The Resilient Mind

You know what’s odd to me—and correct me if I’m wrong…

There are so many Black-owned businesses and self-proclaimed entrepreneurs out here. I see them daily in business groups, at networking events, posting reels about grinding, getting it out the mud, and securing the bag. It looks like a movement. But the more I watch, the more one thing stands out:

I rarely—if ever—see job postings.

And that’s a problem. A big one.

We love to promote entrepreneurship in our community, and rightfully so. Ownership is powerful. Being your own boss sounds great. But let’s be real for a minute:

Not everyone is going to be an entrepreneur.

Some people just want to work, earn, pay bills, and feed their kids. And those people—especially our youth—are being left behind by the very people who say they’re building businesses “for the culture.”

But here’s the kicker: what we call a business is often just a one-person hustle. A glorified side gig. And too many of us are mistaking branding for infrastructure.

“That’s How the White People Do It…”

Somebody actually said that to me.

Back when I was deeply in the business world, I was on the front lines preaching the importance of structure, hiring, creating jobs, and building systems. I believed in growing Black economic ecosystems—not just businesses, but opportunities.

You know what I got told?

“That’s how the white people do it.”

Imagine that.

No, that’s how functional communities do it. That’s how everybody else does it—except us, too often. You look at immigrant families who come here with very little but build fast: a cousin owns a restaurant, an uncle runs a landscaping crew, somebody else has a corner store. And guess what?

They hire each other.

They create economic on-ramps. They give the next man a shot. And while our kids are out here lost in the streets, being shut out by schools, criminalized by systems, and ignored by industries—we’re telling them, “Start a business.”

Start a business? With what money? What mentor? What support?

They don’t need another motivational post. They need a paycheck and structure.

Entrepreneurship Should Be About Opportunity — Not Just Clout

Let’s be honest about something else while we’re here.

A lot of us aren’t starting businesses to make a difference. We’re doing it to flex.

• The flashy branding.
• The LLC with no employees.
• The Instagram captions that scream “I’m self-made.”

But what are you really building if nobody else can eat from it?

If the answer to “Who works for you?” is nobody, then maybe you’re not building a business. You’re just building a brand around yourself. That’s fine—but let’s stop pretending that’s the same as job creation.

Black excellence can’t just mean being the only one at the top. It has to mean pulling people up with you.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

We need a hard shift. Here’s what I propose:

1. Create a Culture of Hiring.

If you’re running a business—even if you can’t hire full-time yet—make that the goal. Build with employment in mind. Look for ways to offer paid internships, project-based gigs, or part-time help.

2. Highlight Businesses That Create Jobs.

Let’s start celebrating job creators, not just influencers. That’s the real Black Wall Street mentality: not clout, but community impact.

3. Set Our Youth Up to Earn.

Not everyone will start a business, but they can all contribute to one. Let’s equip young people with work ethic, skills, and places to learn on the job.

4. Build Systems—Not Just Brands.

Let’s stop glorifying the hustle and start focusing on sustainability. That means SOPs, payroll systems, career tracks, and real leadership.

Final Word

Some people will read this and say:

“He’s just mad.”
“He’s hating.”
“What’s he doing that’s so special?”

To that I say: I’ve been in the game. On the ground. On the front lines. And I’ve seen how quickly you get pushed out when you start asking the hard questions.

But I’m still asking.

Because until we start building businesses that build people, we’re just spinning our wheels.

We don’t need more bosses—we need more builders.

And builders create opportunity.

Let’s get to work.

If this hit home, share it. If you’re a builder, let’s connect. If you’ve got jobs or internships, post them. Your opportunity might be the one that changes someone’s life.

✊🏾 Forever Forward.