Why you must be offensive...

Speaker A: Like the first. From a leadership perspective, I saw that. Like, okay, honestly, it starts with me, right? Um, to a certain point. There's certain things where it's like, yo, I don't. I don't have to. You're not me. Yeah. There's a boundary. Right. Um, and the. The. The point is not to be liked, especially by your. Your staff. Right?

Speaker B: That's a hard one.

Speaker A: The. The. And it is. Yeah, it really is. You are, uh, just meant to make sure that they can have a roof over their head that m. They can get paid when they complain like it is. You have this. Your skin has to, unfortunately, grow thicker. And that was one of the hardest ones for me because I've. I build spaces and I build things where community is everything. M. Right. Um, so being liked was a very important thing. And I had to reflect and be like, why is it important?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Do you know what I mean? What? The purpose of this thing is not for you to be liked. The purpose of this thing is for people to make money. Right. And to grow. Either grow if they're not. If. If it's not. If the priority is not making money, the priority is growing.

Speaker B: I see.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Um, and from a leadership perspective, that was really hard. Luckily, I have, um. I've surrounded myself with people that. That are comfortable with asking me difficult questions. Right. Um, I remember, if I can make an example, I had a conversation with Penual. Uh, right. Um, and he was like. He goes. He comes past the. He's coming to shoot a podcast. He sees, um, the. He sees that the fridge is not as full as it should be. Right? It's not. I'm not stocked up enough. And he's like, yo, first time, he doesn't say anything. Three weeks later, he comes back, same. Not the same amount, but still doesn't look, you know, And I remember watching this thing, um, on YouTube that was saying that you can tell a business is suffering by looking at the fridge. If the fridge is not full, the business has a problem. M. Right. Because it's often the fridge is the stuff that contains the stuff that you need to keep the most. Right? So he's like. Then he calls me. He's like, yo, man, I just want to know what's going on. M. I'm like, ah, bro, I'm doing this. And then he asked me, he was like, if you had to choose between, um, overstocking and paying salaries, what would you choose? I, ah, was like, overstocking. Come on, bro, I pay salaries. He's like, then you have A problem. I was like, what do you mean I have a problem? He's like, you. You. You are more focused on making sure your employees are good than your business is good, right?

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: And I was like, but isn't it. Isn't it both? He's like, I'm not saying that you can't have both. I'm saying both can't be a priority. There's some people that will go on social media and they will ask, like, what kind of human beings are the people that run major companies like Apple, where the batteries are made in a certain place of Africa, that you see how those people are living. The reality is those people don't care, right? Because it's not their job to care. It's not their job to. Their job is profits. Their job is not, um, is the space a socially good environment? Is it uplifting? Is it upskilling? They are like, give me. How do I get this thing? The cheapest way, right? And the quickest way, right? That is that CEO's job. That is why they've been put there, right? And I struggled with that a lot, bro. I struggled with that a lot.

Speaker B: I want to challenge that. Allow me to challenge that. Because. So. So I'm of the firm belief that, um, at least try to strike a balance in both. I think the people are part of the business. And, And I do get the. The example. I. I totally get where there are some. Some days where you will be given the option to choose.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Like, what's going to be what. And you need to make the decision. Ah. For the business, as. Because maybe if you overstock, chances are you're going to make more money. You'd be able to pay them. Right. It becomes a ripp. But knowing you, right. Um, where does faith and spirituality, um, get into that? I say that because I've been having different conversations with people and we've been talking along the lines of what does building our businesses but for the Kingdom of God look like? Not only in the way that we are, like, praying about our success, but in the way that we are stewarding everything around us. Our staff members, our clients, and everything else. And I'm curious. And that's why I said I want to challenge that and say, uh, what does that look like? Because I know you go to church. I know you love the Lord. I know you are a sanctified.

Speaker A: Let me say this, right? Blood washed before I get into it, right.

Speaker B: Um,

Speaker A: I believe entrepreneurship is spiritual. Um, and I know I've said this personally to you over the phone. Um, shout out to you for bringing me back to church. Uh, one of the hardest things. I hadn't been to church in a long time and then I went to church. It didn't work out. I don't want to get into it. Um, but you were like, yo, go to church. And I remember when I was like, come on, man. Then I called you for a favor. I was like, yo, Mesh, I need a favor. I need you to help me and come do this thing. You're like, okay, cool. For you, I'll do it. My one condition is. And I'm like, I don't have money. And you're like, go to church if you can come to my church. And I was like, what? You like come to my church? And that was last year. Right. And I've been to church almost every week m since up until recently. So shout out to you for that. Right. Um, it's helped a lot.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Um, back to the question of how do I feel that spirituality plays in the role of the business or in the role of working with my employees? Right?

Speaker B: Yes. But maybe just even overall, like throughout the business.

Speaker A: Um, it's, it's tricky because at first I was very, I was very shy about my, my faith. Right. Because you don't want to be. Again, back to this freaking thing I said in the beginning. I was, I was, I was so afraid to offend people. And I, I thought going into. I thought Christianity is about being. Turning the other cheek. That's what I thought it was about.

Speaker B: And turning the other chick in the most, um, misinterpretive way possible. People take advantage. Which is not true.

Speaker A: Exactly. Because I then came to realize that. No, um, and probably there's going to be some Christians in the comment section being like, hey, um, Pastor Josh taught me that you actually have to be offensive as a Christian. Not being offensive is what got us here in a position where we are always having to submit. Right. We are always having to close, um, our mouths to not say what needs to be said. Right. Um, and I've learned that no, actually keeping quiet and not being offensive.

Speaker B: Ah.

Speaker A: Is not being a true Christian.

Speaker B: That's very true.

Speaker A: Do you know what I mean? Um, Watching your staff not do things that are beneficial for the business and you and them is not being full. It's not being a noble and a, and a, A soft hearted or so to say, Christian. Right. It's actually a time where, from a Christian, you have to be not. M afraid to be offensive.

Speaker B: Mhm.

Speaker A: You have to be willing to Say, no, I'm standing by this. Right. Because the people that are offending your business, people that are offending your faith are, ah, equipped with the words that you don't understand. They are equipped with the information that. There was this, um, podcast I was watching, um, called 20v1. Right. Um, and it was a, it was a one Christian talking against 20 atheists. Right?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Um, and the thing that shocked me the most is how informed non believers are. It's like, yo, you are smart like you are.

Speaker B: So they know the scriptures more than we do.

Speaker A: Exactly. Ah, exactly. They know, which is crazy easy.

Speaker B: Right?

Speaker A: They know the scripture more than we do. Right. And I had to learn from a business perspective. How do I know what God wants me to do if I don't even know God? If I don't know that when God does this, I actually don't understand. And it's in the Bible. Right? This is why he does this. M. Right. This is why he puts you in this position. But if you don't know that, how will you know how to deal with it when you are in that position? And that's the same thing that I try to implement within my business, to say, okay, if you are being put in this position, you need to understand why you're being put in this position. Right. And it's as, I'm not gonna lie, it's challenging. Um, like I said, it does force me to be offensive. Um, but I do think it's a time where, um, this is not even a, ah, this is not just a Christian thing. I m think it's an Africa thing. I think as Africans we are so afraid to be offensive. And I don't want to necessarily get into it, but even right now, if you are aware of what's happening in the country, you know, do you know what I mean? It's about, ah, uh, South Africans are being so offensive to the rest of the continent. It's like. No, it's just, it's just pretty. It's, it's about protecting what you have.

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: That's what it's really about. And business is about protecting what? Because if you don't, business is cutthroat. And if you don't protect what you have, they will take full advantage of it.

Speaker B: M. That's so profound. And I love how you, you broke it down around, you know, what you thought the idea of Christianity is. And then almost now when you are empowered. And I think that empowerment also comes from sitting under regular teachings at church to actually realize that, oh, actually this is how I look at this situation in life and you able to move of the things that you've also, uh, done. You know, when we spoke last time, you spoke about how you. You had a music career and, and, and, and, uh, and I think people who've worked here, um, and have worked with, you know that you've always loved the arts and, you know, all of that, and now you have a talent management agency. Tell me a bit more about that and also, why? Because I'll tell you this. I've spoken to several people, uh, who own talent management agencies, some who have owned and closed, and they were like, no, thanks, I'm good.

Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker B: Why talent management?

Speaker A: Um, why? M. The honest truth is, um, I think that I'm pretty good with people. Um, and the opportunity found me. I don't want to lie. I did not go looking for any of my clients.

Speaker B: Look at God just opening. Go to church, guys. Just go to church. Go to church. Love the Lord, get saved.

Speaker A: I did not go looking for not one of my clients.

Speaker B: Sure. That's so good.

Speaker A: You know what I mean? And if you go, you can't even go find my business online at the moment. Right. Because I've just been. Because I had no idea what I'm doing, but I have no problem failing forward. I was just like, let me just try. Let me just try. Let me just try. Um, sure. And, um, on my to do list every day, the first thing, I have a to do list. And on my list of things to do every day, the first thing is, um, bite off more than you can chew. That's the first thing. Yeah, that's number one on my to do list every day. So I was like, let me just go ahead and bite off more than I can chew.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: See where it goes.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Um, and within. I've been doing it now for about the last six months. Um, I have about five clients. Um, there's about. As of yesterday, there's about 15, 18 pending.

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: Um, I just don't have the systems yet, um, to hire more. I need to hire more people so that it can run smoothly. Um, and it's just making it work. But to be honest with you, it found me.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Uh, yeah. It's one of the things that was like, here's the gap, here's the market, and try it out.

Speaker B: I'm so tempted to ask you this, and it's such an obvious question, but I'm a firm believer of spirituality and some of the things that we connect ourselves to spiritually as well. What Is the yearly theme of uh, the church currently, like this year, do you remember it?

Speaker A: The, this year's theme? What is it?

Speaker B: Open Heaven.

Speaker A: Open Heaven? Yes, yes.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's open heaven. Uh, it's literally things, just doors being

Speaker A: opened for you 100%.

Speaker B: It's like an overflow. And I remember, um, because we've joined a new church now. But I remember when I was there, Pastor Josh was talking about, um, how you will not even have to toil and like do too much, you know, and the Lord will overflow. I think you starting this new talent, Talent Management agency is a testament of that, is like a manifestation of that in your life.

Speaker A: And I will also say what I've realized is, um, there's a, I'll give a quote right from the Michael Jackson movie. Brilliant movie. Um, and one of the interviews from Michael Jackson, they asked him, um, he would write songs. He would wake up at 2am in the morning and write a song. Right? And the interviewer asked him. It's not in the movie, but I'm referencing the movie. Um, the interviewer asked him, okay, so you wake up in the morning at 2am M and write music. Why, why can't you just allow yourself to rest and wake up in the morning and then do it? And then he was like, I. When the idea hits me, I get out of bed and do it. Because I'm afraid that by 6am in the morning God would have given the idea to Prince. Oh, that's what Michael said, right?

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: And the, the take out from that was understand that this thing is not yours. This idea is not yours.

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: Uh, right. It flows through you. Yes. And you are a vessel for it, but it's not yours. And if you don't, if you don't how, if you don't take advantage of it when it hits you, right, you will be that person who's like, yo, I had. Yo, isn't it crazy that I had a similar idea, dude, you know what I mean? Ideas bounce between energies. M. And when it finds someone who's willing to, who seems like they connect with it, it says, and it's your job then to take that and run with it. M and figure it out forward. So for me it was that, it was like I understood that now that I'm doing it, I had no idea that one of my clients who I uh, got recently was. I did my first six figure deal with this client in the first two months of our business, right? And the client gets back to me after we do this deal and he's like, yo, I'm, um, now able to pay the fees. Cause I'm going through a divorce. And M. The person that I'm up against wasn't. The lawyers that they have were showing me flames. I'm now able to. And I was like, what? Right at the time, me doing this deal and me putting this. I had no idea what. From a personal level, he wasn't willing to share that. Right. But I did not know. Right. But I got given this opportunity and because of the network and the access that I have, I was able to get this thing done. And like I'm saying it, I'm just a vessel of it. Right. Where's it gonna go? I wish I could tell you. I have no idea. Right. But also I'm realizing that if I probably did know, I probably would have. I probably wouldn't have started. If I knew, oh, this is what I'm meant to do. I probably wouldn't have started.

Speaker B: Sure.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: It's like there's power in that mystery and just trusting God.

Speaker A: 1. 100%, 100%. And you know, there's a, um, there's uh, a friend of mine who asked me, right. He was like, I feel like I'm stuck and I don't know, um, I don't know what, I don't know where what I'm doing is going to take me. And I was like, one thing I've realized is that if you are not aligned with God, he will not show you what you're not ready to see. If he's not. If, if it's like driving a. It's like, you know when you're driving in the dark.

Speaker B: Mhm.

Speaker A: And there's just enough light for you to move, you don't know, a kilometer. What's going on there could be an act. But sometimes faith works like that. It's like, I'm just going to show you enough to take the next three steps. Because if I show you the next 10 steps, you are going back, my brother. So let me give you the three steps that you just need to go forward and forward and forward. And sometimes that's enough for you to. By the time you look back, you're like, oh man, I've taken 60 to 80 steps. And sometimes that's what faith is about. M. And that's what starting is actually about.

Speaker B: Mhm. Man, you preachers, you are, uh, sharing the gospel and I am so here for it and. Absolutely. And I think for me this is so profound and it's such a big testimony because this conversation sounds very different to the conversation we had a year ago, for sure. And you can just see the kind of growth that has taken place in your life. Uh, and what you've built with that growth. You even built it with ease and not anxiety. 100%, with even more direction.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Which is. Which is. Yeah. Which. Which is very profound. I want to ask you a few last questions. Um, and maybe. Let's start here. If you could sit down with the version of yourself. B. Or go. What would you tell him? Um,

Speaker A: Yeah, if I could sit with the version of myself from a year ago, I would tell them, um, That's a tricky one. M. There's a lot. Um. I would say complain less and pray for broader shoulders. Stop complaining about having a lot on your shoulders. Rather, pray for broader shoulders so you can take on a bit more. Because you're about to take on a bit more. Rather.

Speaker B: Um,

Speaker A: I would say, um, Bold. Continue focusing on the 1% every day. I would say, um, the. The. The teacher is most quiet during the test for a reason. M. Right. So when you can't find God, understand that. Or when you can't hear God, understand that the teacher is the always quiet during the test. Um, and I would say, bro, don't forget to have fun with it.

Speaker B: Don't be seriously serious.

Speaker A: Ah, yeah. Don't forget. And that's. That's. That's something your, um, partner taught me. Um, it's like, take it seriously, but don't forget to have fun with it.

Speaker B: Yeah. My husband's very good with that.

Speaker A: Take it seriously. Do you know what I mean? Um, but have fun with it. Yeah, that's what I would. That's what I would tell my younger or a year ago.

Speaker B: 12 months is a long time.

Speaker A: It is like. It really is. Can I ask you, what would you say?

Speaker B: What would I say to myself?

Speaker A: You were a year ago.

Speaker B: Yeah. Uh, what would I say to myself a year ago? M. I'd say just keep trusting. I'd say, keep trusting yourself.

Speaker A: The process, the people around you.

Speaker B: God. I'd say, keep trusting God. I think a year ago, um, what was happening a year ago, we're building Resonate. Um, and we were very busy, but I think there's something about time that makes you wonder, like, what's. What's next year gonna look like?

Speaker A: Yeah. Uh, oh, my God.

Speaker B: Whatever you do. And a year ago, we had just moved into a very small office, like a tiny office. Um, I think there was the four of us, and we were like, I think the office Was like, probably the size of, like, where we're sitting.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: And at the time, I was like, oh, my God, we're gonna sign a lease. Sustain it. Oh, my God, it's gonna happen.

Speaker A: I think I remember there was also. You were, you were, you were at a point where you, you had taken the podcast seriously.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: But you were also starting to take your social media content.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: A whole lot. Seriously, shooting a lot more monologues, which, which required you to stretch the team.

Speaker B: Mhm.

Speaker A: Which required you to have incredibly uncomfortable conversations. I remember we would hide and fire.

Speaker B: I hide and fired. A. Y' all hear that?

Speaker A: We were sitting there, yo, what are we gonna do about. Yeah. You know, and it's, it's, it's. To have seen you so secure in the decisions that you've made is dope.

Speaker B: Yeah. M. You know what? I think for me, that's always, um, I think that's where faith and spirituality comes in for me. You know, I, I, when I, when I say, like on our bio, it's written anointed for, for business. I truly believe I'm called for what I do, and I will not make decisions without going to the Father first. So my thing is, like, I'll always consult with God, and when the Lord gives me peace over a decision. Yeah, let's rock. If I don't have peace, I'm still going to pray about it some more. And when the Lord gives me an okay or I get a scripture or, you know, I'm reminded of, like, a word or story in the Bible that confirms something or that even sometimes holds me back from doing certain things. I do that. But I think being yielded to the Holy Spirit. That's why I said maybe. I'd say to myself, continue trusting. Because sometimes you are yielded to doing things that can be uncomfortable. You are yielded to doing things that make you, uh, you're like, oh, but now I'm going to be a bad person. But it's like the Lord is telling you that this person is not aligned with your vision. This person is not aligned with what you're trying to do. And the Lord is revealing that. But you want to be nice to them because maybe you know, their personal situation, you know, that they need the money, but they're not serving, uh, like they should. And now you, you think to yourself, do I then want to be God over this person's life because I'm paying them a salary, or do I want to yield to the Lord and, and, and, you know, just make the decision and keep it moving. And I think when we talk about, like, hiring and firing, uh, people, for me, the lesson was that God always takes care of his people. That even when I part ways with somebody in our company, the Lord will take care of them. I am not their God if they are just. They're just not a good fit. And that's why I don't part ways with people, like, in a terrible way. You know, some people that have parted still become like, freelancers here and there when we've got a lot of work. But, um, these. I know that God will take care of them. It's just that for this vision in the season, we're just not aligned. And that is okay 100%. And for me, that was like a big thing. It was like, that's what it is. You're not saying they're a terrible human being. You're not saying they suck. You're just saying that for where we are right now and what is required to where we want to go, we're currently not aligned. And I think it's best that we part ways 100%. And, and, and you learn that. So, yeah, I'll just say. I'll just say keep trusting. I, I keep trusting. And, you know, like, I say this all the time. I, I rock and roll. That's it. That's. We just.

Speaker A: Yeah, I know.

Speaker B: Yeah, we just, we just go, you know, and we go because we are trusted by the Father to do that. You know, we're trusted and we're equipped. We're very much equipped, even on the down days.

Speaker A: Yep, I know that. I know that.

Speaker B: You know, that's why we're here. A year later. Ah, Slim, this has been such an awesome conversation. I feel like if I even asked you more questions, I would like kill how awesome you wrapped this up and how much, um, and how much we got out of it. But I think the, the important thing for me that your story resembles is how a different level always requires a different version of you and more like an evolving version of you. And I think that's what I've had the privilege, um, to seeing and thank you for just heeding the call to come to church. Like, that was like.

Speaker A: No, man, that is. I, I can't even. Yeah, I can't even describe how much that has done for me on a real level. Right. Um, and I always say this business is spiritual. It really, it really is. Um, and without it, I don't even know where I would have been. That is the honest that before every decision, you know, when I come to you, I'm like, yo, Mesh, I'm gonna. I'm gonna just decide to do. And you're just like, yo, just like, what should I be like? Pray.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: That's the number one advice.

Speaker B: That's always the pray about it.

Speaker A: You know what I mean? So, um, yeah, for me, I've realized business is extremely spiritual. And I will definitely take on what you were saying in terms of just trust yourself and trust the process.

Speaker B: Yeah, trust the process and also, you know, trust God. I think when we send ourselves, we can be insecure, but when we are sent by God. Yeah, we can be fully equipped that. No, it's him. It's. It's Him. And it doesn't have to look like anyone else. It just has to look like how the Lord has given it to me

Speaker A: 100% and that's it.

Speaker B: Otherwise, what Prince gets it, like Michael Jackson said. Thanks so much for joining me. Rizzo Community. Thank you so much for joining us for this conversation. I really hope it spoke to you. And what I really loved about it is just our ability to get into the spiritual side of business. And our spirituality has a. A, uh, powerful way of not only changing you as a person, but changing everything around you. Slim's story is just a testament of yieldedness. I am. I am so proud. My heart is so warm, and I've just. I feel like I've also learned, like, so much from this conversation as well, and, you know, felt challenged by certain things and certain words. But I'm so glad I get to have these conversations. Thank you for tuning in. Let us know in the comment section what spoke to you. Did the word offensive make you feel comfortable? Because it. And after this, I'm about to say, Slim, don't say that on the podcast again, but thank you so much. We'll see you on our next podcast episode. Goodbye.