The AmeriCON Dream

In this episode Terence L. Shigg and his special guest James Dallas discuss how people of color are not afforded the same opportunities as their counterparts. In order to rectify this we must start with our young people and people of color must change their mindset. The mindset of success has common denominators. One being a positive sense of self and a willingness to sacrifice to get where you want to go. The American dream can be realized by people of color but know that in order to access that dream you must know that the Ameri-Con is real. You will be set to be a part of someone else's dream if you do not determine your own dream and work to achieve it. 

Transcript

Lyrics: 0:01

yeah, yeah, he came a long way. And came a long way. And now I'm not afraid in a moment, I'm not afraid to get up in the morning

Terence Shigg: 0:39

welcome back to the Peace Project, season two, episode one. This episode, I'm going to be interviewing a very good friend of mine, a gentleman by the name of James Dallas, someone that I would call a serial entrepreneur, a very successful businessman from coast to coast of the United States, as many different companies going in the mix. And I would like for him to share his life and kind of how he got to where he is. And today we're going to talk about why more of us more Latino, more African American, more people of color aren't up at the top crust of the success ladder here in the United States. Now, we just finished with celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. And in his speech, I Have a Dream speech. But there's a portion of the speech that alive and well then and it's still pointed today. So I want to read that portion of it for you. So that portion says, in a sense, we've come to our nation's capitol to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American wants to fall there. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned, instead of honoring the sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, check, which has come back marked insufficient funds, but when it comes to wealth, income in those unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is that check still Mark insufficient funds. So we're going to talk about wealth gap, we're going to talk about the American dream. And so the topic of this session is the American Dream, the American dream.

Dwayne E. Shigg: 3:12

Anybody can you foundation teaches our youth to step off into life with their best foot forward without cowardice, but with courage and dignity. ABC was founded by legendary light heavyweight champion Archie Moore in 1957. He had a heart and passion for helping the youth. He believed if we went into the business of prevention, we could save billions of dollars and millions of lives. He started ABC to teach us the basic ABCs of life. Are you concerned about the world today? Do you want to help train our youth to be the change needed in the world? Join us in the fight for equality in the fight for justice in the fight for our youth. If you would like to help go to www dot ABC youth foundation.org. That's www dot ABC youth foundation.org Be well and be blessed.

Terence Shigg: 4:06

I know you I know James Dallas, but I want to introduce you to the audience. So give me a little history, no history.

James Dallas: 4:14

Main reason I got into business and went to college for business because growing up and in Augusta, Georgia was very, very hot. It was we grew up for the defining moment that I realized that I was poor was you couldn't afford the best of blue jeans and the best of this or the best of that. I have three other siblings, three sisters, and we were just extremely poor. That was it. So I knew that being there in that situation. There had to be something better, and the only way that I was going to be better was to have my own ownership was number one, I was grown, I hate to say this, I was basically grown at the age of 11. I started cutting grass, and so on and so on. But to make make make this my intro and bio very short, in order to be better than I was, I had to change my mind. I had to change my mind about life, and how to apply my mental stability and capability to business. That was the only way I was going to get out of poverty. That was it.

Terence Shigg: 5:37

I mean, I think that's the perfect intro because I kind of described you as a serial entrepreneur, a businessman, self made, advocate and servant, by the nature of your personality, you have helped me so I also consider your mentor. But I know that you help lots of people just by the nature of that's just who you are.

James Dallas: 6:00

Well, in you're absolutely right, because there was a lot of things that happened growing up. And even now as an adult, that wouldn't have happened without other people's hopes and prayers. We go through this life thinking, I have accomplished this. But you really haven't. There was people late at night praying for you, hoping that you do well. Meeting the right people. But it's more so meeting the right people and being in the position of opportunity. Timing, timing. Yes, timing is everything. Opportunities, everything. Okay.

Terence Shigg: 6:42

You know, the topic, the topic is the Americon the Americon Dream based on the American dream. And one thing I wanted to say before I kind of got into that is something you said, the idea that you were grown at the age of 11. And one of the things I would have been thinking about what are the differences in those things for us, meaning how we are raised the environments we're in. And I that is such a common thread, for those of us that are successful is that we had to grow up faster than our counterparts. Exactly. And it wasn't by choice. It was by necessity, just like you said, if I wanted to, if I wanted some shoes, I had to go make some money to get some shoes, because mom was dealing with food on the table. And on the priority list. New shoes. wasn't wasn't on that list right now. No, he definitely wasn't. Definitely wasn't. You realized early on, that if you were going to be successful, he attained the American dream that you had to go out and do it. And you've been successful at it. You had to start those businesses. So tell me about your, your career. So what kind of was the first business was the grass cutting business?

James Dallas: 8:13

What was the let me tell you what was the defining moment in this is gonna be amazing. When I say this, a lot of people might. I'm glad it happened. And it's gonna make a lot of people really think back on their childhood. Well, I'm back in the back in the late 70s, mid 80s. At that time, my father drank Pabst Blue Ribbon. And he also smoked Western 100 cigarettes. Well, on Friday in the south, when you get paid, you go, and you pay all your creditors, you know, you pay off. And whatever you have left you then I guess take care of yourself. Well, we were in a store, my father had a pack, six pack a password, and a pack once in 100. He paid for him and I have sold this wafer board plane. And I asked him, I said, Dad, can I have this? He said No son, I'll get it with my next paycheck. Well being who I am, and always I analyze everything very analytical. And even at that age I was looking at he has a pack of six pack capacity written in one day and a one to 100 and he's telling me that I have to wait for him to get paid again, in order for me to get away for bore pain. So that was a defining moment in my life that I said to myself, I will never ever tell my kids that I have to wait to payday to give them anything. I knew that in order to have kids, you must take care of them, and you must put them ahead of you. But I'm still trying to deal with the past few women in the western one hundreds. And I just I just knew I never asked for anything else. But that was truly the defining moment in my entire life. That made me realize, I'm not going on. I can't do this. This is ridiculous. You just don't tell me no. And it's, it's less than 25 cents for this wafer board and plane and you have a pack of one stone and a six pack. There's just no way it didn't. didn't make sense. Not possible, right? So that was my defining moment, that's when I realized something has to change. But also, in that same mindset, writing back to the house, I'm looking at, there's a liquor store on every corner. And back then, I don't know if you could remember, but back then they used to have vending machines that you could get cigarettes out of. Yes, I remember. So those are the defining moments. For me as a young as a as a young young man, as in, this has to stop. And the only way that I could be better than where my father is mentally, is to get out be an entrepreneur, get it for myself. And ownership is number one, that you have to own whatever you whatever you're doing, whether it's your name, a building a car, or home ownership is number one. That's That's it. So that idea of being self sufficient, came to you early.

Terence Shigg: 12:05

Now, can you filter that through? Because I'm sure? Well, let me ask you at that age. What was your dream? I mean, cuz I did you know, did you believe that? It was just as accessible to you as it was to Johnny on the other side of the tracks? What did you think about that?

James Dallas: 12:25

No, not at all. Because the opportunities were there for them, not for us. Back in the in the in the 80s. Ronald Reagan was the president during that era. And it had been established in this was all over the news media, that every young black man between the ages of 18 and 27, will either be dead or incarcerated. And I didn't want to be mean to them. So that mindset, that mindset, as in Wow, holy smokes. And then at that time, you can see why the American, a little Johnny, talk different, wore different clothes, um, had a better sense of idea of what the American dream was, or is. And just everything was different. Every time you are doing the 80s, during the 70s, you turn on a television show, it was never you, there was never anyone that looks like you act like you. So in order to make it you had to adopt or either adopt their personality, their way of life. And that's where we got caught up in that American dream, right? And you have to be a chameleon, even now, you still have to be a chameleon, depending on the situation. You have to and I have a it depends on the situation for me, you either go get Bob Dallas, or you go to get just down.

Terence Shigg: 14:14

We are I call it code switch. Exactly. Which is something that we don't even think about, but we do it naturally. And it is something that we've learned to realize that dream that I have to be able to do I have to be able to go into any venue. And no matter what the crowd looks like, because the majority of the time that crowd is not going to look like me. Definitely not and I have to be conscious of how I present and how I speak so that it doesn't feed into any stereotype before they'll listen to anything I say and that is know that going into

James Dallas: 14:53

Oh, I call the reading the room. Yes and also to depending on who you are What you are a businessman and how you carry yourself, which character character? I would say your character is what makes a man based upon your character, you're not going to be invited to certain business meetings. Um, there's a lot of things that people don't understand you can have a business meeting, but it's the business meeting after the meeting, right is where everything truly is discussed that I'm there are certain things based upon your character, again, whether you're well spoken, whether you carry yourself correctly, whether you have the financial resources depends on how you're going to be treated right now. I agree with you, would you? Would you do you believe? Or would you agree that that scale is weighted more against us than it is our counterparts meaning that your character is more they're more critical of it than they would be of someone else? At times? Not everybody, but that time? Well, yes, very much. So. And the reason I the reason I say that, depending on the group that you're around, they will tell you to your face. Wow, are you different?

Terence Shigg: 16:29

Are they what's the phrase that I've heard over? You speak so? Well, exactly. Like you're surprised that I've turned society has thrown the damn drone, their conclusion by the television among the television shows, or how you're supposed to add? Oh, I didn't expect you. I didn't expect your dialect. I didn't expect your education. And they.

James Dallas: 17:00

But their expectations were based upon what shows they have seen had nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with you. So therefore, whenever you're in a position, I would say make sure you check them because they're basing you upon a stereotype of what they've seen what they've heard. Right. So that you said, depending on who it is whether they'll get Bob Dallas, or they'll get just Dallas, give you can't explain that. Because I know what that means. But I don't know, if everybody heads up to that. Well, if I'm just relaxed, I can have a conversation with blacks. And it might be a few whites around. And that's just in a relaxed environment. Yeah. But here's this time to conduct business. And now I have to transition from Dallas to Bob downs, which is white. Dallas, in order to fit into that situation, to fit into their frame of mind that they don't expect from me. If I go in and this is so crazy, if I go in with go t my hair all over the place, and speaking Ebonics I'm going to get talked out of the room or escorted by the police or security. If I go on, well dress. Well, what Well spoken. The outcome is just because that's not what they expect. I have actually, I'm gonna give you a little Situation.

Terence Shigg: 18:54

The key to that is the credentials can be the same meaning the education, the experience, the finances could be exactly the same and could be better than Johnny's. And most of the time it is yes.

James Dallas: 19:07

But here's the thing. Johnny has what they call white opportunity. He has wide opportunity. And, and we as black Americans, we can say what we want. But Johnny still hasn't Johnny can go to jail for 20 years, get out and still have a greater opportunity then you and you have a college degree, probably have your own business, or you're a CEO or manager for a major company. Johnnie still has a great opportunity to be because he is white. And not everything is white and black. That's That's true. But you still have to check yourself at the door. Am and in fact, I'm working on a book. And this book is Is the trials and tribulations of a black man. Okay, in my in my areas of expertise, I'm either too black for white America or not black enough for, for black America. Most of the time when you're well spoken to you around your peers, a lot of most of times family members, they're gonna say to you, oh, you're trying to be white? Yeah. Who do you think you are? I know you. Exactly. Yes. I know the drill. All these things. It's funny. We have no, no, I want to say there's no standard operating procedure on how to be black, or how to fit in. Everything is basically on the job training for us that we have to be a chameleon, we have to fit in any situation. If we demand too much on our jobs, oh, he or she, they're, they're very aggressive. And you have to watch Dallas, you have to woo he has a bad attitude.

Terence Shigg: 21:11

And but if Johnny does that Johnny is industrious. He's a go getter. He's worthy.

James Dallas: 21:17

Here's the thing, society has a different idea for us. And that's why I always speak upon ownership, own your own business. Therefore, you're able to dictate to a certain degree now of how you're going to be treated, how are you going to treat others? Are you going to be inclusive, exclusive, but it's based upon having your own. And that ownership is one of the ways that wealth is transferred.

Terence Shigg: 21:54

I was looking up some numbers. And it talked about home ownership. Blacks are at the lowest percentage of home ownership, the average in us is 63% 63% of Americans own their own home. 73% of whites own their own home, while only 42% of blacks own their own home. Good. But again, that's that ownership that speaks to it. As far as and again, you talk about you go into the millionaires and billionaires, there's only four billionaires in the United States out of seven over 790. There's only four millionaires, there's only 8% that are African American. And I think 79% or 76% are white.

James Dallas: 22:40

But you know, with that being said, you have to change your mentality in order to achieve greater success. Yeah, if if blacks get away from buying cars, and all of the different vices that they have, yeah, think about this. If you smoke cigarettes, or you get your hair done, or your nails done, if you want to actually break that down statistically, and financially, black spin off a lot of money, just on those things. But when you start talking about home ownership of ownership, they'll give you a bag of excuses of why they don't own this, own that. But you look outside, and they have a Lexus or Mercedes or this or that. And they live in a train. We didn't learn anything from our parents. There we go. And when you know better, you do better.

Terence Shigg: 23:45

Yes. And to me, that's one of the essential parts that I I think is necessary to get out there is part of that. And I think of it this way, if you're going to do a con, you need people that are complicit human helpers. It's very rare that somebody runs a con by themselves, they usually have actors with them. Right? It's very true. And then that comment will tell you that the best con is when you con somebody and they don't even know they've been con.

James Dallas: 24:18

But black Americans may come from the first day we were first day the blacks were brought over here, right? So to me that media push that even pressure from our peer groups is part of that con because part of the mentality that we need to change has been pushed upon us and we've accepted instead of challenging it like yourself like myself, instead of saying, No, I don't have to be here and I don't have to not be able to own anything. I don't care what they say I'm gonna go out and sell candy. I'm gonna go out and do this and start my own business because it's possible, but just because it's harder doesn't mean it's impossible. So I don't ever want to give the impression that it's not accessible. It's just not the same. But here's the thing, the American Dream is always been accessible. Yeah, is just at a greater accessibility for your counterpart, then for yourself. Most of the time, when you go into cities or or small towns, the train track itself separates the time. You know, I can give you an address or street number. And you can tell me, whether I'm somewhat well off or poor, based upon just that zip code that address. But when trying to explain that to black America, they don't understand it is very, very hard to change the mentality of people. When all they've ever gotten was beat down, day after day after day, you've been told that you can't, you can't, you can't, you can't. So by you having that mentality of I can't. You don't know what it means and say I can write you a it's amazing that right now, if you were to have a conversation with a bunch of young people versus doing our error. You can say you can you can you can, what would you like to be? It was going to be Malcolm, Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, a preacher, a teacher, you're going to be educated. Okay, here's the thing. That mentality then was all positive people. Yeah, just think about this. Those were all positive, you had a greater chance of being a Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, or a preacher, a teacher of doctrine. You can ask that same question right now. And guess what you're gonna? What would you like to be? Beyonce, LeBron, James, Jay Z? COVID, Ryan, all of these things that are quote, unquote, in a sense, not as reachable as you think. Yes. Everybody thinks they're gonna be the next internet star. Yeah. Hmm. Very, very odd. But the mentality if you change the mentality of black America, that Americ0n dream could actually be an American dream.

Terence Shigg: 27:57

Yes, yes. And I, I like the, the example because that is true. The, the role models. I know Charles Barkley would like that, but role models have changed. And part of that teaching and understanding, I think, is getting these youth to understand that what they see, as the end result, took a lot of work to get to and if they were willing to, and I think you asked a very good question to me one time and I think Bruce Lee is one of the people that I read about that does it is what are you willing to sacrifice?

James Dallas: 28:37

Exactly. Always remember this most balanced people are broke, people, even in a marriage, you have one of the spouses are going to sacrifice more than the other. In working in everything that you do, something has to be sacrificed. You cannot be balanced across the board. Something has to be sacrificed, whether it is time effort, baseball games, football games, and your children's birthday. You must make some sacrifices in order to achieve what you're what you set out to do.

Terence Shigg: 29:25

And I'll even add to that, because I think it's evolved to even with those that are sacrificing, we haven't learned how to and I don't know, I don't want it to sound disparaging, but we haven't learned how to intelligently choose what we're sacrificing. Meaning when I grew up, it was okay, you work more and you make more therefore you get more. What I'm beginning to learn is that work more doesn't mean that I have to actually go and dig more ditches That means I have to be more smart about where I put my time, meaning I have to develop a team, I have to have my own business, I have to have multiple streams of income, so that even when I'm not working, I'm still working.

James Dallas: 30:17

Exact not I love that, because I'm gonna piggyback on that. Just Just imagine this right here. We were told, son, go get a job, work hard, work hard, work hard, work hard, you have some work hard, work hard, you have some, by the time you reach 16, yes, you retire, but you still don't have anything, you're too tired, you're too broke down in order to to enjoy the last few in advance years of your life. Those weren't non working years. But in that same breath, like you say, it is the mentality, oh, hey, I can do this, I can work create all these streams in income, therefore, you can relax mentally, because you already put the work. In fact, that's the difference between being rich, and wealthy. Rich people continue to work, wealthy people make a major investment and let their money continue to work for them. You making money while you sleep. But you have to change your mentality in order to achieve that. And that plays into this whole legacy thing. And transfer of wealth also, because if you are wealthy and have these streams of income, you have that to pass on to your to the next generation, meaning when they go to buy a house, they don't have to go to the bank and say, Okay, well, I don't have enough, because then mom and dad who have accumulated wealth can help you and say, Okay, well we'll cosign for it, so that you can get the credit so that next time you can get your own home. That's what's happening in communities. Where there are more, that's what's happening in white communities. And but in our communities, it's more it's definitely rare that the generational wealth is able to be passed that way. But a lot of it too. We don't talk about finances. Yeah, in our in our families, right now. Just imagine, if you, you, maybe you do it, I've done it. Sit down with the kids. These are the bills, this is how this is paid this, this, this this, and I understand there's no schematic there's no no pray book on how to raise kids. But just imagine if the people in your household truly understand finances, they'll never make the financial mistakes that we made without knowing. So basically, give them the knowledge and lobby fall down that they won't understand that's not necessarily true. Try it, explained it to to Little ray ray , that, hey, this is the reason I can afford this right here. I rather have a house than I have, then then a car. I'm in business people trying to explain this right here. It is easier for you to purchase a car, then a house, you can go and purchase a car and a car will stop you from being from being a home owner. But if you are a home owner, it shows a greatest stability. And you can afford a car being but get the house first. But a lot of us don't know that we just we think apartment living is the American dream. We think renting is the American dream. Because we've never been told anything else we've ever we've never been shown anything else, right? And all we have to do sometimes is turn the television off, turn the computer off, and just have a genuine conversation with someone that's 20 years or 30 years older than yourself. And definitely find somebody that has some expertise because and that's what this is about. It's about.

Terence Shigg: 34:37

So that's what the Peace project really is. It's really about sharing knowledge. And that knowledge will be beyond our capabilities, meaning we can't talk to every person but I can record this and put this out there and then anybody who wants it. Anybody who's ready to change that mentality can go out there and get it.

James Dallas: 34:56

How do we change that because The reason I asked that question, right now, if you want to talk to a young black man between the ages of 15 and say, 30, he has a different mentality. But the American Dream is the American dream. Most of the time, he's all East laws. Right? So how do how do we help fix it? Because you can't possibly fix it. All right?

Terence Shigg: 35:33

Well, and I think that's kind of what this whole project is about. And it goes through all of the, the, the the tenants, which is politics, so you have to get involved in politics and know the game. Because one of the things I've always said, If you teach me the rules, I can play any game. And you have to recognize that's what it is, from the local level, that school board position to the superintendent, you have to get involved with them, the individual responsibility part, meaning, you have to change your mentality to understand that this, the way that the media has portrayed, the American dream is not the same for you and your inability to understand that it's just going to frustrate you meaning because then you're going to be blaming yourself, how come I can't do it, and Johnny did, me and Johnny went to the same school and we had the same upbringing. But well, because you're going to have to do things a little bit differently than Johnny did. And that's just the honest truth. And then the community because as you said, you can't do it by yourself. So you have to find a group, somebody 30 years, 40 years older, you that Been there, done that, get a mentor, talk to people, get yourself in the right circles, so that when you when you are ready, when your timing is right, you'll have the opportunity. And that's people. And for me, I think of people such as yourself, people such as instructor, Moore, all those people, I put myself in those circles, so that when the timing is right, I am ready to take advantage of that opportunity.

James Dallas: 37:14

But most most, most young people don't have a plan. Now, and I tell a lot of them, I say either either the plan fail, or you fail to make a plan,

Terence Shigg: 37:25

right? Yeah. And so if you break it down to the very simplest thing, it's one, it's each of us as individuals, just like you've done just like I've done is we start that work ourselves, we do what we can do, and we share that information with those that are ready. And we share those with those who just willing to listen, because some people are going to be willing to listen, but they're not ready. And that's okay. Okay, I can agree with that. Yeah. And so you put that information out there. And I think right now is a good time, because the, the amount of economic flexibility that's available now is unheard of. And if you think about it from the crypto, the amount of people that are getting into investing to starting their own businesses, I think our young people are in a transition period. And it's gonna be ugly for a while. But at some point, they're going to hit the ground and realize, okay, this, this social media thing, is a vehicle not an end. It's a means to an end, but it's not an end, meaning they think of it as their way of interacting and showing who they are. But the people that are successful at it, know that it is a tool.

James Dallas: 38:49

Well see, that's and that and I'm glad you you gave that example, because here's the thing, we are the users of technology, but never the producers of technology. Um, if you engage into a conversation, most of the time you ask the question, How often do you use your cell phone? They'll tell you, I have my cell phone in my hand 90 99% of the time. Okay. Well, have you ever read up on it? Can you make any money from No, all I do is use it's talking and streaming, whatever, whatever. But it's almost like if they educate themselves in that area. They can make money from it. But instead of ability, you know, they always say when I was living in the South, if you don't want a black person to know anything, put it in a book. We don't read as much as we should. We don't educate ourselves as much as we should. And therefore I believe that some of the reason we're behind, but produced, installed an investment group, young black entrepreneurs or something. There's several things that's on YouTube, the difference between poor people and rich people is more of a mentality thing than it is anything for people watch more television. Poor people have a more I can't attitude than I can. Attitude is just about opportunities.

Terence Shigg: 40:38

And my thing is, I'm always, if I can't find the answer that I'm I tell myself, I'm missing something. So the problem being like the social media, the the time spent on non productive endeavors to meet those, like you said, those are the answers, meaning you have to get your priorities straight, and spend less time with things that don't produce and that take away your time, because that is an investment, you're investing into your future. And you're investing into someone, are you investing into your future or someone else's future?

James Dallas: 41:11

Well, it is funny, I like that. Because I'm always saying people, either you, either you invest in your dream, or you become a part of someone else's dream, as in business, when you are laborer, you're participating in someone else's business, someone else's dream, let's take Amazon, for instance, Jeff basil, you're participating in history, making him wealthier and wealthier by becoming a manager, or going to college to become a manager for a Amazon or for any other company. But somewhere in this, someone never told you, as an individual, you can own your own company. It never told you to be an entrepreneur, or you just never had the mentality to think that you can do it. That's why I always go back to if I change your mentality, I can change your life. Because once I change your mentality, you see the opportunities that little Johnny got versus you, you see that America as a whole. They're not offering you the same opportunity. So make your opportunity. Take your opportunity, read books, read on how you want your life to go, how you're going to navigate your life, based upon statistics, we just basically were left out there. That's it. If we're not entertaining someone or the other parts of society with singing, dancing, bouncing a basketball or catching a football. Imagine we will don't exist, we are actually part of the entertainment of America, if you look at it, yes, knowingly and unknowingly.

Terence Shigg: 43:24

So with that said, I want to go ahead and wrap up. Okay, I wanted to also give you a chance to give some people some information about your your current endeavors. If you want to talk about elite pride.

James Dallas: 43:41

elite pride is my sports management company. I only take 20% of anything concerning a a athlete, the other 30.

Terence Shigg: 43:55

Now, it's say that again, so they clearly understand it. And give them the contrast because most managers or companies that manage athletes take what 33 to 30%,

James Dallas: 44:07

they take a third but you're only required to take 20 20% Again, my company as a whole has profit sharing my company as a whole. We go out into the communities and we don't just help black America, we help America I own several nonprofits. And it's all about giving back. Because if I had the opportunities when I was younger, I'd be greater than what I am now. I'm also we right now, I just started a cryptocurrency company called octane blockchain. And it's coming soon. And that's something else to help. I would say America, but a lot of times too, we as people. If we can ever see just a smidgen, just a smidgen of good enough ourselves, we can be great individuals. And a lot of it too, is based on opportunities. And that's what I give as a whole from any company that I have, whether it's unique all transportation, whether it's a B to H, I'm octane blockchain, I have several companies, I give opportunities to any one that wants it. Anyone, not you don't have to be a, because I'm not pro black. I like being black. But I think opportunity as a whole, is what you need. But I just I just, I continue to give. And that's that's where my blessings come from. You continue to give, give opportunity to give education, educate someone is not just be a mentor. You can anyone can call me ask me anything. If I can't find it, we'll find it together. If I don't I because I don't have all the answers. But the main change the mentality of our people, and we are change America. And that particular it will no longer be the American dream, it will be the true American dream is to have and have ownership of what you will, what you are and who you are and who you are. Check your character at the door. Once you check your character at the door, you will find out that you're a better person than what you really think you are.

Terence Shigg: 46:38

Yes, I want to thank you for for coming on the Peace project for sharing your wisdom. And I think that was fantastic. I think that's what, that's how you start just like you said, you change the mentality you create. I always say you can't replace something with nothing. So if you have something better, being an idea, being a thought being a concept, be it a way of doing things, people are more likely to replace that old mindset if you give them a better one. And I think that's what you shared today is a better mindset. It works. It's possible. It's not blaming, it's not about whose fault it is. It's about what you want, and how you get it. And how you get it not only for yourself, but for everyone. And sacrifice. Yes, yes. That's where the sacrifice and service comes. You have to sacrifice but also to why I'm very proud of you. Outstanding, outstanding of the Peace project. But I just I just wish this is my this is my dream. And also, I'm just to say a little bit about my sister, my sister died from breast cancer. So every year I make it my business to donate to give, whether it is financially or just donate my time to helping young people she always wanted young people to understand, um, is not where you come from, is where you go and let him know her name. Her name is Tara Dallas tar downs. And that's my sister. I love her to death. I wish she was here. Um, and when I first started, I tell you about the blessings and how people pray for you. A lot of things that I still accomplish and achieve comes by way of my sister's, um, she's looking down on me making sure that I stay on the straight and narrow. I'm also with young people, find some way in your community and give some of your time. Put the phone away, put the phone away. Figure out who you are. Once you figure out who you are, you know where you got to go. You see the opportunities ahead. Yes. And you got to love each other you get and that's a man I forgot mentioned that just, I believe just a just a love as a home for your fellow man, your fellow woman is missing. If we stop thinking about self, self self sometimes and just take a pause, put the phone away. Get to know you get to know me. And then you get to know yourself. But most of all, in the mornings look in that mirror and tell yourself how much you love yourself. Don't be like me. I look in there and I tell myself I love myself so much. I wish I could marry me but but in the reason I say it like that. Learn to love yourself if you learn yourself first. terms of be there for you to love other people. And you will see society in a different mindset in a different perspective. You'll see where you belong in society and everything that you need to achieve

Unknown: 50:21

Yeah, he came a long way. And I could do I could do I could do a long way. And I could do I can do I can do this. I'm not afraid of the moment. I'm not afraid to get up in the morning

Terence Shigg: 50:54

Let's get to work.