♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Renee: CHELSEA ELLIS-HOGAN WAS BORN AND RAISE ADD ROUND THE CONSTRUCTION AND HOME IMPROVEMENT INDUSTRY.

THE MID 20 SOMETHING YIELD IS PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF A LOCALLY OWN ASPHALT COMPANY IN LOUISVILLE AND ALSO A BEST SELLING AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER.

SHE WILL SHARE WITH US HER KEYS TO SUCCESS AND HOW SHE HOPES TO INSPIRE MORE YOUNG BLACK ENTREPRENEURS.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

CHELSEA ELLIS-HOGAN IS PART OF THE 1% ACCORDING TO THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS JUST 58,000 OF THE 10.7 MILLION PEOPLE EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ARE BLACK WOMEN.

THAT'S LESS THAN 1%.

LOUISVILLIAN CHELSEA ELLIS-HOGAN IS IN THAT ELITE CATEGORY AND SHE JOINS US TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT SPARKED HER INTEREST IN THAT MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY AND HER MESSAGE TO OTHERS SEEKING TO HEAD THEIR OWN COMPANIES.

CHELSEA, IT IS A PLEASURE TO CONNECT WITH YOU BY SKYPE TODAY.

I KNOW YOU ARE PROBABLY JUST GETTING OFF THE JOB AND DOING WHAT YOU DO.

SO THANK YOU FOR CONNECTING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY.

IT'S A PLEASURE BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY IN THE PEAK OF OUR SEASON SO WE ARE STAYING BUSY.

>> Renee: I BET SO.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU THAT BEFORE WE GOT DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY.

WE ARE TALKING HERE ALMOST-- WELL IT'S ALMOST THE END OF OCTOBER, SO I THINK ABOUT LIKE ASPHALT AND CONSTRUCTION JUST IN GENERAL.

I BET YOU YOU ARE AT THE APEX OF YOUR SEASON, ARE YOU GETTING READY TO HIT THE DECLINE?

>> YEAH, SO NORMALLY WE HAVE AN ALL-- AN OFF SEASON AROUND NOVEMBER 15 RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAY.

WE ARE GETTING ALL THE LAST MINUTE JOBS DONE BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS.

>> Renee: WOW.

WELL LET'S BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOU EVEN GOT INTO THIS.

I UNDERSTAND THROUGH A PIECE THAT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT YOU IN THE "COURIER JOURNAL" THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE DEBATING AROUND 2013, OKAY, WHICH COLLEGE AM I GOING TO GO TO?

AND I THINK THE SAM ELLIS UNIVERSITY BECAME A FICTIONAL OPTION BUT I WANT YOU TO PICK UP THE STORY FROM THERE.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

SO I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY AND THEN WHEN I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I HAD TO MAKE THE SAME DECISION WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE OF WHAT IS IT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE?

DO I WANT TO GR TO COLLEGE?

FIND A TRADE OR DO I WANT TO BE A BUSINESS OWNER?

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY ONE DAY ME AND MY FATHER, WE WENT OUT TO LUNCH AND WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR LUNCH, HE WAS ASKING ME, CHELSEA, HAVE YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO?

I WAS ACCEPTED TO SOME COLLEGES AND DIFFERENT BUSINESS PROGRAMS BUT I STILL WASN'T COMMITTED TO ANYTHING YET.

AND THEN I THINK HE COULD TELL THAT AS WELL.

SO HE GAVE ME THAT OPTION OF A: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STEP INTO OUR FAMILY BUSINESS WHICH IS REYNOLDS AS ASPHALT AND LEARN THE BUSINESS THROUGH AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL BUSINESS, YOU CAN DO SO.

AND WHEN HE SAID THAT, I THINK MY EYES JUST LIT UP.

I WAS LIKE OKAY.

I'M A HANDS ON LEARNER.

THIS GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE I CAN TRULY GET OUT THERE AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STUDENT LOANS.

SO IT JUST, YOU KNOW, IT MADE SENSE.

AND AFTER THAT, I HIT THE PATH OF RUNNING MY FAMILY'S BUSINESS AND JUST HAVING FUN WITH IT, LEARNING AND FROM THERE I FELL IF LOVE AND NOW I'M ACTUALLY CO-OWNER OF THE COMPANY ALONGSIDE MY FATHER.

>> Renee: THAT IS AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND TO THINK-- I WANT TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS.

AND IT SEEMTION LIKE, FROM-- SEEMS LIKE FROM WHAT YOU SID, YOU ALREADY KNEW YOU WANTED TO BE INTO BUSINESS.

YOU EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU WERE GETTING THESE OFFERS FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, SO YOU WERE ALREADY BENT THAT WAY.

DID YOU HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT GOING INTO THIS INDUSTRY?

>> YES, SO I WAS RAISED AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DUE TO MY FATHER'S BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR FOR OVER THREE DECADES NOW.

SO I WAS A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

BUT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT MY FATHER HAD BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY.

THEN A WOMAN, BEING YOUNG, AT FIRST, I THOUGHT, OKAY, TALENT BECAUSE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND PHYSICALLY DO THE WORK BUT AFTER TALKING TO MY FATHER, HE GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, IT'S NOT ABOUT DOING THE PHYSICAL WORK.

IT'S ABOUT FIGURING OUT AND PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BUSINESS MAKE SENSE.

SO AFTER HE EXPLAINED IT TO ME THAT WAY, I GAINED THE CONFIDENCE AND I REALIZED, OKAY, THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT BUT I CAN BE WHAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDS, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY'VE SEEN BEFORE.

>> Renee: AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOUR FATHER A SHOUT OUT FOR RECOGNIZING THE TALENTS OF HIS DAUGHTER AND GOING INTO A MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY AND ENCOURAGING THAT.

NOT DISCOURAGING IT, NOT SAYING WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE TOUGH FOR YOU OR THEY MIGHT BE MEAN TO YOU.

I MEAN HE BELIEVED IN YOU ENOUGH TO SAY YOU CAN HANDLE THIS.

>> DEFINITELY.

THAT MADE IT A LOT EASIER HAVING THAT SUPPORT.

>> Renee: AND ANOTHER POINT THAT YOU MADE ABOUT, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO THE WORK.

ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF YOU DOING THE WORK.

SO TELL US ABOUT HOW OFTEN YOU DO THE WORK.

>> YES, SO NORMALLY I DO A LOT IN THE SALES AND MARKETING SIDE OF OUR BUSINESS.

BUT DEFINITELY SO OFTEN I GET OUT THERE AND I GET SOME WORK DONE.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS.

SO I KNEW IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SELL IT OR BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE COMPANY IF I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT TOOK TO DO THE WORK.

I WOULD SAY EVERY SEASON I PROBABLY GET OUT THERE AT LEAST FOR A MONTH OR SO, AND YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE WITH THE EMPLOYEES, RERN, LEARN, BE ABLE TO LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES, SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING, JUST TO REALLY GIVE MYSELF A BOOST IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE PRODUCT THAT WE ARE OFFERING.

>> Renee: HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO YOU, THE WORKERS?

>> THEY ACTUALLY LOVE IT AND I ALWAYS TELL THEM, IF CAN I DO IT, THAT MEANS YOU DEFINITELY CAN DO IT.

SOMEONE WHO IS 26 YEARS OLD, A WOMAN, WHO IS YOUNG, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN GET OUT HERE AND DO LABOR WORK AND THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, IT'S POSSIBLE FOR US ALL.

I THINK IT GIVES THEM EXTRA MOTIVATION FOR THEM TO SEE OKAY, MY BOSS IS OUT HERE DOING IT, IT'S OKAY.

I CAN GET IT DONE, TOO.

>> Renee: YEAH SO LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MARKETING IS A BIG PART OF WHAT YOU DO BUT TALK TO US ABOUT THE TYPICAL-- WHAT IS THE TYPICAL DAY LIKE IN THE DAY OF CHELSEA ELLIS-HOGAN?

WHAT DOES YOUR DAY LOOK LIKE?

>> YEAH, SO IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I'M DEFINITELY A 5:00 A.M.

PERSON IN ORDER TO PLAN MY DAY AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER.

THE FIRST THING I DO WITH THIS YEAR, WE STARTED A NEW INITIATIVE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DESTRESSING, TAKING DEEP BREATHS AND WE BRING IN DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM OTHER INDUSTRIES TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THINGS LIKE CREDIT, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THINGS LIKE HOME OWNERSHIP, HAVING DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE ALSO GROWING AND BEING ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT STUFF LIKE HAVING A ROTH I.R.A.

AND INVESTING IN STOCKS.

SO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE MORNING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND WITH OUR CONTRACTS DOING THAT, WORKING WITH THE MIND SET BECAUSE REALLY THE MIND SET IS WHERE EVERYTHING STARTS.

IF WE GO OUT IN THE DAY AND HAVE A POSITIVE MIND SET, IT MAKES FOR A SMOOTHER DAY.

EVEN IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN THAT'S NOT SMOOTH, WE HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT IT.

OKAY, THINGS HAPPEN.

LET'S KEEP IT GOING.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE START OFF WITH.

WE ALL COME TOGETHER.

THEN AFTER OUR MEETING, THEN THEY GO OUT AND GET THE WORK DONE AND I'M KIND OF ONE OF-- I'M A BUSINESS OWNER WHO I LIKE TO BE INVOLVED.

NORMALLY I'M INVOLVED IN A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN THE BUSINESS.

I DO A LOT OF THE ESTIMATES AND I DO CALLS TO THE CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS I JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THE THINGS THEY NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITHIN OUR COMPANY.

I MAKE SURE ALL THE TOOLS AND THINGS THAT THE EMPLOYEES NEED ARE GOOD TO GO.

I MAKE SURE THEIR LISTS ARE GOOD TO GO FOR THE DAY.

AND I JUST DO RANDOM CHECK-S IN WITH EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND THEN SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAYBE THINGS SUCH AS A TRUCK BREAKS DOWN OR EQUIPMENT BREAKS DOWN AND NORMALLY I'M KIND OF THE CONTACT IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THOSE THINGS.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, ME AND MY FATHER, WE DO A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER; MAINLY FOCUSING ON OUR WAYS OF GROWING THE BUSINESS, BEING ABLE TO BECOME BETTER LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS BETTER LEADERS FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, HERE IN OUR COMPANY.

AND ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT OUR SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IS, A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF OUR COMPANY ARE SUBCONTRACTORS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FINANCIAL LITERACY SO MUCH THAT WE TRY TO TEACH PEOPLE NOT ONLY HOW TO BE AN EMPLOYEE BUT WE TRY TO TEACH THEM ALSO HOW TO HAVE FINANCIAL FREEDOM IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

THERE MAY BE BETTER WAYS OF, YOU KNOW, DOING YOUR TAXES OR BETTER WAYS OF HAVING WRITE-OFFS OR WHATEVER WAYS WORK BEST FOR OUR PEOPLE WORKING WITH US, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CATER TO THOSE NEEDS BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT OWNERSHIP IS THE KEY OF REALLY BEING FINANCIALLY STABLE AND FINANCIALLY FREE.

SO THAT'S ALSO OUR MAIN FOCUS IN THE THINGS THAT WE TEACH OUR PEOPLE WORKING WITH US.

>> Renee: SO YOU REALLY TAKE A WHOLE 360-DEGREE APPROACH TO YOUR WORKERS, RIGHT?

AND YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, IN THE SMOKE TOWN AREA AND YOU HIRE PEOPLE FROM THERE.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE?

>> YES, SO ON AVERAGE, WE HAVE ABOUT 10 EMPLOYEES BUT OUR SEASON, AND THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE WORKING IF THE FIELD AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, AND AS I MENTIONED, THERE ARE A MIXTURE OF CONTRACTORS AND WHO ARE ACTUALLY EMPLOYEES.

>> Renee: I REMEMBER READING, TOO, WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL AND WOULD LOOK THROUGH THE APPLICATIONS THAT YOUR DAD RECEIVED FOR THOSE WHO WANTED A JOB AND SOME OF THEM REALLY STRUGGLE WITH LITERACY AND MAYBE COULDN'T FIND A JOB.

BUT YOUR DAD WAS WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THEM.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW-- SINCE YOU MENTION ABOUT GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT BUDGETING AND TAXES AND ALL OF THAT, WALK US THROUGH HOW THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN TO KIND OF HELP NURTURE A LIFE LONG LEARNING ATTITUDE.

>> DEFINITELY.

SO WHEN BEING A PART OF THIS BUSINESS, ONE THING ME AND MY FATHER MAINLY WANTED TO DO WAS GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE OUT THERE BECAUSE WE REALIZE THIS INDUSTRY IS A GREAT PLACE TO START WITH.

SO WHETHER YOU JUST HAVE YOUR G.E.D.

OR EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR IF YOU MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAD A FELONY IN THE PAST, THIS IS THE PERFECT INDUSTRY TO KIND OF GET INVOLVED IN TO GET A STEPPING STONE AND LEARN A SKILL THAT CAN BE WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

SO WE TRY TO USE OUR BUSINESS AS A WAY OF JUST GIVING SOMEONE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE AND LEARN MORE AND TEACH A LOT OF PEOPLE THE BASIC SKILLS THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN BEFORE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES OR CONTRACTOR THAT COME IN WORKING WITH US WHO MAY NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR MAY NOT EVEN HAVE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE A BANK ACCOUNT.

AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY OBTAIN SOME THINGS FROM SHELTERS OR HAD PARENTS WHO ABUSED DRUGS AND NEVER LEARNED A LOT OF BASIC SKILLS THAT A LOT OF US MAY HAVE.

SO WE TRY TO USE OUR BUSINESS AS A PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS US TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE LEARN AND CONTINUE TO GROW SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE HEY, I HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ON AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD AS WELL AS IT GIVES THEM A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT BECAUSE WITH EVERY JOB WE DO, WE ARE STARTING AND COMPLETING A PROJECT AND IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THE LOOKS ON OUR EMPLOYEES FACES WHEN THEY COMPLETELY FIRST PROJECT.

IT MAKES THEM WANT TO DO MORE AND LEARN MORE SO IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BUSINESS THAT ALLOWS US TO DO MORE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: I HOPE YOU ARE NOT OFFENDED BY THIS BUT WHEN I LISTEN TO YOU, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE 26.

YOU HAVE SUCH WISDOM ABOUT YOU AND JUST COMPOSURE AND UNDERSTANDING NOT JUST OF BUSINESS BUT OF LIKE HUMANS, OF LIKE APPRECIATING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND WHERE BUSINESS CAN REALLY CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ON A REALLY REAL LEVEL.

ARE YOU SHARING YOUR APPROACH, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S APPROACH TO LIFTING UP WORKERS WITH OTHER COMPANIES IN LOUISVILLE AND HOPING THAT MAYBE THEY ADOPT SOME OF THAT SAME PHILOSOPHY?

>> DEFINITELY.

SO I THOUGHT I WOULD DO DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE VIDEOS AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, TRY TO TEACH DIFFERENT METHODS THAT WE SEE CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

AND NOW I THINK WE SEE IT MORE THAN EVER HOW WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS GOING ON THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS AND THE OLD WAY OF WORKING OF JUST BEING AN EMPLOYEE AND NOT REALLY HAVING BENEFITS THAT COME FROM THE WORK THAT WE DO.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO SHARE OUR INFORMATION AS WELL AS SHARING OUR TECHNIQUES TO SEE IF IT CAN WORK FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR INDUSTRY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR INDUSTRY AND WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE A SLOW PROCESS TO CATCH ON, EVEN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH US, OUR EMPLOYEES.

SOMETIMES IT'S A SLOW PROCESS FOR THEM UNDERSTANDING OUR NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS.

BUT IT'S WORKED THOUGH AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK HAPPY AND GO HOME AND MAKE A LIVING, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND JUST GROW.

AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AND DO THOSE THINGS, WE FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL STICK WITH US.

AND THAT'S BEEN THE CASE SO FAR.

>> Renee: I WAS JUST GOING TO-- THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT, CHELSEA.

I WAS GOING TO ASK BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE IS A TREMENDOUS-- I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A WORKER SHORTAGE.

I THINK THERE IS A WORKER REVOLUTION HAPPENING WHERE WORKERS MAY HAVE THE UPPER HAND NOW IN SAYING YOU KNOW?

I DON'T WANT TO WORK 70 HOURS OR 90 HOURS A WEEK AND I DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR THIS WAGE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S CHANGING THE MARKET.

AND SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO DO?

WE ALWAYS PUT IT ON THE WORKER AND SAY IF YOU DO A, B, C AND D AND GET THESE CREDENTIALS THEN THIS HAPPENS.

WHAT DO BUSINESSES NEED TO DO TO COME HALFWAY WITH WORKERS?

>> I THINK BUSINESS STRUCTURES HAVE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO IN ORDER TO IMPROVE, TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING TO EVERYDAY WORKER AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS IS JUST FOCUSING ON THE HUMAN.

FOCUSING ON THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR A BUSINESS OWNER, MOST BUSINESS OWNERS ARE READING BOOKS EVERY MONTH OR EVERY WEEK, LEARNING NEW THINGS ABOUT HOW TO, YOU KNOW, INVEST, HOW TO DO THINGS LIKE GROWING WITH THEIR CREDIT.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK 40 HOURS, THEY DON'T HAVE TIME, YOU KNOW, TO DEDICATE TO THOSE THINGS.

SO I FEEL LIKE A LOT MORE TRAINING IN REGARDS TO THINGS THAT CAN HELP A PERSON SUCCEED IN THEIR PERSONAL LIFE WILL HELP APPEAL TO YOUR EVERYDAY PERSON AS WELL AS JUST, YOU KNOW, HAVING A FUN ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S ONE THING WE TRY TO DO WITH OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE DO LABOR WORK.

TRY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS HOW CAN WE MAKE IT ENJOYABLE AND MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT, HEY, WE CARE ABOUT YOU MORE THAN WE CARE ABOUT THE MONEY.

AND THE MONEY COMES ONCE WE ARE ALL GOOD.

AND I FEEL LIKE IF PEOPLE HAVE THAT APPROACH IN THEIR LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE JUST NATURALLY FEEL IT.

THEY CAN FEEL WHEN YOU ARE GENUINE AND PEOPLE CAN FEEL WHEN YOU ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, TELLING THEM SOMETHING FOR A CHECK TO GET WHAT YOU CAN OUT OF THEM.

THE MORE THAT LEADERSHIP-- YOU KNOW, SHOWS THAT THEY CARE ABOUT THE WORK FOR THEM, I THINK THAT ALONE SOLVES A LOT OF THINGS.

>> Renee: APLUNGE THE GREAT THINGS YOU ARE, YOU ARE AN AMAZON NUMBER ONE BEST SELLING AUTHOR.

AND YOUR BOOK IS CALLED "FAIL TO SUCCESS" I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE TITLE.

I ADMIT I HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK BUT I'VE GOT IT ON ORDER.

WHAT IS IT THAT-- WHAT IS THE MAIN THEME OF THAT?

I'M INTERESTED ABOUT THE TITLE.

>> YEAH, SO I ACTUALLY WROTE THAT BOOK WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

AND WHERE IT CAME FROM WAS MY FATHER, WHEN I STARTED OUT, HE TOLD ME TO DO THREE THINGS.

WHICH WAS LEARN, IMPLEMENT AND TEACH OTHER PEOPLE.

SO MAINLY HE TOLD ME EVERY SINGLE DAY, I NEED TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

IMPLEMENT IT INTO MY LIFE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS.

AND AFTER THAT, I NEED TO TEACH IT TO OTHERS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM GROW AS WELL.

SO THAT BOOK CAME FROM THAT SYSTEM.

I SPENT EVERY DAY, MY STARTING WRITING BLOGS AND TEACHING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE AND AFTER I GOT ABOUT 100 OR 200 BLOGS, I REALIZED, OKAY, IT'S TIME TO TURN THIS TO SOMETHING MORE AND SOMETHING BIGGER AND THAT'S WHEN I ENDED UP WRITING THE BOOK "FAIL TO SUCCESS."

THE NAME AND TITLE CAME FROM WAS JUST ONE THING I REALIZED AFTER READING AND DOING RESEARCH ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE CONSIDERED TO BE SUCCESSFUL WAS THEY HAD A LOT OF FAILURES IN THEIR PAST BEFORE THE SUCCESS.

THE ONE THING THEY NEVER DID WAS GIVE UP AND THAT'S MAINLY THE POINT OF MY BOOK.

HEY, THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO WHERE THEY WON'T GO AS PLANNED.

AND WE MIGHT NOT ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS WE WE THINK WE SHOULD BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT JUST CONTINUING TO GROW UNTIL YOU REACH THAT SUCCESS THAT YOU TRULY WANT TO HAVE.

>> Renee: SO YEAH, I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT INSTANT GRATIFICATION, THEY WANT INSTANT SUCCESS.

THEY WANT INSTANT RESULTS.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE PATIENCE THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE, THE ENDURANCE.

I MEAN AS YOU SAY AND I'M GOING TO STEAL FROM A BEYONCE SONG, I'M GON' KEEP RUNNING BECAUSE THE WINTER DON'T QUIT ON YOURSELF.

THAT'S HOW YOU GET YOUR FREEDOM.

YOU DON'T QUIT ON YOURSELF.

WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUNG PEOPLE, TOO, LIKE YOUR AGE AND YOUNGER, WHO ARE USED TO ALL THIS INSTANT TECHNOLOGY AND WHATEVER YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

WHEN YOU WANT TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS, A LITTLE PATIENCE IS IN ORDER, ISN'T IT?

>> DEFINITELY.

IT TAKES TIME.

AND I USE THE TECHNIQUE.

I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO DAILY THAT COMPOUNDS TO END UP REACHING OUR BIG RESULT.

SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THOSE, YOU KNOW, DAILY OF WHETHER YOU MAKE YOUR BED UP EVERY DAY OR READ A PAGE OF A BOOK OR, YOU KNOW, JUST ACCOMPLISHING ONE SMALL GOAL IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND THEN THAT LEADS TO YOUR BIGGER GOALS BEING ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT IT TAKES TIME.

I'M EIGHT YEARS IN INTO BEING INTO THOUGH INDUSTRY.

TWO YEARS INTO BEING THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY.

AND I COULD HAVE RUSHED IT.

I COULD HAVE TOLD MY FATHER, I WANT TO BE THE OWNER NOW.

BUT I SNU I HAD TO LEARN A LOT OF THINGS.

I HAD TO PACE IT.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING PATIENT WITH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, OR WITH YOUR GOALS, IT'S ALSO ABOUT SURROUNDING YOURSELF AROUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE EDUCATED AND WHO CAN HELP YOU MAKE YOUR GOALS EASIER AND HELP YOU REACH THEM QUICKER.

FOR EXAMPLE, I ALWAYS SURROUNDED MYSELF AROUND SEASONED ENTREPRENEURS SO I COULD LEARN FROM THEM WHAT NOT TO DO AND I KNEW IF I COULD AVOID THE MISTAKES THAT I MADE, MY JOURNEY COULD BE A LITTLE BIT QUICKER POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THAT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TECHNIQUES OF SPEEDING UP JUST A LITTLE BIT (INAUDIBLE).

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU HOPE LIKE WHEN YOU GET 30-- WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE 30, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED?

>> BY THE TIME I'M 30, I WANT THE BUSINESS TO BE THE BUSINESS THAT WE CAN SAY WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO GO ON FOR GENERATION TO GENERATION AS WELL AS I WANT IT TO BE A BUSINESS THAT ALSO HELPS OTHER ENTREPRENEURS AND OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS.

ME AND MY FATHER HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE GOAL OF CREATING AT LEAST 100 ENTREPRENEURS.

AND I THINK THAT'S STILL OUR GOAL TODAY, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE ARE OUT THERE WORKING, YOU KNOW, DOING THE THINGS WE DO, WE ARE WANTING TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE GROW AS WELL.

SO IN 30 YEARS, I WANT TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A FEW ENTREPRENEURS THAT COME OUT OF OUR COMPANY THAT WENT ON TO MAKE THEIR OWN.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUNG BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR WHETHER IT'S IN AN INDUSTRY THAT IS MORE MALE DOMINATED LIKE WHEN YOU ARE INTO, OR JUST IN THEIR OWN ENTREPRENEURIAL ASPIRATIONS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM, PARTICULARLY ARE KEYS TO SUCCESS?

>> YES, I WOULD SAY ONE ADVICE I ALWAYS GIVE PEOPLE IS IT'S ALL ABOUT IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING A BUSINESS OR CREATING A CAREER AROUND THE THINGS YOU ENJOY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES I SET GOALS FROM THE TOP AND THEN I WORK MY WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR.

IN ORDER TO REACH THOSE THINGS, I STARTED PUTTING IN PLACE THE SMALL GOALS THAT I HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH IN ORDER TO REACH THAT GOAL.

SO I SAY, YOU KNOW, WRITE IT DOWN.

GET A PLAN AND SURROUND YOURSELF AROUND PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GET BEHIND THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> Renee: AND WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD SAY ABOUT THE PERCEPTIONS OF CERTAIN AREAS IN LOUISVILLE, RIGHT?

SMOKETOWN, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.

HOW IS IT YOU HOPE TO CHANGE NOT THE AREA BUT THE IMAGE OF THE AREA, IF YOU EVEN THINK IT NEEDS CHANGING?

>> YES, I THINK WHAT'S NEEDED MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW IS LOVE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN BIGGER ISSUES COME ABOUT, WE TRY TO SOLVE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, BIGGER THINGS THAT WE TRY TO GET COMPLICATED WITH OUR SOLUTIONS.

A LOT OF TIMES SOMETIMES IT'S JUST SIMPLE THINGS THAT ALWAYS WORK.

AND ONE THING THAT HAS ALWAYS WORKED IS WHEN WE ARE KIND AND LOVE OTHER PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE US OR EVEN THOSE WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

THEY MAY JUST NEED MORE LOVE SO THAT'S ONE APPROACH I WOULD LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE TO TRY TO THINK ABOUT.

THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE GUN VIOLENCE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE THEIR KIDS OR, YOU KNOW, ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE AT.

WE GOT TO REALIZE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING AND WHAT THEY NEED MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW IS LOVE AND HELP AND SUPPORT.

AND YOU KNOW, THE THROUGH ALL THE THINGS OUT THERE, THAT THROUGH THE DAY, PEOPLE NEED LOVE AND SUPPORT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SAY HEY, I CAN CHANGE, CAN I DO BETTER AND I REQUEST GROW.

A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE SMOKETOWN OR THE WEST END, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE IN SURVIVAL MODE.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF, I HAVE A BUSINESS.

I'M NOT ONLY OUT HERE SUPERVISE SURVIVING BECAUSE I HAVE A BUSINESS THAT ALLOWS ME TO THRIVE AND THINK OF WAYS TO GROW.

BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING GET THEIR MEAL THAT NIGHT OR THE NEXT MORNING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE MAKING IRRATIONAL DECISIONS BECAUSE IN THEIR MIND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE OF DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY OF BEING ABLE TO REALLY SUPPORT THOSE PEOPLE AND GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN ALSO IN GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES, KNOWING THAT THEY MAY NEED MORE THAN ONE CHANCE, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S ONE THING I HAD TO LEARN QUICKLY WITH MY EMPLOYEES.

I CAN'T DO THE THREE STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE OUT, YOU KNOW, QUICKLY.

I HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM LOVE, GIVE THEM SUPPORT AND THEN WITH THAT, I HAVE TO SEE IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GROW FROM THERE.

THAT'S ONE THING I RECOMMEND EVERYBODY DOING IS GIVING LOVE AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN.

>> Renee: THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT, CHELSEA ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THREE STRIKES AND YOU ARE OUT AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SECOND CHANCES BUT WHAT IF IT IS SOMEONE'S THIRD OR FIFTH OR TENTH CHANCE BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOU ALL ARE COMMITTED TO STICKING WITH THAT PERSON THROUGH THEIR UPS AND THEIR DOWNS AND YOU KNOW, REALLY HIRING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW BUT YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY REALIZE MORE THAN ANYTHING ONE WAY TO GET RID OF RECIDIVISM IS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND CAN PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, RIGHT?

SO I THINK IF WE CAN LEAVE PEOPLE WITH ONE FINAL THOUGHT OR TWO FOO FROM YOU ABOUT AS WE TALK ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, I MEAN WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO POLICY MAKERS WHEN IT COMES TO REENTRY AND DEALING WITH FELONS WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY DO HAVE A FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM BECAUSE 95% OF THEM WILL GET OUT.

>> DEFINITELY.

I WOULD SAY WE ALWAYS HAVE TO START WITH THE PERSON OF ASKING THEM WHAT THEY WANT.

YOU KNOW, SEEING WHAT IT IS THAT THEY TRULY NEED.

LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE MAKE IT COMPLICATED BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THEM NEEDING SOMEONE TO TAKE THEM TO GO TAKE THEIR DRIVER'S TEST IN ORDER TO GET THEIR LICENSE OR PERMIT OR SOMETHING BASIC LIKE NEEDING THEY HAVE THEIR (INAUDIBLE) TAKEN CARE OF.

I ALWAYS SAY START WITH PEOPLE.

GO STRAIGHT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES AND ASK THEM WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU.

I THINK FROM THERE IS WHERE WE CREATE SOLUTIONS VERSE THE LEADERS, A LOT OF TIMES AS LEADER WE THINK WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO ASK, HEY, WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAS WORKED WELL FOR ME.

>> Renee: I WILL SAY I THINK I HAVE HAD ABOUT 26 AND A HALF MINUTES OF THE WISEST CONVERSATION WITH A 26-YEAR-OLD I'VE EVER HAD, INCLUDING WHEN I WAS 26, WHICH HAS BEEN A LONG TIME AGO.

CHELSEA ELLIS-HOGAN, FIRST OF ALL, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND THE LEGACY THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IS LEAVING BEHIND AND ALL THE INVESTMENT YOU ARE MAKING IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Renee: AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING CONNECTIONS.

YOU CAN LOG ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS HERE AT KET.

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AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, TAKE THEY'RE SO EXCITED AND HAPPY AND REALLY GOOD CARE.

BYE.