By Jared Curry, Guest Contributor

​There’s no doubt that entrepreneurship is challenging. There is no doubt that being a young,
black entrepreneur is even more so. You’ll need to build a diverse set of skills, work with a wide
range of personalities, and often spend long nights building your brand. Plus, you need to
overcome all of the limiting beliefs about what you can do.
​
Honestly, I didn’t know exactly what it would take to succeed when I created Scope Marketing at
16, and I’ve learned a lot since then. But despite everyone who told me to wait until I was older,
I managed to grow my company into a leading marketing brand in just two years.

I couldn’t tell you that building a business is easy. That said, I can tell you that anyone can do it
if they have an innovative idea and the will to turn that idea into a concrete reality.

Some people see my story as one in a million, but I hope it inspires young people around the
world to pursue their dreams, regardless of their age or any other obstacles. I want to cover
three seemingly simple ideas that completely transformed my outlook and helped me reach the
point I’m at today.

Believe in Yourself - You are never Too Young For This

My life has changed dramatically since I started Scope Marketing, but I didn’t even consider
opening a business until I read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki at age 14. I already had
some ideas about digital marketing, and at that point I realized I had a real opportunity.

Seemingly overnight, Scope went from being a fun hypothetical to a serious business with high
stakes. Two years later, I’m on pace to generate six figures of revenue in 2020 while working
with global ecommerce brands.

One thing I’ve noticed is that kids and adults alike act as if I’ve achieved the impossible. To be
honest, I would have said the same thing just a few years ago.

But after reading Rich Dad Poor Dad and taking a look at my own financial future, I realized that
everything that’s never been done before seems impossible until someone breaks through
those artificial walls and ceilings. I simply asked the question, ‘why shouldn’t it be me?’

The Society Doesn’t Get to Choose Who You Are - The Choice Is Yours

Nobody gets to decide who you are and what you can achieve. The only person with the power
of that decision is you - don’t forget that. We are born and raised in a world that is still struggling
with something we thought shouldn’t exist anymore. Yes, racism is still a thing and we can all
feel it.

However, as a young teen in America, you get to decide if you are going to follow the image that
was created for you, or if you are going to follow your dreams. I decided to dream, to work and
to take action. And here I am. I have just turned 19, and I have a team to lead and clients to
care about. I continue to overcome what is “expected of me” and to crush my goals.

How? Focus is the most important thing. Just focus on you, yourself and your personal goals.
You are writing your own story.

Focus on Results

In the same way that people tend to sensationalize my accomplishments, I often feel like their
expectations are different when they’re working with a younger entrepreneur. Instead of trying to
capitalize on the story or do well “for my age,” I just try to do the best work I can and let my
results speak for themselves.

I don’t just talk the talk—I offer an ROI guarantee that provides an incredible degree of peace of
mind. My goal is to show clients that I’m the best man for the job. That attitude has helped me
land contracts with Remax, Anytime Fitness, and other leading brands.

Never Stop Improving

Even though I’m proud of what I’ve done so far, I never let my past achievements stop me from
growing. I’m not just here to be a young success story, and I think it’s crucial to keep moving
forward regardless of where you are currently.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past—what’s important is where you’re
going now. What sets Scope Marketing apart is my dedication to improving my craft and finding
ways to deliver even better results for my clients.

Big goals don’t always come easy, and there are no shortcuts to success in marketing or any
other field. That being said, I always come back to these principles when I think about my own
accomplishments. No matter what you’re working toward, these three ideas will help you stay on
track and achieve your fullest potential.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Imani Motion Pictures has released the brand new trailer for the urban lit cult classic DUTCH, based on the first book of an epic trilogy by Teri Woods. The film stars Lance Gross ("Tyler Perry's House Of Payne"), James Hyde ("Monarca"), Tyrin Turner ("Meet The Blacks"), Isabella Ferreira ("Orange Is The New Black"), Melissa Williams ("Tyler Perry's The Oval"), Macy Gray ("For Colored Girls") and Jeremy Meeks ("True to the Game 2") with appearances by Michael Blackson ("Nobody's Fool"), O.T. Genasis and Renny and introducing Multi-Platinum Rapper Gunna making his feature film debut. DUTCH opens in select theaters on Friday, November 27th.

Directed by Preston Whitmore ("This Christmas," "True To The Game"), DUTCH introduces a player who will use any means necessary to dominate the streets and beyond. For Bernard James, Jr. aka "Dutch" (Gross), survival is the ultimate score and power is the deadliest high of all. There isn't an angle he can't work or a woman he can't seduce. When he gains control of an African drug lord's stolen heroin business, Dutch quickly makes it the most feared drug empire on the East Coast. Naturally, there are plenty of enemies vowing to take him down, including a vengeful Mafia heir, an ambitious DA and a conscience-stricken former friend. With Dutch fighting for his life, while on trial, he plays the game and scores a winning hand in the face of all that betrayed him and finds justice his way ... the street way!

Supporting cast include Markice Moore ("Snowfall"), Miles Stroter ("The Quad"), Robert Costanzo ("Modern Family") and Natasha Marc ("Ballers").

"This film is lit and features an all-star cast," says Manny Halley, DUTCH producer and founder of Imani Motion Pictures. "DUTCH is an iconic story within the urban literary genre, so we had to get every detail right – and I'm very proud of what we accomplished! Also, we are thrilled to be introduce the ever talented Multi-Platinum rapper Gunna in his feature film debut. You will see a side of him that you've never seen before and I promise you will be wowed by his performance. Come join us in theaters on Thanksgiving weekend and experience Dutch's story!"

The official film soundtrack, which will feature tracks by Macy Gray, Gunna, Fabolous and OT Genesis among others, will also be released on November 27 on iTunes and other retailers.  The soundtrack is executive produced by Wheezy Beatz and Manny Halley.

DUTCH is written by Preston Whitmore and produced by Manny Halley, Rodney Turner II and Yolanda Halley.

Social:
FB: www.facebook.com/dutchmovie
IG: @dutchthemovie
Website: https://www.dutch.movie/

About Imani Motion Pictures
Imani Motion Pictures is a Los Angeles based entertainment music, motion picture and TV production, distribution company with a satellite office located in Atlanta, Georgia. Imani has worked in the music industry for over 20 years with recording artists such as Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, and Keyshia Cole. Imani's first foray into television production began with the BET reality series "Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is" and the spinoff "Frankie and Neffe."

Imani Media shifted its focus to feature films in 2017 with the release of TRUE TO THE GAME, starring Columbus Short, Vivica A. Fox and the late Nelsan Ellis. The film is an adaptation of the New York Times bestseller by Teri Woods. TRUE TO THE GAME is an urban love story between a prominent Philadelphia drug dealer and a woman, as they struggle to balance street life and love. The film was independently financed and distributed by Halley and earned $1.2M in a limited release. Halley has secured deals w/ Viacom BET and NetFlix on this first go-round.

Business Spotlight:  Charlene Ayers is not letting the pandemic stop her from striving for entrepreneurial success.  Ms. Ayers owns Accessories ETC and has a kiosk in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall.  She is taking charge of her destiny by selling affordable jewelry to mall shoppers.

Ms. Ayers was a delight to speak with as she described in detail why she chose to retail her products in the mall even during a pandemic.

She has a very interesting story and she will share more details with BlackBusinessList.Com along with her business partners later this month.

Until then, take a look at her products and visit her website at www.classysassyglam.com

This year, Black Friday is on Friday, November, 27, 2020.  Popular online Black business directory, BlackBusinessList.Com, has announced an initiative to support Black business owners during the Black Friday shopping weekend.  The initiative is entitled, BBL Black Friday Deals. 

Stephen Wicks, founder of BlackBusinessList.Com, will broadcast online daily and showcase members of the website who have special deals and offers.  Some of the deals presented, will be exclusive to other BBL members, while others will be for the general public.  The LIVE online shows will be broadcasted on Facebook, YouTube, BlackBusinessList.Com, and BBLTV.net.

According to some reports, over half of Black-owned businesses may not survive the COVID-19 pandemic (National Geographic).  Stephen Wicks said, "We can not stand by and not support those brave individuals who dared to dream and become entrepreneurs.  We will be a part of the solution and we will do all we can to help support them."

BlackBusinessList.Com is asking that all Black Americans commit to buying from at least 1 Black owned business during this year's Black Friday weekend.  Traditionally, Black Friday is the sales period where businesses can make enough profits to be "in the black" for the year.  He says, "We don't want Black businesses to not have the same benefits as other businesses during this important weekend."

BlackBusinessList.Com asks that the public visit their website to find a Black business to do business with if they don't personally know an entrepreneur that they can support.

Learn more at www.BlackBusinessList.Com