August is Black Business Month, which gives me an excuse to highlight a few Black businesses that I think deserve to be seen.
BUSINESS EVENT: GET YOUR HUSTLE AND HEELS ON AND LEVEL UP
If you’re just getting started in business or an established business person looking to network, get some support, talk things through with other like-minded people, then the first Hustle and Heels all-day conference. Hustle Fest takes place on Wednesday 20 September at Ministry, Elephant and Castle. I have a lot of respect for Jen Scott and Jay Tav, who created and evolved Hustle and Heels for over eight years. The day sounds like it’s going to be awesome.
BUSINESS RESILIENCE: LET’S MAKE YOUR CAREER FIREPROOF
Whether you’re self-employed or an employee, burnout is a real possibility. I’m proud to co-produce a new podcast by Subira Jones, aka The Corporate Hippie, The Fireproof Career.
Subira is an award-winning burnout prevention advocate who’s made it her life’s work to help people create the life they want. Subira is an amazing woman with an incredible story I could never do justice. All I know is that I feel like I should pay her every time I speak to her, and it’s been an absolute privilege to sit in on her interviews with some phenomenal guests. You can catch all episodes on Spotify, so make sure you subscribe.
BUSINESS BALANCE: YOGA AND MEDITATION WITH JOE BARUWA
Need a little Zen in your life? How about a mix of yoga and meditation?
A surveyor by day and a trained yoga and meditation specialist our of hours, Joe Baruwa is committed to helping people find a little peace in their everyday lives. As the founder of Meditation of the Day (MOTD), Joe teaches in private, commercial, and corporate spaces. You can follow him on Instagram and get in touch for bookings.
THE BUSINESS OF INVESTMENT: GALLERY OCA AMPLIFYING CARIBBEAN ART
We’ve all heard about investing in stocks and shares, but have you ever considered art? Gallerist Sherece Rainford is the founder of Gallery OCA , a boutique hybrid gallery showcasing the best of Caribbean art internationally. In this extract from national African Caribbean newspaper The Voice, Sherece talks about why investing in art isn’t just for rich white men.
“I think for a long time people saw investing in art as something we in the black communities couldn’t do,” says Gallery OCA founder, Sherece Rainford. The gallery wants to shatter this myth and educate people on how investing in arts is a viable option.
Rainford enthused: “People are used to seeing the auction house experience on TV and films or have heard of art pieces going for millions of pounds, so on the surface buying for investment can seem inaccessible, but that really doesn’t have to be the case.
“For example, you can invest in early-career artists who are just beginning to gain recognition in their genre and pick up pieces for as little as £100.” What Rainford wants people to realise is that investing in art is a long-term strategy. “Just like stocks and bonds, you get the best out of your investment when you buy to keep for a sustained period, which could be at least five years.
“The longer you hold on to a piece, the better the returns.” Investing in art can go beyond money. There is also an additional benefit for buyers as they become preservers of history, which ultimately benefits everyone in the process. Rainford continues: “It’s not just the buyer and the artist that benefits from a sale.
Art is a mode of storytelling that can be used as educational talking points encouraging discussions around culture and history. “This can be shared by all to all, enriching the way we see the world.”
And on that note…
I loved this piece of person branding advice from Paul Carrick Brunson. I can honestly say that Paul is the humblest guy ever.
Now known for Married At First Sight UK, I remember one of the first times Paul came to the UK around 2010. I wrote a scathing review about how I couldn’t take dating advice from a man who could never have had a problem getting women – I mean, look at him – and he sent me the NICEST note ever.
He’s still really nice on socials and is an honorary Brit in my eyes along with his wife Jill and their two boys. He’s been in the game a while, which can be forgotten by newer talent in the game. It really is a sprint rather than a marathon, and Paul’s advice is a good place to start.
