Lil Nas X ‘Didn’t Mean To Mock’ Christianity In ‘J Christ’ Music Video 

Lil Nas X ‘Didn’t Mean To Mock’ Christianity In ‘J Christ’ Music Video 

Lil Nas X sets the record straight about his intentions with the "J Christ" music video.


Lil Nas X is responding to anger over what some say is the offensive nature of his “J Christ” music video. 

Lil Nas X posted a not-quite-apology for the video many called “sacreligious.” The star’s video and promotional materials referenced elements of Christianity such as partaking in Communion, which offended the more religious viewers.

Lil Nas X took to X (formerly Twitter) to communicate his true intentions with the song. He refrained from apologizing for his artistic vision. 

“Hello, everybody,” he began in the clip. “I wanted to, not necessarily apologize, but I wanted to explain, like, where my head at and where it’s been for like the last week.”

He noted that mocking the religion was not the message he aimed to convey.

“So first of all, when I did the artwork, I knew there would be some upset people or whatnot, simply ’cause religion’s a very sensitive topic for a lot of people. But I also didn’t mean to mock. This wasn’t like a ‘F**k you to you people,’ ‘F**k you to the Christians.’ It was not that. It was literally me saying I’m back like Jesus.”

However, he did apologize for the promotion video, which many condemned for its cannibalistic undertones. Lil Nas C said he meant for it to “lighten the mood” and admitted he was unaware of the seriousness of the act. 

“But I do apologize for that. I will say I am sorry for that. Though I don’t agree with all of Christianity’s rules or whatnot, I know not everybody follows Christianity by the book one hundred percent, or the world would be a lot crazier,” he continued. “But I do apologize for that. This is not to try to get everyone on my good side or whatnot, this is more so to clear my own head about my own decisions. I know I messed up really bad this time, and I can act unbothered all I want, but it’s definitely taken a mental toll on me.”

The Jesus imagery is a break away from the rapper’s previous era, which depicted a more Satanic version of the Grammy winner. Lil Nas X has been honest about his complicated relationship with religion but is adamant that he never meant to “diss” Christian customs and beliefs. He ended the video by stating that even though his new era has begun with controversy, he will continue striving to “promote love” through his music. 

“I was put on this Earth to, you know, bring people closer together and promote love. That’s who I am, I’m not like some evil, demon guy trying to destroy everybody’s values and stuff. That’s not me…I hope sooner or later we can move forward, and I’m excited for the rest of this era and things I have planned.” 

NAACP, St. Louis, reading scores, Black students

6-Year-Old Black Boy Shocks Community With Super High IQ, Started Reading At 1 Years Old

Meet Chandler Hughes, a 6-year-old boy from Texas who recently joined Mensa, becoming one of the organization's youngest members for people with high IQs.


Meet Chandler Hughes, a 6-year-old African American boy from Texas who recently joined Mensa, becoming one of the youngest members in the organization for people with high IQs.

In a society that often grapples with stereotypes, young black boys with high IQs emerge as rare gems, challenging preconceived notions. Their intellectual prowess defies societal expectations and serves as a testament to the diverse and multifaceted potential of every individual, irrespective of racial backgrounds. These young minds, navigating a landscape that may not always recognize their brilliance, contribute to reshaping narratives and inspiring others to recognize and celebrate the untapped genius that exists within every community.

Before he even became a toddler, Chandler amazed his parents when he started reading at the age of 1, according to WLBT. By the time Chandler was in pre-kindergarten, his dad proudly shared that he already finished second-grade level for both reading and math. He then skipped right past kindergarten and jumped straight into first grade.

While it’s extremely uncommon for babies to start reading at the age of 1, there have been exceptional cases that defy the norm. Early reading abilities in infants are typically associated with exposure to language-rich environments and supportive interactions with family and caregivers. Instances of babies reading at 1 are exceptional and often attributed to unique circumstances, including highly stimulating learning environments, genetic predispositions, or exceptionally early exposure to reading materials.

Sure, he’s got the brains, but Chandler’s dad is also keen on making sure his little genius hones those social skills.

“He’s in a great environment where his teachers and his peers all support him,” his dad said.

Now, at six years old, Chandler has already set his sights on becoming a doctor. He said he someday wants to become a “medical doctor because I want to help people when they are sick.”

This news was first reported by Blacknews.com

RELATED CONTENT: 12-Year-Old Black Girl With IQ Higher Than Einstein is Earning Masters Degree

career, coach, workplace, relationship, DEI, DEIAB, diversity, equity, inclusion,

Part I: Tools To Help You Get The Most Benefit From Your Career Coach

It’s great that you have a support system, but you probably need a career coach.


Originally published Feb. 5, 2018

Most successful women have a mentor, life coach, or a group of sister-friends they can share almost anything with. While having a support system like that is incredible, women often find that there is someone missing from their circle when they feel like they’ve hit a roadblock or have come to a crossroads in their career. That’s where career coaches come into play.

A career coach is someone who guides professionals in the planning, managing, and development of their career. But Marsha Haygood, author and founder of StepWise Associates L.L.C., is so much more to her clients. That’s why we spoke to her for a five-part series on career coaching in anticipation of her coaching session at the 2018 Women of Power Summit.

For Part One, we’re covering why every professional woman should invest in a career coach, the best career advice for Black women, and finding a career coach for all different stages of your career.

How do you even know if you need a career coach? Haygood says that if you have ever felt stuck in your career, want to extend your network but don’t know where to start, or simply don’t know what you want to do next, then you probably need a career coach.

Conduct a Self-evaluation and Set Goals

First things first: As a businesswoman, it is important to be real with yourself about what you know and where you are.

Before you look for a career coach, it is critical to do some self-evaluation so that you can identify your needs and be open to receiving new and transformative information. A good way to start is by being honest about where you are and who you are. Think about whom you’d like to be and where you’d like to get to with the help of a coach. “Being open and honest with yourself about what you don’t know and being open to listening and to new ideas is key,” says Haygood.

Haygood says that most people seeking a coach can’t concisely articulate what they’d like in one, but they can tell you how they feel and express where they’d like to be. “People might say ‘I feel stuck in my career’ or ‘I’m looking to expand my network.’ Some people don’t know what they want to do next. And that’s fine.”

Start by setting goals for yourself that you will be able to share with your coach. Maybe you’d like to be more assertive and confident in the workplace, or you’d like to work on being less defensive.

Whatever your goals are, coaches help you work through your issues and challenges that are giving you a hard time professionally.

Haygood also conducts a program called D.A.R.E. that helps clients develop a strategy around whatever goals they are trying to attain.

Using the D.A.R.E. model is a great way to assess yourself.

• Dream – What are your intentions and what would you like to do? Dream big!
• Act – What are little things that you can do now to move you closer to that dream?
• Review – Ask yourself, “What’s worked well for me and what’s been my biggest challenge?”
• Excel – Do more of the things that have worked really well for you

“Sometimes we spend all of our time and energy on things that don’t do well for us, and in our weak spots rather than our strengths,” says Haygood. “Work on the strengths and try to delegate the weak spots.”

Work-Life Balance

At some point in your career you begin to ask yourself, “What does ‘work-life balance’ even mean?” Haygood says balance is rare. “I get a lot of people who talk about work-life balance. I challenge people and say, ‘Guess what girlfriend, it’s not going to be balanced.’” It is about making adjustments. “You have to make adjustments, and those adjustments can change, weekly, monthly, annually. But you’re never going to have a 50/50 split, and if you do then that’s a really good day and that’s an exception.”

Making adjustments will put work and life into perspective and make your goals feel more attainable. One simple word is what you need to hear to unlock your thought process.

The Makings of a Good Coach

One of the things that Haygood stresses is that no matter what you’re looking for in a coach, they should possess these two qualities: good listening skills and the ability to think strategically. “You’re looking for someone who doesn’t think they know it all. They should have the experience to share the things that they have seen, heard, or experienced that may be helpful to you.” You also want your coach to become one of your partners. “I am my client’s strategic thinking partner. Sometimes you’re thinking about things and you think, ‘I wish I had someone to talk to about this because I’m not sharing this with my girlfriend or because I can’t share this with my spouse because it might be about him or her,’” says Haygood.

Now that you have this information, it’s time to do your research.

Do Your Research

While your search for a coach can begin with Google, Haygood says that some of the best ways to find one are to ask around for referrals, attend professional conferences or networking events, and read books.

“A lot of women find and reach out to me after I’ve done a speaking engagement or after they’ve read my book. There are also women who find me through other clients,” she says.

Once you have found someone to start your career development journey with, not only should you do your research on the person, you should also be prepared to interview them — which means you should have a list of questions for them to answer. Haygood offers guidance:

Key Questions to Ask a Prospective Career Coach

• Tell me a little bit about what you do.
• Who are your clients?
• Where have you gotten the best results?

However, Haygood says the most important question to ask is, “Will our sessions be confidential?” You should ask this question up front to protect yourself and set the foundation for your relationship with a coach.

“Women have to be comfortable enough to share freely when they are seeking guidance and support from a coach.” It is also important to note that you are not the only one who can request a career coach — so can your employer. And they do require coaches to divulge certain information. “When a company is paying for a coach, you want to know how much of what you discuss will be shared, because in that case you’re not the client, the company is — so pay attention to that.”

Coaches hired by companies are typically tasked with assignments to help professionals. and Haygood insists on keeping the needs of both clients a top priority.

“When working with a company, anything that I discuss with them, you would have known it first because we would be coming up with the right answer to share with them,” Haygood explains. “So your information will still be confidential, but the concept around why they gave you a coach will be discussed.”

Like with any relationship and process, establishing trust is key for success.

Now that you’ve got that all squared away, it’s time to start investing.

Invest in Yourself

“I think that everyone should have a coach and invest in their own development. You invest in the things that are most important to you. When you can’t afford something, then if you really want it you’ll save up for it,” says Haygood.

With that being said, if advancing as a professional is important to you, focus on what matters. Or, in the words of Haygood, “Save up for a coach the same way you would save for a pair of red bottoms!”

Your best self requires all of you. And you’re worth the investment.

RELATED CONTENT: 4 Reasons Your Business Needs A Mentor

Black woman, ceo, lecture, mentor, presentation, boss, speaking

Part II: Tools To Help You Get The Most Benefit From Your Career Coach


Originally published Feb. 20, 2018

Finding the right partner for a relationship can be a process. The same can be said about finding the right career coach. Fostering and managing the relationship with them is extremely important.

For Part Two of the Women of Power series, “Yes, You Need a Career Coach,” Marsha Haygood, founder of StepWise Associates L.L.C., shares how women can nurture relationships with career coaches for success.

Trust is the foundation of any relationship

Getting to know someone can be nerve-wracking, especially when the person is there to help you solve problems. That is why establishing a trusting relationship with a coach is key.

“It really is a close relationship built on trust. No. 1, it’s the confidentiality part. And secondly, I have to feel comfortable enough as a coach to give you honest feedback. And you have to be comfortable enough to accept it. And that takes time,” says Haygood.

When putting yourself in the position to be coached, be open to the process of trusting your coach. They can only go as far you let them. And you want to make sure that your success is the end goal.

Be open to feedback

Women oftentimes have negative experiences in the workplace that can make them more resistant to receiving feedback and being open. Haygood suggests that remaining eager to grow despite feeling “beat up” will help you along the way.

“Sometimes we don’t want to hear about the blind spots, [or] know or believe the blind spots,” says Haygood. Simply put, “If you don’t have a trusting relationship, then you don’t want to hear feedback. And that can be an issue.”

Haygood believes we have to be open enough to hear whatever the feedback is, then evaluate what we’ve heard. One way to practice this is to share the feedback you have received with people you are close to, who will be honest with you.

Haygood remembers the first time she received surprising feedback at work, and draws upon that moment to teach women how to not be offended by critical feedback.

“When I was working in the corporate arena, I had a year-end evaluation and it was a 360 feedback forum [when a lot of managers and co-workers are giving feedback anonymously]. One of the things that kept coming up in my evaluation was that I could sometimes be sarcastic. I said, ‘I don’t understand.’” She still remembers how shocked and disbelieving she was. “And it happened to be over the holiday weekend and my family was there, so I shared it with them. I told the story and I shared the feedback and said, ‘I don’t think that I’m sarcastic,’ and everybody’s head went down! And I said, ‘Really?’ and they said, ‘Hmm, sometimes you can lay it on pretty thick.’” Haygood said she had never heard that before and that if she hadn’t been open to feedback it would have hindered her.

Learn to be strategic

What you need to ask yourself is, “What am I going to do with this information?”

In Haygood’s book The Little Black Book of Success, she encourages women to implement the “24-Hour Rule,” which advises women not to respond to feedback right away.

“You don’t have to respond right away, because you don’t want to respond in an emotional way but in a strategic way. You want to be strategic and not emotional, and it will help you grow,” she says.

In sharing your feedback with a coach, they can help you figure out ways to have a conversation with your employer if you don’t agree with what was said, and explore ways that you can make it a routine to not be that way — or at least to recognize when you are being that way.

It is also important to note that receiving professional feedback can help you measure your performance and excel.

“I’m optimistic about almost everything. No matter the situation, I can see opportunity all over the place. You learn that and you get the wisdom from being strategic,” says Haygood.

There are different coaches for different phases of life

When building with a coach, it is important to remember that they are your strategic learning partner. Of course, aspects of your relationship with them can evolve or change. There are different coaches for different phases of your life.

“I’ve had clients for 10 years at a time. That doesn’t mean that I’ve been coaching them for 10 years, but they started off coaching with me, and then they started living out that process, and they check in with me from time to time,” Haygood says.

Everyone’s journey is different, and building a solid relationship with a coach takes time. If you have identified a career coach since Part One of this series and are ready to learn how to ask for what you want with them, stay tuned!

Usher, Tech Careers, IBM, NonProfit

Vogue Faces Backlash Over Usher’s Super Bowl Cover, ‘Why Is He In The Background?’

Usher is weeks away from headlining Super Bowl LVIII and is enjoying his first-ever cover of Vogue magazine. But the outlet is under fire for how it chose to honor Usher on his first cover. 


Usher is weeks away from headlining Super Bowl LVIII and is enjoying his first-ever cover of Vogue magazine. But the outlet is under fire for how it chose to honor Usher on his first cover. 

Vogue took to social media on Wednesday, Jan. 17, to reveal Usher’s debut cover. He was accompanied by model Carolyn Murphy for the spread. But with the story focusing on the singer’s 30-year career and upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance, many wondered why he even had to share the cover. 

“For Vogue’s Winter 2024 Digital issue, Usher discusses his 30-year career, his lifelong love of fashion, and what fans can expect at halftime next month,” Vogue shared in its Instagram post.

The fashion outlet also tagged Murphy who shared the cover and additional shots on her page and praised Usher for being “a leading man in every sense” during their photoshoot. But after sharing the cover on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, it was clear that the majority of viewers were confused by Usher sharing his Vogue cover with a white woman and a youth football team.

“Who is this lady,” one Instagram user asked.

“I don’t understand the cover,” added someone else. 

The backlash was fierce on social media with many questioning why the “Yeah” singer was “in the background” of his own cover.

“this ain’t it..at all, like how did this even get approved?” one person asked.

“They didn’t even put Usher front and center!” added someone else. 

Another Twitter user questioned if Vogue considered Usher a “big enough” star for his own cover.

There were even comparisons between Usher’s cover and LeBron James’s 2008 cover with Gisele Bundchen that sparked controversy. 

Meanwhile, Usher is focused on amplifying R&B music during his halftime show. 

 “This night was specifically curated in my mind to have R&B take the main stage,” he told Vogue. “Not just R&B music, but R&B performance, R&B connection, R&B spirit.”

He’s following up Rihanna who headlined in 2023 and became the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time with with 121.017 million viewers.

RELATED CONTENT: Usher Gets Emotional During The Final Performance Of His Vegas Residency

Josephine Wright, Famed Hilton Head Resident Who Fought Against Developers To Save Home, Passes Away At 94

Josephine Wright, Famed Hilton Head Resident Who Fought Against Developers To Save Home, Passes Away At 94

Josephine Wright, known for her fight against developers who tried to seize her home, has died at 94 years old.


Josephine Wright, a Hilton Head Island resident, known for her fight against developers to save her South Carolina home, has died at the age of 94.

The mother of seven passed away on Jan. 7, in her Hilton Head home. The Associated Press noted that the family did not provide information on the cause of death.

Wright’s battle with developers garnered the support of several celebrities who wanted to help her keep her home. 

As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry intervened to help Wright fight against the developers who wanted to seize her property, leading him to build her a new home. At the time, the woman refused an offer for Bailey Point Investment Group to purchase her property, which resulted in her being met with hostility and being harassed.

According to The Associated Press, Perry remembered the matriarch with a heartfelt message on Instagram. “You have run your race and fought an incredible fight!” Perry wrote in an Instagram post. “Journey well my dear lady. You have inspired me.” Wright’s granddaughter, Charise Graves, said the Hilton Head home was a place she remembers visiting as a teenager. The home was a sanctuary for the large family, where four children, 40 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren remain.

A statement made by Wright’s family described the legacy as a “pillar of strength, wisdom, and commitment to justice” they will hold dear to their hearts.

It was approximately 30 years ago when Wright and her husband left New York and moved to the Gullah neighborhood in Jonesville, South Carolina. The land was named after a Black Civil War veteran who escaped slavery and bought the land, according to the outlet.

Online court records reveal a third party will intervene to resolve the case. According to the family public relations representative, Altimese Nichole, there has been discussion of a settlement, but this remains ongoing. 

RELATED CONTENT: 93-Year-Old Josephine Wright Fights Against Land Developers To Keep Her Historical Family Home

Black millennials, homeowner, Hardy-Allen, mortgage, INTEREST RATES

Report: 63% Of Black Millennials Willing To Pay Higher Interest Rates To Become Homeowners

Thirty-one percent of Black millennials who plan to buy a home before late 2024 report high-interest rates as a barrier to homeownership, and 71% regret not purchasing a home when interest rates were lower.


Black millennials are willing to take extreme actions to make buying a home a reality.

New data from Real Estate Witch shows that some 63% of Black millennials would accept an interest rate of 10% or more, and that percentage would embrace a rate of 15% or more. But they are not alone, as 78% of millennials would take an interest rate higher than the national average of 6.6% on a reported 30-year mortgage.

The difference is enormous, as it could cost hundreds of dollars in monthly mortgage costs.

Also, 31% of Black millennials who plan to buy a home before late 2024 report high-interest rates as a barrier to homeownership, and 71% regret not purchasing a home when interest rates were lower.

Around 92% of Black millennials say the real estate market has impacted their home-buying plans, and 71% are concerned it will worsen for buyers before buying a home. Some 61% plan to refinance if rates decline, while 36% worry they won’t qualify for a mortgage.

With homes now being costly and harder to find due to reported lower inventory, millennials appear more inclined to take more significant risks to buy the homes they want.

So, want perhaps is driving their increased flexibility and eagerness?

“It could also be that many millennials are first-time home buyers, so they may have a lack of knowledge and not realize how important some things are,” says Jamie Seale, the author of the study. She noted that 60% of millennials would buy a home with a leaky roof. Yet, they may be unaware of how dangerous and expensive it could be to fix.

Millennials would even take on extra jobs to buy homes, create a GoFundMe to raise cash, and even delay their wedding. And nearly 85% would buy a house without touring it first, something inconceivable for many potential buyers.

The inspiring news is that Seale provided tips to help Black millennials become homeowners:

  • “Try not to finance a large new purchase before you buy a home. How much you owe will affect how much you can borrow.”
  • “Research first-time home buyer assistance programs designed to save you money and make buying a home easier.”
  • “Pay down or pay off other debts to improve your credit score. This will help you secure a mortgage and, possibly, a lower interest rate.”
  • “Get preapproved for a loan. During preapproval, a lender will verify your financial information and give you a letter showing how much you can borrow. It will show sellers you’re a serious buyer and give you a competitive edge in the market.”

RELATED CONTENT: Sellers Slashing Listing Prices As High Interest Rates Concern Homebuyers

Dame Dash, Fat Joe, Jay-z, Jayz

Damon Dash Responds To Fat Joe’s ‘You Made A JAY-Z, Go Make Another JAY-Z’ Comment

Dash: “So I didn’t make another Hov, I made another $100 million company. I don't make an artist, I make a company.”


There seems to be a dispute between Bronx-bred hip-hop recording artist Fat Joe and Harlem-grown entrepreneur Damon Dash.

Although both men state that they don’t have a beef with each other, apparently, a prior conversation Fat Joe had was captured on video from his Instagram Live when he referenced a line on Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones.”

“I heard motherf**kers sayin’ they made Hov/Made Hov say, ‘OK, so? Make another Hov!’”

Initially, Joe spoke about people being delusional, and somehow that led to him saying: “If you’re a hustler, if you’re a money getter then where’s your money? If you’re a genius and you’re smart then where’s your sh**?”

“So whoever you are—you know Jay-Z said, ‘You made a Jay-Z, go make another Jay-Z.’ And that’s not a direct shot at Dame Dash, I have no issues with Damon Dash. I’m just saying—that’s one of the most historic lines ever, and I happen to think that Dame Dash is a smart guy, an intelligent guy, but he said it. He made one, go make another one. You can’t tell me that because I put Big Pun on, then I put DJ Khaled on.”

For whatever reason Joe brought Dash up in this situation, it apparently made Dash feel a way.

On Jan. 13, Dash took to his America Nu Network on YouTube to discuss what Fat Joe said.

“I have no beef with you but I have a response to what you said. Number one, make another Hov? Why the f**k would I make another Hov? He was double dipping. We were paying him highly as an artist and then he was double dipping from the company and he didn’t make me a lot of money.

“He did not generate $100 million a year for me; that’s why I had to do a lot of other sh*t. I don’t want to make another Hov. But I did make a Kanye, a Cam’ron, pause, or help, and after you do that I don’t have anything else to do.”

Dash added that he created a company worth $100 million: Rachel Roy (his former wife, Rachel Roy’s fashion company).

“I don’t make an artist; I make a company,” Dash said.

Fat Joe is currently signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-Nation Management.

RELATED CONTENT: Dame Dash Gives Sage Advice On Why $1M Isn’t Enough To Sustain Millionaire Status

Ronald Powell, New Orleans Saints, died, passed away, 32

Former New Orleans Saints Linebacker Ronald Powell Dead At 32

Powell played at the University of Florida before being drafted by the Saints in 2014


Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Ronald Powell passed away at the age of 32.

The NFL Players Association announced his death on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

According to Sports Illustrated, a Saints teammate of Powell’s, Junior Galette, confirmed the former player’s death. Although a cause of death wasn’t specified, Galette stated that his friend passed away on Jan. 15. He played with Powell when both were on the New Orleans Saints in 2014. He also posted his condolences and acknowledged Powell’s death on social media.

The former linebacker grew up in Moreno Valley, CA and attended Rancho Verde High when he was a five-star recruit and the consensus No. 1 prospect in 2010. He decided to go play with the University of Florida Gators after he left high school. In his first two seasons, he had 57 total tackles along with seven sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss. He played for the Gators from 2010-2013. An injury to his left ACL, where he had multiple tears, limited his participation in future games. Although he only appeared in one game and was redshirted as a junior, he entered the 2014 NFL Draft and was selected by the Saints in the fifth round.

He played in 14 games in his rookie season with New Orleans, but injuries kept him from playing in the league, although he was able to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and Seattle Seahawks. He left the NFL in 2017 and tried his hand in the defunct AAF (Alliance of American Football) with the Orlando Apollos in 2019. After signing with the league, he was placed on the waived/injured list before the season started, and he did not get to play in a game.

RELATED CONTENT: New Orleans Saints Coach Buys 100 Devon Still Cincinnati Bengals Jerseys

business, souse, marriage, Versailles, money, cash, prize

How To Build A Successful Business With Your Spouse

Black and Married with Kids creators offer wise words of advice for partners in marriage and and how to build a business with your spouse.


Originally Published Feb. 14, 2018

When they started the blog “Black and Married” in 2007, Ronnie and Lamar Tyler were fed up with the negative portrayals of African Americans and matrimony. Mainstream media had long been known to hang on the tired tropes of the broken black family. The Tylers, a happily married couple with four children (two of whom are from Ronnie’s previous relationship) set out to change the narrative.

The site, known today as BlackandMarriedWithKids, has transformed into a multimedia enterprise – releasing documentary films about marriage, music videos, and posts from 10 regular staff writers. Their company, Tyler New Media, also specializes in online branding and web content development. Adding film to their portfolio is what allowed the couple to generate enough income to transition into blogging full time and recoup their six-figure salaries. Having a viable product not only brought in revenue for the growing site, but also led to speaking engagements and other opportunities, such as creating social media campaigns for companies like as General Mills.

Since then, the Atlanta-based husband and wife have worked together to bring a unique experience to their website. Not only is it a blog in the traditional sense, they have also leveraged the site as a launching platform for their bestselling Amazon documentaries Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me, and their most recent documentary Men Ain’t Boys.

Over the course of their entrepreneurial journey, the Tylers have found there are four core elements that must be in place if you want to build a successful business with your spouse.

The Tylers’ Advice On How To Build A Business With Your Spouse

Couples C.O.C.

“The Couples C.O.C. is what we call the Couple’s Code of Conduct between the both of us. Your Couples C.O.C. outlines the proper practices between you and your spouse both in your marriage and in your business, Lamar explains. “They define the lines that you will not cross, especially in the presence of others. They set a baseline that ensures respect and admiration are upheld in your private and public lives. Your employees will never respect you if you don’t respect each other. Cracks in the foundation of your marriage will also lead to cracks in the foundation of your business. So you need to set rules that protect what you’ve built by allowing cooler heads to prevail at the proper times.

Respect for your strengths… and weaknesses

You both need to be able to determine and respect what you are each strong at. Just as important as finding your strengths is determining your weaknesses and then handing off those duties to someone who is better suited for the job. “Ronnie and I are total opposites in the way that we complete each and every task,” notes Lamar. “What we have to do is lean on each other where we are the strongest while having trust that the other person will perform the job and complete the task, even though they won’t do it how we would have done it. My strength is creativity, her strength is organization and productivity so when we delegate what gets done in the business we lean on our strengths to figure this out.”

Vision

For your business to be great you have to have a plan. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Without a vision your business will perish as well! You have to take the time to develop a vision for where you want to take your business and what the goals are that you hope to achieve, the Tylers caution. “Set goals for the next 6 months, 1 year, 5 years and 10 years. Then go back and revisit those goals and how you are doing on achieving them on a regular basis. Feel free to adjust as needed. Nothing feels as good as accomplishing goals with your spouse,” adds Lamar.

Trust

“Like respect, if you don’t have trust in your marriage it’s nearly impossible to have it in your business. And if you’re going to be in business with anyone, trust must be in place,” stresses Lamar. “Trust comes into place with money, management, duties and more. Can I trust that you are going to do what you say you are going to do even on the most basic level? This is an important question that you and your spouse should be able to answer.”

There are other things that will benefit the partnership but these are the four core components that will set you and your spouse up for success.

RELATED CONTENT: Stormi Steele Finds Success With Body Glaze On TikTok Shop While Handling Love And Marriage Hunstville Drama

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