Gerald Washington: The Come Back

Gerald Washington

Episode Introduction

He went from two college degrees, a multimillion-dollar business, tailored suits, a BMW, and a Range Rover and all the luxury to coming home in a uniform smelling of lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream. But whatever the job was that he undertook, Gerald made sure that in his mind he was the CEO of the role he had been assigned. Why do you think life sometimes forces us into roles and figures we have never anticipated being in?

Gerald Washington has been taking brands and businesses to the next level of success. His leadership, innovation, and business acumen leave only two words to describe him: Empire Builder. Today he’s building a family empire that includes several multi-unit real estate holdings, a transportation company, a brand management division, and now a transformation arm via his speaking, coaching programs, and new book, Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire. Washington’s latest venture takes him off his Hollywood Hiatus and back into the amazing world of entertainment and television productions. With the launch of Driveway Productions his Atlanta based production company, a renewed sense of purpose, a laser focus, and a commitment to providing programming that will not only be entertaining but will tell the types of powerful, culture-driven, complex, perspective-based, impactful stories so many viewers are craving.

Gerald’s passion for business and entrepreneurship started in his youth. In high school, he launched a profitable 5-figure candy business. While attending college, he founded a marketing company that promoted national concert tours and counted major brands such as Coca-Cola among its clients. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Advanced Economics with a minor in Psychology from Occidental College, he launched a boutique real estate company with his then-girlfriend, and future wife, Patrice. Within a few years, Gerald had built a multi-million dollar real estate empire. With several successful million-dollar companies under his belt in his early twenties, Gerald took a huge financial hit during the economic downturn of the late 2000s and lost the majority of his businesses. 

He had taken up a number of jobs for which he was overqualified then. He was so desperate to make his ends meet and provide for his family, that he worked with Taco Bells at a point. Through all the odds Gerald had faced in life, he has been able to distinguish clearly between an entrepreneur and an empire builder. He says, “the steps it takes to build an entrepreneur or business in my mind are the same steps except multiplied that it takes to build an empire”.

Determined to rebuild his portfolio, gain momentum in the business, and surpass his previous success, Gerald bounced back stronger and wiser than ever. He created his own empire. Listen in to the episode today and take away wonderful nuggets of wisdom!

 

About Our Guest 

Gerald Washington. The Empire Builder has been taking brands and businesses to the next level of success with his leadership, innovation, and business acumen. He is building a family empire that includes several multi-unit real estate holdings, a transportation company, a brand management division, and now a transformation arm via his speaking, coaching programs, and new book, Don’t Just Start a Business, Build an Empire. Washington’s latest venture takes him off his Hollywood Hiatus and back into the amazing world of entertainment and television productions. With the launch of Driveway Productions his Atlanta based production company, a renewed sense of purpose, a laser focus, and a commitment to providing programming that will not only be entertaining but will tell the types of powerful, culture-driven, complex, perspective-based, impactful stories so many viewers are craving.

 

Episode Quotes

• “I was the CEO of my role because that is my mindset.” - Gerald [19:50]

• “Becoming the CEO is not attached to $1 amount, I think it's attached to being the chief executive officer of the situation.” - Gerald [22:01]

• “People are watching with the power to bless you and you were blessed. “- Herdyne [27:29]

• “The humility I needed in order to be successful, I had to learn by going through what I went through” - Gerald [29:13]

• “I needed to rest in him. I needed to settle down again in him.” - Sean [44:29]

 

Redefining Grief Pearls of Wisdom, P.O.W., Questions

• What have you learned about yourself since redefining your grief journey? [36:25]

          I'm not as strong as I thought I was. And that's okay. That I don't have all the answers. 

• If today was your