Today's Guest: A Bit About Gerry McCants Looking for something different? Well, this podcast is definitely for you! In this episode of Solopreneur Journey, we profile Gerry McCants, one of the building blocks of the infamous Black Pages and BlackExpo. Gerry shares his story of entering the world of entrepreneurship when a cultural shift was on the horizon as he and his business partner expanded the market for Black businesses. His advocacy for the development and expansion of economic opportunities continues in his role as a diversity and inclusion consultant for municipalities and private industries, highly-engaged agitator within civic organizations, and former Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in Greensboro, NC. His journey reflects the ebb and flow of entrepreneurial success and boasts the innovative art of how to pivot.  Brief Background of Host of The Solopreneur Journey Podcast, Ex-pat Entrepreneur Jewel Daniels  Jewel Daniels is the head of Daniels Communications Global, a leadership development firm specializing in executive coaching, cultural competency, and developing leaders. She is also the author of four books, with her latest becoming a bestseller, https://jeweldaniels.net/new-book-profile (Three Sides of Every Crisis: Strategies to Sustain Business, Manage Your Career and Take Care of You). The book talks about how to find opportunities amid a crisis by learning to adjust your perspective so you can pivot, strategize, and take action to #kickthecrisis.  About The Solopreneur Journey Podcast  The Solopreneur Journey Podcast reaches out solo entrepreneurs, single-shingle, one-person enterprises who are just starting their business or killin' it in business. The show is ripe with information for those transitioning from careers to become entrepreneurs and growing to become larger companies' business owners.   You will glean lessons from everyday solopreneurs. Plus, those who have scaled their business and featured guests who pay it forward to share leadership lessons, the power of collaboration, how to price your goods and services, negotiation, marketing, and practicing excellent EQ (emotional intelligence).   One of the show's strongest offerings is its ability to cover a broad spectrum of industries with people worldwide in a way that appeals to our audience by meeting people where they are along their solopreneur journey.  [00:03:00] In the southeastern part of Virginia birthed the dream and determination to start a business that began with sleeping in parking lots while crisscrossing southern states to sell the dream of promoting Black businesses. From that came an office space, a partnership, and a 20-year ride of business success.   [00:06:12] Experiencing the cultural differences between Blacks and Whites in the South that exclude Black from participating in the mainstream economy sparked the fire for a lifetime commitment to Black business development. McCants believed then and now that Black people are intelligent, industrious, creative people who "have so much to offer."  [00:13:00] The path to entrepreneurship can sometimes be unconventional. For Gerry, he could see the discipline, focus, and talent required to build and sell a product as the foundation of success. He went from managing a team of salespeople to launching his own company as he says there was just something about the Black Pages, and it something "I was meant to do and destined to do." McCants said It's in my DNA. One of my staff said you love black people. I said, yes, I do."  [00:17:06] Sometimes, your business lays the foundation for your life's work. Black Pages did that as Gerry would cast his entrepreneurial net to advocate for a real understanding of diversity and inclusion and what it means. Businesses must know how to value their service when to contribute. The difference between the two so their talents will not be taken for granted and...