Dorian Smith-Garcia

Most people know the famed Atlanta rapper Offset for one of two reasons. He was one-third of the popular rap group Migos before pursuing a solo career and is husband to Cardi B , a female MC who needs no introduction. But the southern music artist has been in the entertainment industry for years — including as a backup dancer to Whitney Houston at one point. As part of Migos, Offset and his group members, Quavo and the late Takeoff, helped to bring Trap music further into the mainstream with iconic hits like “Bad and Boujee” and “Walk It Talk It.” He would go on as a solo artist to further establish himself as a fixture in the rap genre, earning a Best Rap Performance Grammy nomination for his song “Clout” which features his wife. With all the success and notoriety afforded Offset, exactly how much is the former Migos member worth? Little is known about Offset’s early life except that he hails from a middle-class family. Born Kiari Kendrell Cephus in 1991, he’s a Georgian native...

Even if you’re not a salesperson, the day may come when you need to convince someone — anyone — that they should take a chance on you. This could be a job interview , when you’re jockeying for a promotion, decide to start your own business and are trying to make sales or secure clients, or if you need to lobby for funding . Whatever the goal, you need to give your target audience a persuasive reason why they should give you the job or promotion, shop with you over a competitor, or fund your business instead of another startup. To do this, you need to sell yourself. This can include creating a thorough presentation that outlines the benefits of someone aligning themselves with you. But you need a good elevator pitch to draw them in before you get to that step. What Is An Elevator Pitch? Once upon a time, people literally did chase after executives, corner them in an elevator, and essentially pitch themselves as a viable option. Whether this was to get a job or secure a business deal,...

Starting a business comes with highs and lows. On the one hand, an entrepreneur may feel endless optimism as they launch a new concept and see how the market responds. But conversely, fears over being scooped by the competition — especially bigger brands — can make even the most confident individuals second guess their decisions. And in particular, steep competition from established businesses is a major caveat that an entrepreneur needs to consider when launching a new concept. This is because a competitor with a more established firm often has access to resources, a deep network and name recognition by consumers. This means that even if an upstart business is first to market with an idea, it can still be overtaken by the competition and lose its edge. This is where choosing to be a stealth startup can be a calculated and smart decision. What Are Stealth Startups? Stealth startups are exactly as the name implies — startups that maintain a low profile and enter into the market with...

If you watched the animated version of Disney’s “The Lion King” from 1994, you are familiar with Jason Weaver, or at least his singing voice, which he lent to the role of Simba. Since then, the actor and singer has appeared in several movies and television shows — many of which have won awards. The 44-year-old actor and Chicago native is a shrewd businessman. Even as a child, he had the wherewithal (or great advisors that guided him) to turn down a $2 million flat fee for his role in The Lion King , instead favoring a flat upfront payment along with royalties to be paid for his lifetime. As a result, he still enjoys Disney checks to this day. So, with a business acumen like that, and a career that shows no signs of slowing down, how much is Jason Weaver worth today? Jason Weaver’s Early Life Jason Weaver is someone that can say entertainment literally runs in his veins. He was born in 1977 and is the son of Marilyn “Kitty” Haywood, who is a member of the Chicago-based all-female...

Launching a startup is no easy task. From coming up with an idea that can actually gain traction to creating a solid positioning statement, there are plenty of caveats that can cause even the most well-intentioned startups to fail — or at least stumble along the way. This is why getting assistance earlier on to help focus targets and strategies is critical. Enter the incubator concept . While the term is often used interchangeably with accelerators, it is not exactly the same thing. Although the end goal is to help fledgling startups gain their footing, launch and successfully enter the market, the way incubators go about it is different. Read on to find out more about the general purpose of business incubators and what is needed before applying to one. What Is A Business Incubator? Ignore the marketing speak and jargon because the concept is very straightforward. Breaking down what a startup business incubator is requires nothing more than considering what the actual piece of...

Having a successful business is not just about creating the next big idea or must-have product; it is also about the people that one employs. A toxic work culture can be fatal for a business’s bottom line, yet a quick search through GlassDoor proves that there are plenty of companies being run into the ground thanks to mismanagement and poor leadership. While poor attitudes and shifty management are top reasons for employees leaving a company, not all businesses know how to pivot and correct toxic workplaces — much to the detriment of employee retention. A famous saying coined by Peter Drucker is that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” What does this mean, how does it influence a business’s success, and what can firms do to improve a suffering culture within a company? Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast While it may sound like a trendy bit of jargon, Peter Drucker’s statement gets to the core of what drives businesses — its people. Unsurprisingly, happy people put in 110...

Every entrepreneur thinks that they have the next big idea and that if only consumers or businesses were exposed to it, it would become a rockstar business overnight. In truth, this is not always the case. Often, there is a massive disconnect between those creating brands and what the target audience is demanding. To fix that problem, businesses need to craft a stellar product or create a service that resonates with their audiences . It is important to have a product or service that provides real value, but equally important is learning how to articulate those benefits to potential customers. Without proper branding, even the most exciting product can sit on a shelf or go overlooked as the competition continues to maintain its hold on the market. Learning how to create a positioning statement that helps a brand or product stand out from the competition, and also connect with audiences can make the difference between success and delayed opportunities for many businesses. Positioning...

Entrepreneurship is often romanticized, but it is no easy journey. Beyond simply creating an idea that seems unique enough to launch, it is not cheap to be your own boss. Starting a business has several fixed costs that can quickly add up, such as legally forming a company, paying for legal protections like patents or trademarks, and, of course, marketing and promoting your business. This is where bringing in outside investors can be a smart move. Investors not only represent a cash infusion , but if founders are wise, these people can also help market, promote, and grow a business. However, finding people who are not only willing to invest in a young company but also have enough resources to support a fledgling firm can be difficult. So, where is a startup to start with finding investors? Create A Business Plan Serious investors are not interested in blindly investing in a business — even if they are relatives and friends (who are usually the initial seed investors for any...

Serving in the military requires great courage, as members willingly take on risks and hardships most professions never face. The demanding conditions of training, deployment, and combat involve dangers that call for personal sacrifice. Within the various military branches, there are elite forces that train even harder and undertake riskier assignments that consistently put them in harm’s way. In particular, the Navy SEALs are considered one of the toughest special operations forces in the world, with several alums that have continued to other careers within the intelligence community and private sector. In particular, David Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL, Army Ranger and Air Force service member who pivoted to becoming a prolific athlete as well as a public speaker and author. He is an ultramarathon runner, triathlete, and ultra-distance cyclist. With a career this impressive, it is only natural to wonder about David Goggins’ current net worth. David Goggins’ Early Life Like many...

Launching a business is no easy feat. For as much as social media gurus love to talk about how everyone should have a hustle or launch their own business, the reality is often far different. While coming up with an idea can be hard enough, the truth is that most businesses will fail long before they reach the five-year operation milestone. Real barriers like funding a startup business as one tries to shift it from a labor of love to a profitable venture make that grim statistic a reality. In the beginning, most business owners are entirely self-funded. And while this can give one a sense of accomplishment, it also means that there can be lean times. Eventually, startups are going to need a cash infusion which is where the business loans come in. Understanding The Basics Of Startup Business Loans While business loans might seem like mysterious products, they are not much different than any other kind of financial loan offering. Simply put, a financial institution fronts a business...

These days, most everyone knows that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) are not just the future, they are arguably the most important sectors driving economic growth and academic tracks today. Professionally, STEM and STEAM are natural segues into the tech industry. With concerns around digital divides and achievement gaps, it is understandable that leaders in the Black community are pushing even harder to ensure that youth and adults who are making career pivots have access to opportunity. More importantly, pointing to representation in the tech field gives prospective employees and students choosing academic paths a relatable and attainable goal. Women in tech have played a crucial role from the beginning, as exemplified by figures like Katherine Johnson of “Hidden Figures.” Yet, despite their significant contributions, women’s roles in tech and science-backed fields were soon eclipsed by...

Tracy Morgan is a comedian and actor who is known for his unique delivery and candid demeanor. The Brooklyn native has a career with significant milestones and highlights across stand-up, television and movies including stints on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) and a lead role in “30 Rock.” While his acting and comedy are what he is most known for, his brush with fate when he was caught in a car accident with a Walmart shipping truck in 2014 put him even further in the spotlight. Morgan went on to make a full recovery and returned to acting as well as performing standup. With a career that spans nearly four decades and countless accolades, exactly how much is Tracy Morgan worth? Tracy Morgan’s Early Life Tracy Morgan was born in Brooklyn in 1969 and is the second of five children . He noted that he was often bullied at school. As is common with many comedians, his early life was often marked with tragedy. His parents separated when he was just six years old and by the time he was in...

Civil rights will always be a hot topic not just within the community but across the country. Sadly, while some strides have been made to create true equality and justice, countless incidents occur across the country that reminds society of how much further there is to go. In particular, when these situations arise victims need a voice that will speak up for them , demand accountability, and shine a spotlight on all the ways that America is not living up to its potential. Ben Crum is one of those voices. Ben Crump is a civil rights and personal injury attorney and civil rights activist. He rose to prominence after he took the Trayvon Martin case where the youth was fatally shot by neighborhood vigilante, George Zimmerman. Since then, the attorney has taken on many high-profile cases that frequently center around racial brutality. Given his high-profile status, how much is this legal eagle worth? Ben Crump’s Early Life Ben Crump’s early life before passing the bar exam is fairly...

When people think of longtime neo-soul musicians, Erykah Badu, with her eclectic persona, is one of the first names that come to mind. With a music career that spans nearly four decades and classic tracks like “Next Lifetime,” “Call Tyrone” and “On & On”, Badu has proven that she’s a creative force in the industry. These days, Badu can often be found sitting front row at international Fashion Week shows. She has also tried her hand at acting, and producing and has even served as the face of both Tom Ford and Givenchy for fragrance and clothing collections, respectively. Known as the Queen of Neo-Soul, with a track record this strong, one question comes to mind. “Exactly how much is Ms. Badu worth these days?” Erykah Badu’s Early Life Born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas in 1971, Badu started performing at an early age. As young as four years of age, she frequently sang and danced at the Dallas Theater Center as well as The Black Academy of Arts and Letters. By her early teenage years,...

Once upon a time, people who spent all day on their computers or playing video games were told that they were wasting their time and would not amount to much. These days, gaming has become a big industry with worldwide championships and conferences dedicated to the genre. With the advent of s treaming content, gamer streams have risen in popularity thus, it is not uncommon to see gamers — even casual ones that use a split-screen format to interact with their audience — amass large followings on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. One such personality is IShowSpeed, an internet sensation that beyond gaming, has also built a reputation as a rapper. He has been an active influencer since 2017 and has even earned a Streamy Award. So, how much is IShowSpeed worth? IShowSpeed’s Early Life Unsurprisingly, IShowSpeed wasn’t always named that. Before adopting the handle, he was born Darren Jason Watkins Jr, in Ohio in 2005. Not much is known about his childhood before he joined YouTube....