One day you will meet
yourself back where you started,
I think of the first time seeing
my house. And a lot of people
didn't believe that I could make
it happen as a single black
entrepreneur. And I did when I
come back to the home now, two
plus years later, I am reminded,
and I have to be reminded when I
open that door, who came before,
but also like what that has
given me the opportunity to be
and to do because the doubt and
the roadblocks during the
process of renovation, you
realize, like the true
renovation is in your mind and
in your soul coming back
together again to say, I am
worthy of this, you know, and so
I feel that that historical
evolution, it's remembering who
you are, you know, and so I
deeply feel that that home is
constantly reminding me, don't
you forget?
Welcome back to the Since3000
Podcast. I am your host,
Danielle Leslie, we've had an
incredible season so far, and my
guest
today is gonna keep us going. I
can't wait for you to
Robert Hartwell is the founder
of strength on stages and elite
speaker training program for
adult entrepreneurs. Robert has
starred in five Broadway
musicals, two national tours and
performed at the Tony Awards. He
went viral in 2020 when he
purchased a large colonial home
in Massachusetts. And now
Roberts home renovation is being
released in a TV show called
taking back the House premiering
this year on Discovery. Plus, I
am so excited to welcome the
incredible Robert Hartwell to
Since3000. Thank you so much for
being so honored. And I am so excited.
I'm so excited to bring you
today's episode. But before we
do, I need to make sure you've
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I'm really good. It's just been
like, oh, June was unreal. Like
closing one company starting
another company starting to film
the show. Oh
my gosh, wait, what did you
close in June
so Broadway Collective, we were
like, We're gonna it was our
final like in person event. And
then we said at the end of this
year, we're gonna go to a fully
licensed model. I love this,
which is exciting.
Because I saw you started
Broadway collective in 2016,
which is the same year I
launched course from scratch.
And I'm like you have been
running that for a while, like
six years. See people? Yeah. So
tell me about how you're
shifting because you were doing
first you were doing in person?
Yes. Then virtual. Yeah, hybrid
combination. And now shifting to
a licensing model. What does
that mean?
So when we started the company,
it was fully in person in 2016.
So the idea was, how can I
essentially fill the top of our
funnel right and with when
you're working with teenagers
who you are working so hard to
like gain their parents, you
know, trust and respect. You
need to like be in person, you
know? And so we did that for
about a year. And then we went
to a hybrid model in 2017, where
I introduced our online
training, so no one knew what it
was like no one understood in
2017 like no no, you can learn
to sing, dance and act like
virtually virtually You know,
and so by 2020 My gosh, so in
2020, like very grateful to,
like, have that platform like
established. And then, after the
pandemic, when we came back in
person with our students, like,
I just felt a shift in me, you
know, and I was like, you know,
I am not who I was when I
started this six years ago. And
who am I now, you know, and so
who I am now it's like, it's
time for a shift. And so I said,
Alright, let's give the students
a year to, you know, make this
transition. I didn't want it to
be abrupt for them. But this
summer was our last and personal
event. And then at the end of
this year, we'll phase out our
online training. And now I'm
working with entrepreneurs, like
working on their storytelling
skills, which I love so much. So
it's just like a hybrid. Now, I
think of all of the things that
I love, like marketing,
storytelling, and all of it just
like coming together.
Yeah, love that. So what I love
is, and I noticed this in my
workouts and talk about the
webinars that I used to do every
week live, that's my stage. Yes,
former. Yeah, maybe I'm not
gonna be a singer in this
lifetime. Or maybe
that was like my stage in the
webinar. Okay. And I was like a
method actors, like, every week,
I would do the same show for new
audience, you know.
But what I love is that you're
so right that as entrepreneurs,
your background as a Broadway
performer is so valuable for us,
because it is about us telling
our story, especially now,
right? Like, where your culture,
add your cultural advantage,
makes all the difference and
makes you stand out. I was like,
you know, Robert just walks in,
he doesn't even need to say
anything, and you feel his
energy, you just your aura, it
just emanates. And so the fact
that Yeah, so for you to be the
person helping other
entrepreneurs, like Have, have
them bring that out with
themselves, you know, have them
have the magic inside, meet the
magic outside and be expressed
is going to be huge. So tell me
about that.
I love you, I love you. I think
as entrepreneurs, a lot of times
you create, when you're in the
valley, you know, like you
really have no other option, you
know, and at the top of this
year, I just knew something had
to change, you know, but I'm
just essentially like sitting in
the valley. And my best friend,
Rachael Rogers said to me, what
is something that you've always
wanted to create? And I'm like,
I know exactly what it is.
Because like, you were
constantly working with
entrepreneurs, and you're like,
you have an incredible idea, or
you have a beautiful presence,
but you're not able to marry
your story to the marketing
materials to be able to like,
get the press and get on the
stages that you so desperately
want to get on. Because you
don't have the packaging
together, right. But as a
Broadway performer for 10 years,
that's what I did, every single
day was like, get my packaging
together, so I could get in that
audition room and look back, get
a man. It was like, let's create
that for entrepreneurs, you
know, because that is like a
piece of like the connective
fiber that many don't have, you
know, so I was like, Alright,
who would they look like? What
would they need? What would they
want? You know, and like what
would feel most spacious and
alive to work with them. So one
of the programs that we had
created at Broadway collective,
which I think is one of the most
successful ones was our college
prep program. And that program
had a 97% success rate of
getting students into the top 10
colleges and the country's
amazing
97% success rate, but to define
success rate is
top 10 in the country. Yeah.
So we would do a four week prep
with them where it's like, first
half, getting that mindset,
getting that intention, getting
that y locked in and then
building the skills on top of
that. So I said to our Director
of Operations down and I'm like,
what if we like spin that and
turn that into something for
adult entrepreneurs? And he's
like, let's go I love the
what if game, sometimes. Yeah,
but isn't that though also like
a testament to the energy that
you keep in your life? Right and
that you manifest to come
because there are so many people
who are not What if people you
know, and they're like, Well,
what if it No, no, what if we go
all the way in right now and it
It works. Yeah, you know. And so
I said to Dallin, hey, this is
what I'm thinking. And he's
like, Let's go for it. And you
know, those moments where you
then get back, like the secret
desires of your heart, like I
knew, like the desire of my
heart was that I wanted this to
work. I wanted these people to
be transformed. But the secret
desire of my heart is I really
wanted to be working with black
and brown women. And that is
what came, you know, like,
because my first company, it was
a lot of a fluid, white
families, because of the price
point, yes, we had scholarship
programs. And we worked very
hard to have a diverse
classroom, but most of our
students were from a world that
I did not belong to, you know,
so to be able to now, like help
people that look like my aunties
that look like my cousins. It's
like, Oh, this feels so magical.
Yeah.
I love that. That sounds like
you had the opportunity to
listen to that inner voice, that
secret desire. Is that something
you've always been able to tap
into? Is this like a new skill?
Is it growing as you go through
life?
It's a beautiful question. I
feel I've always heard it, you
know, and it's more of a feeling
than actual words that I hear,
you know, from another realm.
But it's like, when I feel
completely in line, it takes me
back to one of the first feeling
states, I was seven years old.
And I was in the theater for the
first time, and the lights went
out, and it was freezing cold.
And you could smell the scenery,
like the wood and the paint, and
just the costuming and
everything. It just like took me
to another place. And I felt at
home like my body. Like my
entire spirit was like, who this
is it, you know? And so, in
those moments, I've like, felt
those centering moments where
you're like, Oh, you need to tap
in and listen, you need to tap
in and feel. And so that
absolutely happened when I knew
there needed to be a shift in
the first company that I opened.
And then when I started to open
the next one, really getting
intentional. You know if that
makes any
sense. I love that you took us
back to seven year old Robert,
because we talk a lot about
embodying your past, present and
future. So now and what that
means is there are lessons like
and I believe in
multi-dimensional So you know,
seven year old Danny I've
actually visited her fourth
grade Danny visited her and I
was in a hot yoga class and on
my back at the end and the music
was playing. And I had been
interested in speaking with
sixth grade Danny fourth grade
Danny because there were things
there. I knew she was driving
the bus a little too often with
when I got when I felt
resistance. And she finally I
finally went and got to visit
her so first I visited fourth
grade Danny and she was crying
because she was just she got
slapped by two twins on the on
the playground and she was
crying. Yeah. And I told her
you're sensitive and that's
okay. I said that's her
superpower. That's, that makes
you amazing, because I had a
story that it made me weak. So I
was able to heal that in her.
And then I visited sixth grade
Danny and she was stressed out
she was doing a science project.
Okay the protozoa, okay, she was
researching today in protozoa,
and she had the three part, you
know, she had to be perfect. It
really did. Okay, and of course,
she waited until two days before
to be like, Hey, Mommy, can you
take me to Michael's supplies?
Yeah. And printed it out. You
know, I'm saying the ink
cartridges are expensive back
then. Yeah, I was talking about
that the color
cartridges for color. You had to
get the three. Oh my god, and
then the black one. Oh
my god. $60. But I got to heal
something with her because she
felt the weight of the world on
her shoulders. She didn't own
her process. Listen, I love to
create my own timeline. We don't
do it at the last minute and
it's gonna be beautiful and
amazing. She was stressed out
about that. So I helped her own
her process. And I told her you
know, you're good. There's no
way to the world like just be so
I love ya know, that made all
the sense in the world for you
to have as meets seven year old
Robert right now. Like that was
beautiful. You know,
that just reminded me. My
therapist recently said what we
need to do is have conversations
with those versions of ourselves
because I was telling her I said
at the beginning of this year, I
felt so tired and actually I
wrote about it on Instagram and
you DM me and we're like I love
You, I hear you, because it's so
easy as entrepreneurs,
especially when we are in a
service based business like of
helping other people see their
dreams and realize their
futures, you get exhausted,
right. And so I said to my
therapist, I'm like, I am so
tired. And she said, many of the
behaviors that you're doing
right now are things that really
helped seven year old Robert,
especially 21 year old Robert,
and she was like, and then 28
year old Robert, when he was
like, let's open a company she's
like, so all of these behavioral
links, like really worked. She's
like, but now that you're 35,
she's like, we get an
opportunity to go back and thank
seven year old Robert for not
being afraid to ask for a
scholarship, right? Or we get to
thank 14 year old Robert for
like having the courage to kiss
a guy for the first time. You
know, like, we get those
opportunities, she said, but now
we also get to say you can nap.
Yeah, you can, like you can.
Because you don't have to work
that hard. You've done the work.
And seven year old did the work
and 14 year old did the work and
21 like they did the work so
that those behaviors don't have
to shift into your relationships
in your 30s. Now, you know, and
you can honor and you can
celebrate. But you can also
choose a new set of skills, you
know, and I was like, laid out
and
I love this process of thinking
those versions of ourselves. Oh
my gosh. So I want to know, now
that you are here as 35 year old
Robert Yeah. Tell me about a day
in your life right now. That
really shows us okay, this is
Robert embodying his whole being
right now. I'm curious, because
I know you're working on an
amazing project we're gonna get
into, but I'm curious what day
what's a day in the life when
you're like, oh, yeah, this is
the new mate. This is the This
isn't me right now.
Oh, wow. Oh, you better get all
up in it.
I don't know that. I want to be
right there with you. When you
wake up what's happening when
you wake up? Yeah, I don't want
you talking to what you work in
this.
So what is like? Amazing, and we
were just laughing a little
earlier about the idea of like,
where did this summer season go?
When I think of the days right
now. There's just so many
different moments and parts
going on. So it usually starts
with a meeting with our Director
of Operations Dallin. And we
just get focused about what are
the need, like what do we need
today. And I feel that when you
are in transition, it has to be
immediate, you know, so we are
really sitting and dealing with
phasing out this company that we
built for six years. And so
there are a few programs that
are still moving right now. And
so going with our students. So
the first half of the day is
always spent on the Broadway
collective. And then we switch
to TV meetings, which is wild,
how much work goes in to even
just one episode. And I believe
our show is six or seven
episodes. But the amount of
people that not only are
weighing in on decisions, but
then are weighing in on
distribution and weighing in on
creative. I mean it is just
unreal. But what I tell them all
of the time and they are like oh
my gosh, we forget this is I'm
not a traditional homeowner, in
the sense that many homeowners
are I believe coming to the
renovation process with a
partner, you know, I am a single
person and so there is no other
person that I'm checking in with
other than like meet,
you know, like various versions
of me what we doing but that
listen seven year old Robert,
their primary sweet, so be here
for it. He's gonna love it. But
I tell them all the time as
entrepreneurs, we are never out
of options, right? Like if we
make up in our mind to renew our
mind daily and to truly know
that like goodness is following
us. Like, you can't tell me it's
not gonna work, right? So when
they come to me and they say, oh
my gosh, Robert, there is a leak
and it's gonna cost X amount.
I'm like, Hey, okay, amazing.
Well, now what I get to do as an
entrepreneur, is go into one of
my companies that I built and
figure out how to now
financially plugged that leak.
We're not going to get behind
right because as long as I keep
this mind sharp and this spirit
alive and awakened to
possibility, it does not even
yet appear what is ahead. You
know, so a lot of meetings go
from probably collected in the
morning. And then in the
afternoon, it's TV. And so TV
goes from anything to speaking
with the producers about the
show and distribution, but then
the designer, so there's the
architect, the contractor and
the interior designer. And so
there's constant conversations
of like, do we like the Brushed
Nickel, or the, you know,
lacquered nickel you know, so
it's like, a lot of like,
tactile touching things, which
is like, as an artist, and
creative, you know, that's just
like, so yummy and delicious. So
that is like, the second half of
the day. And then the third half
a new Master never a lack of
options, like, of course, every
half,
of course. So the final third,
and final third is I go into our
strengthen stages work. And that
is like, where I get to see a
lot of the creative that our
team has built for these
clients. And I just get to say,
Oh, I mean, literally,
yesterday, I was in a meeting,
there was a color palette that
they had made from one of the
clients for her website that
we're building. And I literally
was like, this blush doesn't
feel like her essence. You know,
and so we like, we just dialed
it up like two Pantone shades.
And I was like, now that's her.
We're here. We're here. Now, you
know. That's the word.
Love about just the
synchronicity of the work you're
doing designing your home. And
even you mentioned the brush
nickel versus the lacquered
nickel. Yeah, we got that wrong.
No, you're right. Yeah. And it's
almost like that awareness that
you're now being called to have
to those details, and how they
vibe with you. With seven year
old Robert Wood. 22 year old,
Robert, all the versions, you
get to also apply that with your
client. Yeah, like that
attention to detail. Oh, this is
not quite a couple of bands. So
I was like, I love that
synchronicity. Yeah.
And it's like, and I know, you
feel this when you're with your,
you know, your clients as well,
this idea of listening, because
you can hear when the truth is
coming out, or the version of
the story that they believe you
should hear or the audience
should hear. Right. And I know
you feel that when people are
talking to you about their
courses, or the content that
they're creating, or the
businesses, but also like, the
lives they're creating, but
that's what I love most about
the work that you're doing is
you're like, let's look into the
future. You know, like, let's
see that, that next version that
that other realm of possibility,
you know, so
thank you. I mean, that
literally as we were sitting
here, and I was like, Oh my
gosh, romper is being so
transparent and honest. Like, I
valued that so much. So you're I
mean, your ability to just,
you're I am myself, and you make
people feel safe to be their
full selves and to speak their
truth.
I love you. Yeah. Thank you.
This is so fun.
Doing chairs because we're going
to talk about your house. We're
going to talk about what led to
it the purchase. Okay, okay,
let's do a chairs. And then
let's go
cheers to you. Cheers to you.
And this new venture? Oh, my
God. Thank you for being a part
of the when you hit me up. I was
like, Are you even kidding? I
was like, when were Let's go.
Like it's a done deal. Are you
kidding me? Yeah, I mean so
much. We would do anything for
you. Oh, seriously. Serious. You
show up and you are changing
people's lives. Like it's it's a
no brainer, always. So please
always ask. Always be there
so much. So much, truly. Oh my
god. It's always a blessing to
have you here. I'm so glad you
got to the sip and paint that
was so fun. And
you know, I have my painting. I
have my painting. It's on my
desk and in the guest room. I'm
like your 3000 Boom.
Oh my gosh.
So one of the things I love.
This is like a detail that I was
like light that you were
featured in Entrepreneur in the
video for all and Jay Z song is
one of my favorite songs. So
that clip I was like wait, we
wait, Rob, Rob. Back, Robert is
in front of his house. So tell
us where did the idea come from?
How did you find the house and
what are you creating?
You know it came from death is
really where it came from. In
June 2020. My aunt Paulette had
been diagnosed with COVID she,
and she passed in June from
COVID. And in 2020, as black and
brown people in this country, we
were definitely afraid to go
outside because of the pandemic,
we were deathly afraid to go
outside because of the riots and
the racial reckoning that was
happening in our country, I
found out that she had passed on
a Friday and I went into my
bedroom, and I shut the blinds.
And I have these big, thick
black velvet curtains and I just
shut them and I just got under
my covers, and I just cried and
just said, I'm just gonna stay
here. And then my stepmom called
me the next morning and she
said, Open, your blinds wake up,
you have to go outside, like you
have to live like you cannot.
You get in grief, you still have
to see the sun, like you will
feel the darkness. And that is a
part of the healing process. But
we must journey with it and you
can't journey with it in your
bed. And so I had an attitude.
Here, like, I just want to sit
in my bed of sorrow. But okay,
I'm glad that I got up because I
grabbed a house beautiful
magazine, and I went out into
the park. And I sat in the park
and I read, flipping through
this magazine, and I saw an
article have a family that
during 911 Right after 911 they
had moved from New York City to
go get what they called a
sanctuary property in Great
Barrington, Massachusetts. And
I'm thinking I just lost my
aunt. I am scared of my
existence as a black man in
America. I needed a sanctuary
property. And so that word
sanctuary just like hit my
spirit so deeply. And I said
Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
What is that? Where is that? And
so I went on Zillow on my phone,
and I typed in Great Barrington,
Massachusetts. And that was the
third house that I saw. And when
I saw it, I'm scrolling. I'm
like, okay, okay. And then I saw
that house. And I was like,
that's it. And it's that
knowing, right, it's like seven
year old me sitting in that
theater for the first time I
literally heard in my entire
body. This is what you're meant
to do with your life. Like you
were meant to be an actor, you
are meant to tell stories you
are meant to create and these
spaces, and I felt that sitting
there in June of 2023 2020. This
is like jumping into the future.
1000s When 49.
And so I'm sitting there and I
go, this is it. This is it. I
literally that same moment. I
picked up the phone. I called
the realtor. I made an
appointment to see the house
that that Monday. I saw the
house on Monday. I paid for it
that Friday on Juneteenth. And
then the following Wednesday, I
went to pick up the keys and
then took that picture. And then
it went viral. But it all
happens within about a 10 days.
Of course it's no Oh, when the
universe is waiting on you. And
I know that that home was
waiting on me because it sat on
the market for years and years
when there has not been a
neighbor that has not come up to
me and said, I went to put in an
offer for that house. And it
ended that like everybody that I
meet in Great Barrington is like
I toured that everyone wanted to
buy it everyone was for you and
waiting for you. She was waiting
for me
to show up. Yes, it's time for
my saying.
Yeah. So you were asking, what
is it and my aunt Gloria said to
me last week, you are making a
capsule for our family's history
that will live on this earth.
And that people will be able to
go and learn who the heart rolls
are people will go and be able
to feel an energetic spirit of
it's not time to give up you
know, and truly be able to learn
not only the history of the
family that built the home, but
also the black servants that
lived in the home and my family
and that history of how it all
connects. And when she said
that, like the history nerd in
me just like lit up because
like, again, little seven year
old Robert was obsessed with
history because it was a way to
escape to another time period to
see like gorgeous costumes and
like I always I always was
confused as a child like why am
I in this year this year?
Because I was like I am an
Egyptian king. Like I feel
like a disco queen.
You are like that's where I
belong. That was my era.
You know, I feel Yes. Oh,
Egyptian counselor like, you
know, it just it felt like it
was all waiting. And so when my
aunt Gloria said that the other
week, I was like, Oh my God,
that's exactly what we are doing
right now.
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So we have a shared interest in
time travel. And it is the
opportunity to travel to the
future also traveled to the
past. On another episode, I was
talking about how the Lion King
is that story of returning back
to yourself because I talked
about how I see my life as three
different phases. The first was
discovering who I am, then it
was creating who I am. And
that's when I created course
from scratch. I'm like, Oh, who
is this? Oh, then I created my
dream life. And then that
started to not quite fit
anymore. And then it was
remembering who I am. And when I
thought right, and I feel I'm
there now. And when I think
about the Lion King, it is a
story of Simba remembering who
he is. Yeah, right. Discovering
as a kid from Mufasa from
everyone, this is your legacy.
And he's like, Oh, that's a lot
of pressure. And then second, he
ran away created who he wasn't
the jungle Pumbaa Timon, he's
like, let me try on a new
philosophy. Hakuna Matata, let
me see if it fits me. And then
the final one was running into
Nala having Rafiki guide him
back to remember who he was, and
to do it his way, right and not
not necessarily being the shadow
of his father. And so I think
about that story of remembering
who you are. And I was looking
through my notes this morning.
And I was like, Oh, I wrote a
quote down from blackest king.
And I want to ask what this
means to you. It says history is
your future. One day you will
meet yourself back where you
started.
One day, you will meet yourself
back where you started, I think
of the first time seeing my
house. And a lot of people
didn't believe that I could make
it happen as a single black
entrepreneur. And I did. And
when I come back to the home
now, two plus years later, I am
reminded, and I have to be
reminded when I open that door,
who came before, but also like
what that has given me the
opportunity to be and to do
because the Dow and the
roadblocks during the process of
renovation, you realize like the
true renovation is in your mind
and in your soul coming back
together again to say I am
worthy of this. You know, and so
I feel that that historical
evolution is exactly what you
just said. It's remembering who
you are. You know, and so I
deeply feel that that home is
constantly reminding me, don't
you forget?
I love that. What I love is
You're like an executive
producer on the show along with
others. And I'm like way, way,
way, way way. First home, all
cash. Yeah. Okay, so we do that.
And then we're creating we're
executive producing our first TV
show, and our first like, we're
executive and we're starring in
it like creative directing all
the things. So I mean, how and
yes how Robert and what is you
know, executive because you get
to be the creative director of
of your life. It's not just
executive producing a show but
it's really like your If it's
this next phase, so what tell me
more about how you even landed
or created that role for
yourself?
I think anything in life is our
relationships. Right? And I have
a father figure here in New York
City, who is my theater dad, you
know, Charles Randolph, right.
And he is also from North
Carolina. And he has had an
incredible career as a TV
director and also a Broadway
director and has just really
taken me under his wing. And
what I love watching most about
him is he's not afraid to put
himself in the room. And to come
prepared, right. So when the
when that post went viral, I
didn't want first off know that
it had gone viral because I had
turned my phone off. Oh, yeah, I
was like, I'm just going to
enjoy this day if like having
the keys. So when I got home,
like maybe 12 hours later, I
realized that what had happened,
and my did you learn my mom? So
I thought, yes, so I call my mom
and I was just like, hey, I just
wanted to let you know, I got
home safely. And she's like, so
out of breath. And I'm like, are
you okay? Like, you know, it's
like, almost midnight. I'm like,
what's going on? And she's like,
Robert, every major news outlet
is calling trying to have an
inner calling her. The news is
what they will find you. Okay,
they will find you. And so I'm
like, what? And she's like, go
look at the post. It has 1000s
and 1000s of comments and likes,
and I'm like, oh my god, I'm
like, she is buggin. Right?
Like, I'm like, No, truly, I
thought there were like, 10
people that you know, and so I
looked and I was like, okay,
she's not lying. Okay. And I was
like, Okay, I have to call
Rachel. So I called my best
friend. And I'm like, What in
the world? And she asked, she
was like, what have you always
wanted to create? You know, and
she said, when I first met you,
I think was that like 2015 2016?
She said, You were working on
your own YouTube show where you
were decorating Broadway
dressing rooms. She was like,
what? Yes. I had my own YouTube
show called Broadway quick
change. And I would go into
Broadway dressing rooms. And I
would do one day renovations on
Broadway star dressing rooms.
And those creative moments that
aren't actually teaching you for
the neck. So when people ask,
like, how are you confident
selling on a webinar? I just
learned behind that camera on
that YouTube show that we were
put together in five minutes.
Like you better do the ass.
Yeah, better do the CTA booboo,
you know? And so I was like,
okay, she's like, well, what if
instead of doing a Broadway
dressing room, you go to your
big ass house?
Wow. And that sounds exactly
like Rachel.
Okay, okay. So that night, we
literally stayed up all night,
we came up with a working title
of black man, white house,
bought the domain, called one of
my dearest friends and
designers, Becca Hayden. We put
together a website, literally in
the midnight hour, then the next
morning, people started going to
that site. And that's actually
when the Scott's brothers
reached out to me to have a
meeting. And so they were the
first production company that
had reached out. And so and that
was another learning curve of
like, I just thought you went to
the Oprah Winfrey Network, and
then the show happens, no, you
have to get a product. You have
to get a production company,
they have to say yes, you go
into a deal with them. And then
you begin to shop the show to
the different networks. Got it.
So I'm like, Oh, my gosh. So how
did it happen? I think one,
having an idea that was really
good. And really out there. You
know, we had creative materials.
And it's like, okay, if these
folks put this together in 24
hours, it's like, what could we
then do with like, a longer
Yeah, in a few months of a
creative process. And so what
ended up happening is Charles,
called me and he goes, we have
to get you at home. Like we have
to get you out on and at this
point, Charles had directed
numerous shows for Miss
Winfrey's network. And so I'm
like, Oh, my gosh, if this
happens, and so when their team
reaches out, and they said, we'd
like to set up a meeting, it was
like, I think, a month and a
half, two months out, and I'm
thinking two months. 24 hours.
Because as entrepreneurs, we're
like, oh, you know, Jenna No,
but I'm so grateful that we had
that time because it really
allowed me and then the team at
Scotts brothers to get really
clear about why we were doing
this show and who This show
could affect and how like change
can happen, not only with the
viewers but also within the
industry, from everybody to like
the banks and how black people
are treated in the construction
loan process. To even like
bringing in a black interior
designer, in an industry that is
so white and not very inclusive
of amplifying black voices in
the design world. So that took
time to get to those discoveries
into realizing like, this is why
we have to tell this story. And
this is why we have to do it
with this network. And so I went
into that meeting. And I had my
publicist Yvette Noel Shore was
in there, and she's like, proud
mom, you know, she's just like,
she's just everything, you know.
So we're sitting there on that
meeting, and the night before I
called my friend divine joy
Randolph, and she went through
the pitch with me, and she's
like, Okay, do you have an hour,
and like, completely reworked so
many things and just like, got
me in a place of feeling
confident and prepared to, like,
truly do my best work. And so we
went into that meeting, and none
of us were without tears
streaming down our face. Like,
it just felt like a spiritual
experience. It was supposed to
be, I believe, a 20 minute
meeting that went about an hour
and a half. Wow. And it just
felt so right. You know, I was
like, because in a way, you are
really going into a relationship
with the production company, or
the network, or your agents or
your publicist, or whoever. And
it really, it has to be right,
you know, because you're
creating something that has the
power to change people's lives.
So the home, the foundation has
to be right, you know. And so
when we went into that meeting,
I knew they couldn't say,
obviously, on the call, you have
a green light, I was like, this
is done, I called my mom. I love
your mom,
I saw her in your story. And I
was like, Oh my gosh, sweet,
she's gorgeous. That's the same
like energy put, like,
she's, she's the best, that
green light came pretty soon
after that meeting. And then we
just like, got to work. But that
was the really beautiful thing
of like having a friend like
Rachel who said, Let's be
prepared. And then having a
champion like Charles who said,
I'm going to make the call, and
you're going to get this
meeting. It's just what other
fathers are able to do. Like say
your, you know, dad went to an
Ivy League, and then went to
work at a big law firm, they
just call that law firm and say,
My son just graduated, bring him
in. And there are many spiritual
gifts and things that my parents
have been able to give me and
doors they've been able to open.
But this is why it's so
important for black and brown
people to be in these positions
of power, because we then have
the responsibility and the
opportunity to open the door for
the next line of storytellers.
And had he not done that. I
don't think everything would
have come to fruition like it
did, you know. So that's how the
executive producer title was
able to be attached to the host.
And I just, I feel very
grateful. Very grateful. Oh, my
God. Yeah.
So you said eight episode
season? Yes. Whoo. And then when
is it dropping?
Oh, my gosh. So we are in
production right now, which is
really exciting. And so I'm
hoping early to mid 2023, we'll
be able to see it. It's just
been such a process, you know,
and it's just, and something
that I'm learning right now. And
I'm sure you feel this in your
many ventures as well, we really
have to tell ourselves and calm
our central nervous systems to
enjoy the process. It's so easy
to tell our clients sit in the
process and enjoy the process.
But like when you are the CEO,
and you have to think 10 steps
ahead of the rest of the team.
It's hard for you to do that for
yourself, you know. And so I've
been saying, Robert, when these
filming days, get hard, and you
start to get tired, and you
start to get cranky, because you
need food and you're hangry you
have to remember like what a
gift this is to be in this space
and to be in this time and to
get the opportunity to tell this
story and like you'll blink just
kind of like the summer will
blink and she will have
moved on through her merry
way. You know, that's another
thing I keep telling myself.
It's like, hey, enjoy this. I
mean, even yesterday, I was
actually one of my girlfriends
from high school called me she
was in the park in Saratoga
Springs, New York. And she said
there is this woman doing a
soundcheck. I have never heard a
voice like this in my life. And
I'm like, What is her name?
She's like, legacy. I'm like, Oh
my God. I've been following her
since 2009. I was like and then
two months ago, I was coming
from LA and we were sitting
beside each other And delta one
and I was like, I love your
music so much like you are
everything. And so I ended up
just like driving up, you know
what, like, it was literally a
three hour drive concert
started, got off the car, I
guess too low. On the way
driving back yesterday, I was
like, I'm going to stop at my
house, and I stopped because
right now where we are in the
renovation process, all of the
walls are down. So you see all
of the live edge wood of these
trees that were cut down 200
years ago. And I'm like, Oh,
wow, just sit and so I just
walked around by myself in that
home for two hours and just let
her talk to me. Because it's
part of the process that in the
next few weeks, all of the
drywall will be back up and the
what you know, and the framing
will begin. And so it's like
taking the time in our own
unique processes to sit in it
versus just get to the final
product, which is very, very
easy for our CEO brains to want
to do.
Absolutely. I relate to that.
3,000% I was having a
conversation with my business
manager, maybe like a year ago,
and this is when I was in
transition had ended my
relationship was in that inquiry
of you know, who am I? Yeah,
what are what's happening? And,
and then I knew I wanted to do
something different, but I
wasn't sure what it was. And
he's like, Yeah, you're pregnant
right now. And he's like, Oh,
you're just you're pregnant, you
know, you got a baby in Saudi,
you
don't know the gender yet.
There's gonna be a gender
reveal. Right now it's
developing. They have I have an
ear, in my head, the legs, but
still working out the organs.
It's working out its eyes. It's
developing. Yeah, you don't know
what the gender is. But you're
gonna have a gender reveal. And
that's when you'll know when
it's born. You know, that's when
you know who it is what it is,
what's the energy. And as you
were speaking, I related that to
our, you know, the things were
developing the ventures, the
projects, it is in these
development cycles, you know,
when parents have a child
haven't been blessed with that
yet. But hopefully, one day,
when I do I know that they tell
you to savor every moment,
they're only going to be two
months old, one time, they're
only going to be four months
old, they're only going to be
one year old one time, and that
development is gonna be like,
Yep, and then you blink your
eyes, and it's eight years old,
and then 18. And then 48. So
that's what I saw when you said
that. And I'm like, oh, yeah,
that was like the four month,
whatever point you're at, and
you're like, I want to see this
baby or four months old.
Correct? Because it's just
learning to sit up. I want to be
there for that. Yeah. And then
you want to be there for when it
crawls. Like, I want to see
that. I love that
you said it perfectly. You
literally said it perfectly. And
I'm grateful that my contractor,
he is so sensitive, and such a
delicate man, that he's like,
Hey, because he's a father. And
so I think he has a different
sensitivity, you know, than
probably many of the other
contractors we were looking at.
And he's like, You have to be
here for as much of the process
as possible, you know. And so
it's like, I just love that you
said that.
Yeah, so right. It's
interesting, because I reached a
point where I was getting told
by coaches, outsource everything
you want to, you know, elevate
out of it. And which I did. And
then I realized, oh, wait, what
there are parts of this process
that are creative. They're my
creative expression. So I love
that he's like, nudging you to
say, hey, like, you're gonna
feel more connected. Yeah, to
the home, you know, this is like
your expression.
Yeah. So there are so many parts
of that coaching practice of
building like, taking yourself
out of your business that I just
do not agree with. There's so
many parts of a god I'm so here
for. And then there are other
pieces that I guess the core
pieces, you were given the
calling, like you were tapped on
the shoulder by the universe,
and it was placed inside of you
that this is what this is going
to be. And I believe in many
ways, it's nonsensical to then
believe that these other people
who have come into our lives can
move the mission completely
forward, without you being there
in some way. So good, simply
because it's like, people are
coming not just for the content,
anybody can build content.
They're coming for that
energetical resonance, that soul
of that CEO, you know, and I
think there is a problem in our
industry, where it's like, get
out, get out, get out, well, you
then get out and then you
realize, oh, shit, what happened
and then you have to come back
in to an emergency cleanup on
Aisle Five, and you're like, No,
Oh, and you're happening? And
it's like, well, because you
left when the spirit left, like
the messes they did there
Oh, and here's the thing. Oh, be
a visiting minister. Oh,
absolutely. Oh, listen, just for
the service
that we talked about was so
right,
we cannot leave our
congregation. The congregation
to like our people need us but
also the team in many ways to
oh my god, I'm glad. Yeah, cuz
a lot of people are out there
talking about the NIT, there are
many aspects that I completely,
completely agree like, get cut
out, cut out. And also, you were
given the call.
That's so good. What I love
about what you're saying is
there is this distinction that
was missing for me. And I was
hearing the message from coaches
that were the Get out, get out,
get out. And without the
distinction of what parts to
have someone take over and
leaning into your unique genius
and that like visionary role.
And I guess what I, what I found
was, it was useful for me to
like re identify myself as how I
would describe myself as a CEO,
which is not a CEO, because I'm
like, nothing executive about me
leadership. What does that mean?
How do you spell it? I don't
know. So what I
did identify with was being a
CIO. So a chief inspiration,
innovation and investment
officer. So my number one goal
is to keep myself inspired.
Okay, because then I will show
up and inspire passion and be
able to inspire the message the
people the congregation, yes.
And then the innovation, you
know, that ability to, I usually
say, I live in the future, and
I'm just visiting the present.
You know, it's all happening at
the same time, eternal, eternal
presence, but it's like, you
know, my role is to I have
already seen and visited the
future. I'm just coming back to
tell y'all what I'm seeing.
That's the innovation and we're
like, Okay, what was the next
thing? What are we like, what
are we doing? And then the
investment is okay, like, Is
this what's the biggest
opportunity we can give this
person so they can help the
business grow? 10x? Right. What
are those investments we're
making that are making sense? So
that was so helpful for me to
refrain realize, okay, that's my
domain. Yes. That's me at the
pulpit. Come on. The other
thing. We have more amazing
people who I can do that like
this. Yeah. So that's such an
important distinction.
You're you saying, I'm in the
future. I'm just here visiting
and sharing. I recently a few
weeks ago, went on a date with
this stunning cumin. And they
said, I'm a reincarnation. So
I'm like, Oh, my God, tell me
every Never. Why? I said, Yeah,
I said, and then they said, I'm
here on vacation. And I said, I
love you already.
Like, like you had
a stressed bone or muscle in
their body. We were going to see
the ballet that night. And I was
like, Oh my gosh, we were like
having a drink. And then I'm
like, Oh, my goodness, we need
to run like literally, this show
is starting in five minutes. And
they were like, I'm on vacation.
And I'm like, I you know what? I
need to be on vacation. Because
they were they were handling
life, but just really, just
really here.
carnation is to me. When I
tell you we didn't get that far
and that there wasn't a second
date. Okay, there was a second
date. So I didn't, I didn't get
all of the info. Got it. But
what I do know, they shared with
me that they had been here
before and that there was going
to be another life and what they
learned from the previous life
was, it's not that serious. And
to truly sit into I believe the
idea of the mantra of I'm on
vacation, not just don't care,
but truly enjoy. You know, like,
why would we just throw our
drink down and run to the
theater? The ballet is going to
be two, two and a half hours. We
can continue this drink for
another 10 minutes. Yes, walk on
over to the theater. We'll still
we'll still get the show. And
I'm like, You know what? You are
not wrong. Yeah, you are not
wrong. So I wish I had more to
tell you but I'm
gonna just do it. No, but that
explains it. That explains it.
Wow. It's interesting because I
thought that was their like
profession. So I'm like, Oh,
they help others realize how but
you know, that was the identity.
I have. Yeah, that makes me that
example. makes me think of I
went to Elton John's concert,
like maybe three weeks ago.
Yeah. Incredible. And we got
there, like 20 minutes late, of
course that was on me. And so we
rolled up and I was like, Oh,
he's definitely got to have an
opener. No, it was just him. Of
course, this is final tour. And
this thing has been in motion
for like, a few years because he
had to take the pause, right?
Because what was happening? And
so he's like, Okay, this is it.
This is your last time. And so I
remember on the way I was like,
Oh, I can't wait to hear Benny
in
the dip. Just like I'm like that
is. And so we were walking in,
and I'm like, I hear Hey jet and
I was like, Are we missing any
of the Jets right now? I was
like, Elton, on stage. Yes. On
the keys.
And we're not in the stadium.
We're not We're not on the
ground. We're not. We're not
there.
But then I got in. You know, I'm
saying, like, Oh, my God, you
look incredible. I was like,
thank you. And then I
remembered, you know, it's a
good day. Like, we're here to
see Elton. We're gonna see the
rest of it. Yeah, to
hear Rocket Man. That's all we
needed.
I just love that. He's like, I'm
at a point in my career. I don't
do openers, right? Like he's
out. Right on time. Here. We got
75 years old. What a career. I
know. It was super inspiring.
I don't think I want to be on a
stage at 75.
I know. That's why I have all
the more respect.
I did webinars for two years
straight. And I was like, Oh,
we're getting off this stage.
And it was a virtual stage from
my living room. Okay. And I was
like we could we could right now
thinking you think singing the
same song. I seriously did not
realize that was alive.
We wouldn't mean those webinars
over two years. I did it 100
Over 100 times, almost every
Wednesday, and we took a few off
over two years.
Oh, my goodness. I had the shift
where
I said what happens if I keep my
word to myself? What happens if
I do this webinar for a year?
And I knew I wouldn't make a
million if I did it for a year
and it happened in six months
instead. And I was like, let's
just keep going. Because we
talked about this. I think you
also identify as an introvert.
Yeah. And I recently realized
I'm an introvert because I
always glamorized idolized the
extrovert identity. Yeah. And so
I always thought I was one
because like, of course, I'm
gonna. And then I was like, Oh,
you're an introvert. But that's
why I loved doing it. That's why
it never got old for me. Because
I was like, Cool. I get to,
like, interact from over here.
And then behind the screen,
exactly. disappear into the good
nights. Yep. Yes, I get it. It's
actually quite generous to share
your gifts. Like what you
sharing your gifts. It is so
generous, so many people get to
be impacted. So when I see that
I'm like, Thank you, like, I see
you. And also thank you. But I
also
think that's why our self care
of coming back in the house. And
recharging and allowing those
cells to regenerate is so
important.
We're gonna time travel to the
future. And it could be five
years from now. 10 years from
now, 20 years from now, and I
want to know, who is Robert?
What are you doing? When you
wake up? Where are you? What are
you looking at? Who's in your
life? What projects are
happening? What's going on?
Yeah,
let's go 10 years. Okay, let's
go 10 years. 45 year old Robert,
we're giving 45 year old Rob for
Yes, she is so drunk, stupid in
love with his husband. And we've
got I think we've got like 283
Babies running around the house.
And I think that our time is
split between Italy and
Massachusetts, and probably LA,
you know, and I see a private
tutor, you know, so that we can
really like curate a beautiful,
inclusive curriculum and
education for our kids. Yes,
there are some big dogs. I don't
like no little tiny dogs, you
know, seeing big big dogs. But
there's just a lot of family.
There's a lot of love. There's a
bunch of travel and the work is
deeply creative. You know, and I
think I do see moving more so
into production, you know, and I
could see like 45 year old me
having a field day making
creative decision decisions and
the morning that date that I was
on Actually, they asked me, What
is your greatest ambition in
life? And I said, Honestly, I,
at this point in my life want to
have a giant room filled with
stationery, and stamps and
crafts. And I want to go in
there and I want to journal and
write people like thank you
notes. That was like, that's
like, that's my 45 year old me
is like doing stationery and
crafting, you know, but like,
that's my you work hard now. You
know, build it now. I put family
babies travel. Lots and lots of
great, great, solid,
exhilarating sex.
Thank you. I was hoping. I was
like, What is he going to end
that way? Thank you for going
there all the way.
We're Keeping love alive. Yeah,
you know, reminding constantly.
am so proud of you that
they? Seriously, I'm proud of
you. Thank you so inspiring.
Now, now's our time to share a
truth that is on your heart
right now, what is a truth
that's coming up. And it may be
something you haven't shared
with anyone maybe even like
yourself yet?
That love is so deep and
confusing and beautiful. And I
am deeply confused by it. I last
week, I lost one of my dearest
friends who was also one of
like, the greatest loves of my
life. And thank you, I think the
truth is, you can love your best
friend, you know, and you can
support your, your friend
through so many things. And that
friendship can be so deep and
love can be so deep and they can
run and be so confusing. And you
can go through so many different
phases of life with that person.
I think the truth is like even
in the transition, they are
still rooting for your heart and
loving you and the residents
that they had, I believe the
territory just enlarges as they
transition into the next phase
of their being. Yeah, so I think
that's the truth that I am
learning right now. And you
know, learning right now, you
know, because I asked my mom, I
was actually talking to my
sister about this on because
she's a therapist. I'm like, why
is this so hard? And she said
you've journeyed through so many
seasons in life together. I met
him when I was 22 years old, you
know and so I got to spend 13
years of my life in New York
City with him Yeah, and he was
my brother and my friend and my
love and just so much goodness
and so I think the truth and I'm
learning is it's a winding road
you know, but the core the core
truth is love. That's beautiful.
I love
oh my gosh seriously, I know
that everyone everyone who sees
this episode is going to want to
know where to find you for is
the best place to find you and
follow you and get all the
goodness you are to
kind and I feel the absolute
same like this has been just
healing and joy to be here. You
can follow me on Instagram
@SirRobertTakesPics. Or you can
find me online at
strengthonstages.com Thank you
so much.
Fine, follow check it all out.
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