you know, but I would The
reason I bring that up is that music played a
(04:47):
lot to my success today because it really helped me.
I fell from a memory stand form, from an educational
plantpoint within. My academics talk about how music really can
be an asset to young people other than what they
hear rappers do and all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Just the basic core of music is important.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
I feel like music is so important because if you
really go back in history, you really understand the core.
To me, music is universal, right, you know, we can
be in America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the way that
you can communicate without speaking the same languages through music.
So I feel like a lot of young people are
(05:30):
really missing the basis of how fundamental music is. It's therapeutic,
you know, it can be calming, it can be used
to sleep, and so many different killing properties that consist
with music. And so I mean, oh my goodness, I
can just go on and on because.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
It plays a role with me.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Now, you know, I know I didn't continue playing an instrument.
I regret that they could always think about you know,
you know, like anything, if you walk away from it,
you don't practice it, that that skill goes away. Oh
you know, and now you're becoming an adventure capitalist and
you know, owning hotel properties.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
The fear of walking away from music.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
I never said I I mean, I technically I wouldn't
say I walked away. I just felt like my other
ventures have kind of veered me to my focus.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Now. Your second question was touring though touring Yeah, yeah, okay,
I mean I can never get away from touring.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Okay, Opportunities aren't the same now as they were years
before for me, and so basically my other ventures have
been able to put touring on.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
The back end for me. But I got to get
back out there. So I got a lot of surprises
coming with music and you know, working on just about that,
doctor Tatum. Okay, it's that.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
We know in the world we live in today, multiple
streets of income, right people say that nowadays, people will
go get it back in the day when I grow up.
You're too busy, You're doing too manythings, do jokes about Jamaicans.
You know, five jobs now five jobs a compliment? Yeah,
multiple streams of income right now, when you talk about touring,
(07:08):
you talk about venture capitalists, you talk about owning hotel properties.
Are you looking at it from a multiple streams of
income positioning? Are you just saying this is what I
want to do with my life.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I basically, for me, I never chase things for the income.
To me, I really like I fell in love with credentials.
I fell in love with because in my life it
was a lot of things that early on, a lot
of people said things that I couldn't do right, you know,
from overcoming homelessness, living in the hotels for two years.
It was things that motivated me to say, God, if
(07:41):
you give me an opportunity at this thing again, I'm
going to take advantage of every opportunity I can. I'm
going to maximize each opportunity that I can and I'm
going to try to put my businessman hand on and
monetize each opportunity that I can. So now I'm looking
at it as multiple streams of income. But when I
wanted to do it, I wanted to. You know, when
I would go and I would.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Ride by these gorgeous houses, five ten million dollar houses,
and ride and go see these dealerships and all of
these expensive cars. It was like, I want to live
my life like that.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
I don't want to have to wake up and damn
I got to figure out how much pay the light
bill and How'm gonna have to do all of this.
I didn't want to live that life, so I really
wanted to on it onto how I was able to
maximize all of my opportunity.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
You know what I love about this conversation, Like what
you just said was a vision board, and that was
happening when I was in high school. I just to
cut out the cars I wanted. I should drive through
the neighborhoods that I couldn't afford my little beat up
Pinto and go I want. I like the yard because
my wife always said, you really know what you want,
because it's been in my mind right since I was
(08:44):
a teenager what I wanted. So my goals have always
been before even existing vision air boards because of my age,
I just had dreams and they were locked in.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
That's the same way with me, they were locked in, Isaiah.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
It's locked in tight and then you know, and it
doesn't really change. I think you know, it expands over time,
but it really doesn't change. You still have the same
goals and things that constantly motivate you and that motivation.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Because I want to ask you about the motivation inspiration,
because I know I've led with the venture capitalists, I've
led with the properties that you are on and one
of the youngest people that's been part of that whole
franchise out there. We're going to get to that, but
I think it's important that people know there's a backstory
to this.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
You know, you know, you wasn't born with a silver sponer.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
You had to build a reputation, and that reputation started
when you was ten years old. Yeah, it did, and
you your passion and your hard work.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Started there, right, correct, correct? Correct.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
The music has played such a role that you haven't
left your music left.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
How did you think about hotel properties?
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Well, in about twenty nineteen, I kind of because it basically,
so we're being a venture capital list and private equity
investor and so on these fancy.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Words, you know, Jackapitlis equity investors. Okay, first of all,
we'll avoid the English and education one on want of
money making conversations masterclass. Equity investor, what is that?
Speaker 3 (10:18):
So equity investor basically would come in the same thing
as a venture capitalist would basically put up equity or
funds for a company that's starting or something. Basically, so
say you got a company that's a million dollars, they
come to you and say, hey, Isaiah, we need three
hundred thousand dollars. We'll guarantee you thirty percent equity or
three six percent equity. However much of the company that
(10:41):
you guarantee for putting up that amount of money. So
it's basically, in short terms or layman's terms, what a
venture capitalist does or somebody who puts up equity and
so basically getting into that. In twenty eighteen, I was
one of the first people that invested into Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
So Jazz Pharmaceuticals could create it which as pharmaceuticals, so
(11:01):
it's a pharmaceutical company and so they've created one of
the first COURTSEHEP narcolepsy treatments.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
I don't know if you're ever familiar with the medication
zium so ziraum.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I was one of the first people to be a
part of that in twenty eighteen when it got FDA approved,
and so that has really played a lot into my
career as expanding things. I mean, it's a lot of
things that you can't say because it's NDA's on certain things.
But it's okay, so.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Doctor Tatum, now that Doctor Tatum has nothing to do
with medicine. Now, okay, let's go and get that clear.
Which is a compliment it academia, but a drug. Yeah,
how did you see that?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
So, I mean basically everything that they presented, like, man,
I see, I'm the kind of person where when you
when you I'm all about careers, I'm all about a personality.
I'm all about meeting somebody and when a person can
come to you and present this product and helping out
people and being something, I'm all for it.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
I'm all for it.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I'm all about morals. I'm all about things that I
care about. So anything that can help, you know, people,
help the natural cause of things cure cancer, things like that.
I want to be a part of, you know, And
so it was I thought it was a great opportunity.
The business was great and it started, you know, and
I mean ten million dollars right now it's evaluated that
I don't know, one point four billion dollars or something.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
So it has been very great.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
And I mean part of KKR, the Carlile Group, Blackstone,
Oh my goodness, it's so many groups.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
That Oh yeah, Blackstone, that's the that's the billion big
people like that they are. They are getting people elected
in at the White House. That's how powerful those names
are that you were mentioning. Now that's that's the first step,
because I want to charge your progress here. You know,
(12:54):
ten years old giving us the axophone, right thirteen man
Kenny g got the tour.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
At the tour and it took a minute from thirteen
sixteen years people fourteen.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Jump out the out track.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
But then and then your investment in a pharmaceutical product.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
And are you following just good instinct? Oh no, I
do my due diligence.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
I mean a little good instinct, but a lot of reading,
a lot of research. I mean, you know, a lot
of understanding what the product is a lot of understanding. Hey,
you know, what's the return on this? What is going
to be my return on the investment? How much can
I guarantee? How much can I make from my equity?
Speaker 2 (13:35):
You okay, you're.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
Twenty four now, right, Okay, twenty one you got your
first hotel property, so I'm.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Sure we do.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
It's eighteen eighteen, you running these thoughts into your mind.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Eighteen.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
I was on my own at eighteen, and so, I
mean I just was a sponge, Like I wanted to
learn map is one of my favorite things. Finance everything.
I don't feel like nothing is more important than finance.
You know what I'm saying? Money is important, right, right?
And so I wanted to be a person where I
didn't have to go to work. I didn't want to
(14:06):
be an artist that had to stay on tour to
maintain I wanted to be a person to say, hey,
if I don't want a tour right now, I don't
have to tour.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I can still maintain my life. And so I really
really studied and really really try to basically understand everything
where I wouldn't be in that position.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
And so I was a sponge. I would just read
re read, listen, meet people. I mean talk to so
many different people. I meant tons and tons of people,
different produced shares and certain certain things.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
And then I.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Just throw out these words that you know, people in
fourties fifties are afraid to say out loud.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yeah, especially people who are of color. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
And I And that was another motivation for me, because
you know, when you would see people of color and
you would see the other races, I didn't want to
be something like. I didn't want to follow the same
footsteps of a lot of people. I wanted to be
a person. When I'm in the meetings, like when I'm
with my accountants, they can't make a decision without me
because I know what they're talking about. You can't go
(15:10):
in there and say this is what we're paying on time. No, no, no,
I know what we're talking about. I know the percentage,
I know the interest rate on playing you know, so
they like, he knows this stuff. But it helped you
in each venture because it's like when you're going on tour,
how much is this tour bu's gonna cost me?
Speaker 2 (15:25):
You know, how much is this production going to be?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
It makes you ask all the right questions, so I
think that really has helped me scope basically, you know everything.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
That I've done. Please don't go anywhere.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
We'll be right back with more money Making Conversations master Class.
Welcome back to Money Making Conversation master Class with me
Rashawn McDonald.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Now let's get to the big Tea's at the beginning,
the first hotel and that you even at when we're
talking about twenty you started this vision of trying to
get in this direction.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
So I mean I was a part of the Coolju
Bay Fund, which is a multifamily real estate development in
northern California. So I was already a part of real
estate before the hotel. COVID hit.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Stop stop. I'm looking at the young dude. They he's
talking like a forty. You just throw it out, this
turn it out, and it's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Because so many people at a young age are told no,
stay in your place.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
That's a bum, that's above your abilities.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
You know the relationships, that's a scam. And all I
keep hearing is due diligence, doing research, understand the value
of relationships. You don't jump in without a clear understanding
the direction. Those are adult experience, well heated advice term
(17:02):
that you tell people and that comes from somebody in
their forties and fifties who was talking to you.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I felt like I seen so many people go wrong.
It was easy for me to not do what.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
They did right, right, right, right right. But I had
a lot of older mentors, you know.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
I mean even to this day, me and Kenny Gy talk,
Me and Keith Sweat, we talk all the time.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
You whatever, you Lenny. It's so many.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I've had so many great people who've poured into me
where you know, they can tell you what to do,
what not to do.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
You can look at them and.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
And I just was wanted to be around people who
had a lot of things going on and you know,
just giving you motivation. They waking up, not drinking, not smoking,
and healthy. I wanted to be that person, you know.
I wanted to mimic those habits, and I think it
transpired very well into everything that I've done.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Okay, now we can go back. I don't feel like
I got to stop you. You just when you get
me away, you blow me away. I gotta come back
and go Okay, now we get back.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
To property, first property, first property.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
So yeah, I developed his ninety eight rooms and Exit
two sixty nine, Kennesauth, Georgia, Kendl Woods, Swites. So I
basically found the deal was that was his name, Keith Worsham.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
He basically brought the deal to me. And it was
during COVID.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
So I wanted to find a venture that was recession proof, yes,
and so during that time money was different. A lot
of companies was down, stocks and things, everything was down.
So I was looking at something. I want a.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Business that can make money every day, that's basically.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
A money making machine, prints money, you know, something that
can perform in COVID. And when I did my due diligence,
the thing was not full service hotels like the big mariauds,
but extending days. And so when I looked into it,
I'm like, you can clear this kind of money. You
only got fifteen employees? Got this and that you can
(19:01):
make this kind of money how much I need to?
Speaker 2 (19:03):
And then it's like dang.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I always this was my dream to own my own
hotel one day, so I was like, how can I
be with that?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
That was a dream.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
It was a dream because we lived in a hotel
for two years. Okay, so you know, being in four
hundred square feet of a room, you know, was rough,
but I was like, God, you.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Got to get me out of this situation, right And so,
you know, it was a dream of mine.
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I always wanted something that I can build from the
ground up and ride by it and say, wow, I
built this.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
This is me right here. And it was a challenge.
It wasn't easy. It was a challenge. I learned a lot.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
The person that I learned from and I think his
name was Neil Platel he passed away, and so but
you know, they gave me a lot of porners on hey,
this is what you do, this is what you don't do.
He built twenty hotels. So I felt like all of
my experience came from people who've basically been through what
I'm going through, or to their previous owners, so they
(19:59):
can tell you all the dudes and don't's better than
anybody can versus somebody who's just trying to sell you something.
So it was had its ups and downs, but it's
been pretty great, we know. It was the thing.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
I heard out so quickly was the fact you said, Rishwan,
fifteen employees naming our rooms, And.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Then I went wow.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Other than the electricity, and the water and security. Then
your expense is a washing and a.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Drying, right, yeah, I mean, you know, and payroll and housekeepers.
But I don't have a full service kitchen. I mean
I have a you know, like a food Kiosta so
to say. So, yeah, so when I looked at that
model and I've seen.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Which I never had thought about, and then.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
COVID you know, if you think about it, because my
main clientele, it's not the generic people like a full
service hotel. It's mainly people who's who's coming from insurance companies,
you know, traveling nurses, traveling doctors, construction workers. So you
have a buffalo the people coming in at once. So
it extends that you're not just staying for one or
(21:05):
two days. You're staying for at least five days or more.
So you got nine eight rooms you have, I mean,
you know companies they might get thirty rooms at a
time and they might be traveling for thirty days.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Wow. So you know, you can look.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
At your revenue and say this is the amount of
money that you can make, you know, and you can
basically look at things and say, okay, from this month
all the way up to November, I'm looked up so
you can see your money.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, there are certain models out there that to me
a printing money, like people with accounting tax preparers.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Guess what, the laptop and the software.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Okay, especially nowadays they don't even have to print out
tax returns anymore.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
The military and file online.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
Yeah, and so, but I never saw it from that
perspective because I would go, man, it has to be
there is difficulty in any business that you do. But
what is that model? What is that profit margin? And
then the fact that you said we'll shana, I don't.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Have a kitchen. I'm not getting into that.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
I'm not trying to say you come down now at
your property. Do you do the free breakfast or things
like that?
Speaker 3 (22:09):
That's your Probably at the Candlewoods, it's a kiosk where
you could buy your own but the embassy is a
totally different.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Okay, that's the next conversation we're about to have, right.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Okay, So let's so it's two candle Wor tweets that
you got right, So they near each other, they Georgia.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Offer exit from each other. Okay, cool, Yep, you're not
competing with yourself? No, no, Because.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
The way I look at street, so when I'm looking
at these billion dollar companies, right and Samsung, you learn
how to monopolize the market. You have the top performing
properties there. So I'm basically when I designed and developed
my hotels, I wanted to develop them like a rich Carton.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
I wanted to be able to have the same you.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
Know, like I tell my general manager, when people come
in here, address somebody last name. If even if you
don't know who they are, you can look at their reservation,
make them feel welcome, make them feel at home.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
We have water.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
When holidays come, you know, dress decorate like, make it
feel good. So when people are coming in here, even
though they might not be spending no more than one
hundred and sixty dollars, make them feel like they're a
million dollars.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Now that's part of the what IHG okay? Can you
can you tell people some of the properties that are
tied to.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Ih Candlewood Sweets, Intercontinental Suites, what else IG has?
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Because I am a's a lot of member of IHG,
so I know I got my little van number. I mean,
it's really an incredible property to be a situated. I
O resently, I just bring that up. If you if
you do your homework. Just type in IHG dot com
and all these hotels popper and go. Yes, they so
want to this twenty one year old young man who
(23:56):
now has three properties. Now you said NBC sweets a
little bit different. That's different to the different A little
more expensive, at more aggressive, a little bit more aggressive.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
It's a full service hotel, so you have a full kitchen,
you have a but it's still a it's more of
a you have the sweet style rooms, but it's more
of a full service operation. So, you know, versus you
having fifteen employees, now you got sixty four. You know,
you got food and beverage directors, you got you know,
regional manager, you have a lot of more different positions.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
You got these nice little canter with sweets. You know,
fifteen people of.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
You kind of want to have both of them, you
know what I'm saying. And so with me, it was
like it was a great opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I see, I see you're going up the food tape.
I'm going up. I'm going up. I'm going up.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
I'm also working on and you can't no, you can't.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Oh no, you can't skip nothing. You got to take
your piece.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
And so so so that's the process that you are,
that you're educating yourself, as you say, doing your due diligence.
You know, faith plays a tremendous role in your life,
but a business plan is how you operate right now.
With that being said, do you are you the mentor
now the people even though you're a young person.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Yeah, a lot of people. You're playing life now. A
lot of people tell me that I'm a mentor to them.
A lot of people tell me that I give them motivation.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Because I try to always be a constant sponge, like
every day I feel like I can learn something new.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
I try to push myself.
Speaker 3 (25:32):
That's why in twenty twenty one, I went to war
and online Wall Street Prep.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
That all produce there CPA, they all go through that.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
So I wanted to be able to have the proper
credentials so I can actually say when I'm in front
of people that you're just not talking to somebody who's
just done reading and things. I've actually had the credentials
to be able to operate at the level that I'm
operating in.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
Okay, I got it. I have to do my due diligence.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
If I'm shit in front of African American young man
bought his first property twenty one years old. He's twenty four.
Where are these properties located in the state of Georgia
if somebody is listening to the show, because you know,
we like to support each other.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
I know, I know.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
So the first property is Candlewood Suite in Kensall, Georgia,
right off exit two sixty nine Ernest Spirit Parkway. The
other one is a candle Wood Suite Truist Park off
of Truist the ballpark.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
What's that Codplace Boulevard. I know exactly what that s at.
And then my.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Last property is the MBSCY suites Halsion and Alpharetta in
the new facility. That's the next exit up after Avalon.
And then I'm working on some other properties as well.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Okay, my next question of future Endeavorence. Yes, the music man,
I can talk about mister music man. Yeah, you know,
money made conversations mass multiple streets of income.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
We have not slid the music and tour to the side.
But everybody can't do the tour, don't have that gift
that God gave him. But they can't figure out how.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
To get in to hold their properties based on the
knowledge or providing with you what are some of the
stipulations that one has to do to try that you
had to go through to be able to be considered
a property owner under HG.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
So number one, you have to be able to have
the money to get into it. Just real money plays
a role. Before they say hello, money plays a role,
you know, I mean you got franchise fees.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
That's one hundred thousand dollars that caught you about sixteen
eighteen million dollars to develop a property. So but I
would say, you know, if you want to get into it,
have a know about construction, know about you know, really
try to get the.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
GC license, be able to have a GC license.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
So basically it's a general contractors having I can't think
of the actual name of it, but it's something that
you can be able to go into a property and say, Okay,
this is how much it's gonna cost. This is how
much I'm going to be spending here. You want to
make sure that because you have so many rigorous inspections.
You got you know, fire inspections, I mean age back
inspect You have so many inspections when you're developing these
(28:13):
properties that if the concrete is an inch off, they'll
come out and make you tear all this stuff out,
and you think it's a joke until you got to
pay fifty thousand dollars to tear some concrete up right.
And so it's a lot of things, dudes and don'ts
that you have to. And I felt like I had
the blessing to have a previous owner be able to
walk me through, you know, the steps, because if not,
(28:36):
I would have made a lot of you said, due diligence,
due diligence, due diligence, and one of these future endeavors.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
So future endeavors.
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Right now, I have land for two true by Hilton's
in Tupelo, Mississippi. I'm working on a Hilton in Nashville, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I just I just love he's so young and so
component that working. We're working on the Sweat Hotel, Key Sweat,
get it to the hospitality.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
You're gonna have a real swing hoteltel.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
So we're working on that. Album is coming from me.
I'm probably gonna go back on to it maybe sometimes
next year. I'm gonna figure it out. I'm working on
it and.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Really get that there has to be what is your
support group?
Speaker 3 (29:28):
My support group, they're pretty good. Okay, I got a
real strong support group.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
They they're real low key, out of the way, but
I have a they think I'm crazy because I can't.
My mind is just every day I wake up, I'm like,
I gotta do this, I gotta do this, I gotta
do this.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
And so, I mean that's a mind of a young person. Yeah,
I feel the mind of an achiever. So why they.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Tripping My support group is high because sometimes, like I
feel like a lot of people don't want to let
go of what I've already done.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
But with me, it's like that yesterday, I have to
move forward.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
So even though I've done really good, with me, it's
about what I'm doing tomorrow, what I'm doing today, you know,
it's about how can I continue to grow as a person.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
And so that's something that continues to motivate me. And
a lot of times they'd be.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Like, oh, You've done so much, they just want to
hold on to all and I'll be like, oh, yeah,
that's cool, but I got to move forward, right, So
I mean, but other than that, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
You know, it's really you know, we mad KEITHWD introduced
us to Eatailer.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
We hit it off, we tax a lot.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Yeah, and I enjoy communicating with you. And you know,
I just you figured it out, man, and I've been blessed.
You know, it's blessing is there. But you figured it
out through consistency and staying true to your dream true.
And I always because, like I told you the Cheard
(30:53):
McDonald you see today, I was this guy between the
ages eighteen and twenty three. And what's putting the words
like lucky right place at the right time. Never about
looking in the mirror and saying, this is a unique
talent that you have. You've accepted that, Isaiah. What does
(31:16):
that mean to you? And how can you express that
to anybody else out there who may have these visions?
Speaker 2 (31:22):
But people keep telling them that'll never work for you. Well,
a lot of people told me that, you know.
Speaker 3 (31:29):
I look at it where like a lot of people
use the word humble, telling the person to be humble
and have humility. I look at it as sometimes I
tell people, don't lure who you are to fit in
with everybody else just because they don't understand what God
has put on your life and who you are and
your skill set. You're in the wrong circle. Elevate yourself,
(31:53):
because I mean, for real, you know, I look at
things like, don't you don't want to be putting in
a way where a lot of people tell you, all men,
you know you feel this way. You feel this way
because a lot of people might feel that way about me.
They say, oh, he's arrogant, he's conceited, or things like that,
and I feel like I'm not like that. I look
at it as where I'm confident into what I've put out.
(32:14):
I'm confident, companient into the work that I do. I'm
competent into the results that I have received.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Over the years.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
So I always say, continue to grow, continue to flourish
on your talents. You know, if somebody is telling you no,
come back and prove to him.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Don't say nothing. Let your results. Let your results speak
for thisself, and then they'll see and come back. You know.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Well, sir, Well, sir, your results are pretty impressis thank you?
Speaker 2 (32:42):
Hey, you be quiet, let me talk about you.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Age of ten, picked up a saxophone, stumbled through it.
I know how big that saxophone was at the age
of ten, dragging the dollars.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
In middle school, dragging down the street heavy, every bleave.
It is a difference between that B flat.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Claring that case and that's the whole case and being
a Kenny G relationship an artist. I think that that
played a major role in yourself. Music played a major
role into who you are today twenty one years of age.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
IHG. If you want to know, they are for the truth.
I HG.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Two kind of with sweets and embassy suites. You're talking
about Mississippi, talking about Tennessee its future endeavors. Congratulations, man,
Thank you being appreciate, humbled but confident, and I think
that's two things. Yeah, and being able to have as
well as being a visionary. And the interesting thing is,
(33:38):
as I closed this interview, is that you know there's
a journey out there.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
When I remember.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
I look back when I was in my twenties, my
thursdies and for you know, in my sixties now and
I go and I can tell people honestly, I had
a career. But you know, early success and success now
are two different success journey and you're establishing a foundation
that your journey is going to be We're supposed to
(34:05):
be when you're fifty, sixty, seventy eighty until you retire
from life.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Congratulations on getting you and.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
Understand it, and thank you for coming on money Making
Conversation master Class.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
You know I had to come on here. You have
to come on here.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
Brother.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversations Masterclass
hosted by me, Rashawn McDonald. Thank you to our guests
on the show today and thank you our listening audience. Now,
if you want to listen to any episode I want
to register to be a guest on my show, visit
Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversations.
(34:44):
Join us next week and remember to always leave with
your gifts. Keep winning
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