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Again, Gene@AskMTM.com.

We have a very special guest this evening, but before we go to our guest, I want to throw it over to our financial correspondent, Megan.

Megan, I know you have an important question for us.

- I do, Gene.

It's a loaded question, but definitely important.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it's causing obvious concern.

I wanted to know, do you have any advice for viewers of what they might be doing to respond that would be helpful in any way?

- It's a very challenging question and, Megan, you're absolutely right, it has a lot of import to it, there's a lot of intensity to it.

So, the first thing that we encourage everyone to do is take a deep breath, try to calm yourself emotionally.

Making financial decisions, particularly investment decisions, based on emotion is almost always incorrect.

It is almost always best to take a deep breath, stay calm.

Number two, if you have a financial plan in place, one that fits you, that's been designed for you, stay on track, stay the course.

It is unlikely that these geopolitical upheavals will change fundamentally how you should approach your financial planning or your investment decisions.

If, on the other hand, coincidentally at this time, your goals have changed, it might be a very good time to adjust your investments as well.

We pray for the people of the Ukraine.

We pray for them on a daily basis.

We pray that this conflict is resolved quickly and with minimal loss of life.

I don't know how this is going to be resolved.

You'll be seeing this show two weeks after we have put it together, so you'll know far more at this moment than I how this has unfolded.

But again, I ask that you... One way to respond is to keep the people of the Ukraine in your prayers.

Prayers are very, very powerful.

If you have concerns about how your investments are unfolding or if the advice that you're getting doesn't seem to be matching, make sure you send us that e-mail, Gene@AskMTM.com, we'll be happy.

There's absolutely no charge and we'll be happy to give you our feedback, give you a second opinion and help in any way that we can.

Interesting.

Geopolitical - geopolitical is a is kind of a fancy term for "there's lots going on around the world", and there always is.

So, our guest this evening, Mr Redwan Kholi, we're going to start with geopolitical.

You're an Allentown man.

- Yes, I am.

- But that's not where you started.

- No, I didn't.

- Tell our audience.

- So, I started, I was born in Beirut, Lebanon.

My parents were Syrian.

They lived in Lebanon.

1965, we were there till '75.

When the Civil War started in Lebanon, we left, came to Syria.

And we lived there for two years and then we came to America in 1977.

March, to be exact.

Ah, July, I'm sorry.

July 1st of '77.

So, we came here, migrated to America and been here since then.

- Do you still have family in Lebanon and Syria?

- Yes, I do.

Distant cousins, you know, first cousins, distant cousins.

You know, we still have a house over there.

So, we're still connected to a lot of people over there.

- So, when people talk about geopolitical issues... - That's the hotspot!

- Oh, my gosh.

- Yeah, that's a very hot spot.

- Your family has been at the heart of that for years.

- Yep.

Since 11 years ago.

So, most of them lived in Damascus, so some of them moved to the village, you know, just to stay there for a while.

Now, things are getting a little bit better in the city, but still, you know, food is scarce, money is scarce.

The big sanctions that they did, you know, that the US did in the Caesar Act.

So, it's hard to get medicine, food into the country.

So, the little guy suffers just like in Ukraine now, the little guy is suffering.

- Absolutely.

So, for everyone listening who's never gone through anything like that, having that perspective, I think, adds a great deal.

Was that part of the motivation of why your parents wanted to move your family to America?

- Absolutely.

So, my dad saw, basically saw in the future, what happened.

You know, when we were in Lebanon, he was just like, you know what, we need to get out of here.

It was getting closer.

So, the day we were there, you know, we left at night-time, you know, packed our stuff, left at night-time, moved.

I was nine years old, so we left.

And next day, our whole area, which is a very large Christian area, started getting bombarded in the area.

So, we just we just took off right in time.

Then later we find out our neighbors were slaughtered.

So, it was tough, you know.

- Very hard.

- When I was young, I did not know that a lot of the stuff till I got older and started asking questions and stuff like that.

But overall, you know, thank God we're here.

- Thank God, indeed.

We had the extreme honor of interviewing Mario Andretti in a previous show, and he tells a very similar story when, after the war, the part of Italy that they were from all of a sudden wasn't Italian any more.

And they were put into camps and they literally had to leave for their safety.

Your story is very similar.

Now, let's give our listeners just kind of a hint of where this is all going - Redd and Company, tell us about Redwan Company.

- So, Redd and Company started back in 2003.

I worked for a large retail company but I wasn't satisfied, I always wanted to have my own.

So, I went through 12 years with that company, it was great, I learned a lot.

Then I worked for a smaller company, family-owned.

Our first store was locally in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and we built five stores.

But then that fell apart because the owners, you know, it's another story.

So I decided, you know what, I lost my job, I decided, have my kids college funds, basically, put on the house, you know, started the business on the south side of Allentown, it was actually where the old Valley Farm Market used to be.

- Oh, sure.

- Yeah.

So, we were there for 17 years, very successful.

The new store, a new opportunity came up, the person that owned the shopping center said, I want you out of here.

I'm like, I don't want to do this, I'm getting old!

He's like, no, you have to.

So, we basically, you know...

I'm like, OK, let's do this all over again.

My wife was behind it 100%, let's do it.

So, we went out there and it's the best thing that we ever did.

We left the south side after the pandemic, we closed that store, unfortunately, because of, you know, it was tough and we had had to make a choice, either survive with one store or die with two stores.

So, I did the right thing.

And since that, since I closed the store, that store has taken off.

We're doing very well.

- Yeah, let's not walk past the issue of your wife.

- Yeah, no, we can't!

- Lisa, is your partner.

- Right, yep.

- And the only reason you're able to be here is that she's willing to shoulder it in the store.

- Absolutely.

- So that's fantastic.

How did the two of you divide up all the responsibilities?

- Well, basically, I took on all responsibility, to be honest with you.

She was working as a school teacher.

You know, a teacher's aide in Allentown School District.

So, for about ten years, I ran the store.

We needed a second income, so she worked there till the store took off.

And then, you know, seven years ago, basically, she's started coming on board in the old store and then, when the new store opened up, she's like, you know what, I'm not going to go back to work, I'm going to help you.

So, it's me and her.

And we have four employees.

But basically, she's there when I'm there.

When I'm not there, you know, I'm there, basically!

But, yeah, she works.

She was my rock behind me, you know.

Wasn't for her being supportive with the kids, she pushed me, without her, no-one pushing, she pushed me hard.

My kids pushed me hard.

Either they survive with me or they, you know, we're like, start from zero, you know?

So, yeah, absolutely.

- God bless her.

- Yeah, absolutely.

To put up with me!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- I think we have something in common.

- Yeah!

- Tell me about your dad.

When he arrived here, how did he earn a living?

- My dad, when he arrived here, he worked at Lehigh Dye and Finishing.

- Sure.

- Yeah, in Allentown.

- You know, that's where a lot of the migrants from Syria, Lebanon, you know, everybody came over there and they worked there.

He worked there for most of his life, you know?

Till he passed away in '94, unfortunately.

My mom worked at Quaker Shoes.

I don't know if you remember Quaker Shoes?

- I don't, no.

- Quaker Shoes used to be up in Allentown, by Keck Park, that area of the east side of Allentown.

So, she worked there for about five to ten years.

- Did you have brothers and sisters?

- I have a big family, so we're all together seven of us, four sisters and two brothers.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

So, we have a big family.

- One of six... one of seven.

That's fantastic.

Growing up, obviously, as new arrivals in the country, lots of challenges.

Did everybody speak English?

- My older brother spoke English.

Like, I learned how to speak French a little bit when I was in Lebanon, when I was younger, the main language over there was French.

So we learned a little bit of French, but most of us learned here, you know, we picked up the language here.

The only person that really spoke it good was my older brother.

He had had courses in English back in the old country.

So, yeah.

So then we learned here.

It wasn't hard, you just got to do it, you know, you just kind look at the text and do it.

- And of course, the Syrian community in the Lehigh Valley is very strong.

- Yeah, absolutely.

- And very supportive.

There's a lot of, I can help you, you can help me.

- Yeah, absolutely.

- And we all assimilate.

- Yep, and that's how we did it.

When we came here, my aunt, you know, half of my family lived with my aunt till we find a place and then we moved out to a smaller apartment.

You know, back then, Allentown wasn't that big.

People don't realize, you know, 30 years ago, Allentown, I think, had 50,000, 60,000 people.

Now it's growing.

So, everybody knew everybody.

Now it's hard.

So, we moved after a couple of years, parents bought a house and we were there till Mom passed away two years ago, a couple of years ago.

So, yeah.

We grew up in the Ridge and Tilghman Street area of Allentown.

- Growing up that way, growing up as you did, are there any, as you look back, do you say, well, there's a lesson I picked up then, there's something my mom and dad taught me that I live today?

- To work hard.

Honestly, you know, I saw my parents work hard, my dad, you know, so we worked hard, and that's what they said.

Like, stay out of trouble and work hard.

And that's what we did.

You know, no drugs, no... You know, so we really, you know... We were mischievous, but we, you know, we all of us, you know, none of us got really absolutely in trouble or anything.

And we all we all work hard, you know, the whole family works hard, and that's what I believe in, working hard and get what you want.

I've been in business now just over about 18, 19 years.

I took one vacation in 18 years.

- So, yeah.

- Wow.

- But I enjoy it, I love what I do.

You know, I'm sure like you do, I love what I do.

And people say, don't you need a break?

I'm like, no.

To me, this is not work.

This is fun, coming in, taking care of my customers every day.

- Yeah, there are.

some "business experts", you got to keep your fun and your business separate.

I think that's crazy.

- Yeah, I have fun in my work.

If you come see me at my work, all my customers are like cousins and distant cousins, and we joke around and have fun, you know, I have a relaxed atmosphere.

You see what I dress, you know, no suit and tie, because people love that, believe it or not.

The customers love that, you know.

- Oh, without a doubt, yeah.

Hey, jewelry is intimidating.

You talk to a guy like this?

I had to...

So, if I go in and you're being all...

..I'm heading for the door.

- And that's what I learned to do.

Because I came from a large retailer, I used to wear a suit and tie, and when I moved into my store, I'm like, what the hell am I doing?

You know, I'm like...

Sorry.

..I'm like, you know what, I took off the tie, dress shirt.

Then after a while, I'm like, you know what, I'm going to do this.

So guess what now?

- Everybody's doing these.

- Of course, yes.

- Everybody's doing this.

- So, you were cutting out, you were a pioneer.

- Yeah.

And people see that, people are relaxed and stuff like that.

They're very relaxed, you know what I mean?

So, people enjoy the company when they come in, especially when we know their name and sometimes you grab their stuff before they even walk in the door, and they're like, how do you remember us?

Sometimes I remember the name, I remember...!

- Sometimes we get lucky.

- Yeah!

And if I don't, my wife's like, oh, I know who it is, so she helps me out.

- So between the two of you?

- Yeah, yeah.

- I get it.

- Yep.

- So, a young Syrian boy, transplanted to a new country, and many years later, in jewelry.

Talk to me about how that transition happens.

How do how do you graduate from there and become a jeweler?

- So, when I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted.

I was only here in the country less than ten years, so I had no idea what I wanted.

And went to the mall to buy a piece of jewelry with my friend for his girlfriend.

And basically, the manager, God bless him, hired him.

Then a couple of months later, he's like, hey, I want you to work for me.

I'm like, I don't want to put on a suit and tie.

He goes, you don't have to.

All I want you to do is collect my accounts payable.

Back then, you used to make phone calls.

I'm like, OK. And started there.

And then I got hit with the sales bug, basically, I sold something that I wasn't even supposed to sell, and he's like, no way.

And that was it.

That was that, you know, like they say, a star was born.

I just started working.

- It just unfolded.

- Yep, yep.

I found, you know, I found my calling real early.

- So, is one of those lessons that we need to share with kids is get out there, give it a go?

- Yep, absolutely.

Don't be afraid, don't be scared.

You know, as a migrant, I did it.

You know, ten years in the country, I went after it and nothing can stop you as long as you really go after what you want.

- Back to the work ethic.

- Yep, and that's all it is, is work ethic.

And I put a lot of work in.

You know, even when I worked for somebody else, in mall retail, I would put 60, 70 hours a week.

So, I wasn't afraid to work, that was the thing.

My wife was at home with the kids, we guaranteed that, so, you know, to me, I was I was supposed to bring the bacon to the house, you know, and she took care of the kids.

You know, we raised three beautiful kids, so that was that was my calling.

- We'll come back to those kids in a minute.

But you had mentioned that, at one point, you were with a smaller organization, kind of a family-run that had four or five stores, and that didn't go well in the end?

- Right.

- What did you learn from that experience?

- Not to do what they were doing.

There was a partnership that was destroyed because the one partner wasn't working as hard as the other partner.

And then the issue of money came into play.

And I learned, don't go into partnership with anybody.

So everything that I did was... ..personally funded by me.

Borrowed some money, but strictly just to get me over the top.

That's the only way to do it.

And if you were going to go into a partnership other than with your wife or your spouse, make sure it's all in brick and stones, as they say.

And you know, the money, they started making money off our back because they weren't well known, me and my employees were well known, so we had a lot of following.

And they saw the money and they're like, oh, I'm going to go buy a brand-new car, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that.

And that was that was their biggest fall, you know?

You take a dollar in, that doesn't mean you spend $2, you have to put that dollar back into the company.

And a lot of people make that same mistake.

You have to keep investing in your business, especially the first five to eight years, ten years, you know, and that's what I did in the store.

I kept investing, kept investing back in my store, and that's why we were successful.

Where they did it, they were just taking, taking, taking.

- Yeah, you're way ahead of me because... No, no, beautifully!

One of the primary questions that we get from young people particularly, who want to have their own business, is, number one, what are some of the things we should be doing and what is some of the things we shouldn't be doing.

You're absolutely right, if you don't understand, as a business owner, a dollar of income is not yours.

- Yep, absolutely.

You got to pay bills.

Maybe a dollar is five cents.

- Yep, absolutely.

- And maybe that five cents has to go right back into the business.

- And that's what I did, you know?

- But the number one thing that I learned, that nobody taught me, I just learned on my own, is you've got to make sure your bills at home are paid, you don't have no debt at home, before you can go on this route.

The only thing, when I started up in the business, the only thing I had is a mortgage and my kids, so basically nothing else.

So, that helped me out a lot.

I just made sure my mortgage was getting paid every month.

And before I started, it was paid for six months ahead of that.

So, I made sure I had money for six months, just to get the business off... - You had a cushion.

- Yep, absolutely.

And that way, if you have to eat peanut butter and jelly one day, you have to do it.

You can't have steaks every day.

My wife and my kids sacrificed a lot in the beginning, you know?

But that's what you have to do.

You can't just go from 0 to 60 right away, you have to go step by step.

- And how often do...?

Now, we're of an age, so we've got kind of a view of things.

But so many young folks, they want it to happen in a blink.

- Yep, I was just talking about that today.

Somebody asked me if I knew this person, how are they doing?

They're in the jewelry business.

I'm like, I seen them, when I was struggling, these guys were driving Jaguars big cars, thinking, how the hell did they do it?

And they opened their stores right after me.

But now I look at it - their foundation wasn't right, they spent the money right away, you know, and now their businesses are not as strong as mine.

- Very good.

- So, I did it the right way.

It took me a while but I did it the right way, which I'm happy about.

- Patience.

- Absolutely.

And that's how to do it.

I was more concerned about my customers' happiness more than my happiness.

I knew that eventually will come.

I think we've stumbled into... That's the key for every business, for every business.

- Absolutely, you've got to take care of your customers.

- And if you do, you're going to do fine.

And if you don't, the hammer's over your head, no question about it.

In the beginning, as you started your business, was there some mentor, some guide, somebody that you could turn to, to get some of your questions answered?

- Actually, no, believe it or not.

I mean, I had a lot of friends and stuff like that, but as far as business aspect, I really didn't have too many people.

So, I learned, you know, I made a lot of mistakes.

Believe me, I made some mistakes that almost cost me the business, but I learned from them and I moved on past them.

You have to be mentally strong to move on.

You make a mistake, it's OK. you just put it back behind you and you just keep walking.

And there's a lot of times I worked by myself in the old store, for three out of the first five years, I worked by myself, I was the only person in the store.

I was the book-keeper, the salesperson, cleaned the bathroom, basically.

But I did it.

You know, it was fun.

I wish I had a mentor back then, but I really didn't, you know?

So, I learned the hard way.

- Self-taught.

- Yep.

- And that's not unusual.

As we have friends that are in business, other kinds of businesses, of course, you start talking to them.

And I love what you said - you make a mistake, you put it behind you, keep on moving.

- Yep, absolutely.

- Because there's a lot of folks, they're afraid, if I do anything, I might make a mistake.

I guarantee you, you're going to make a mistake.

- I still make mistakes now and I've been doing this for a long time, but I learned from them, what to do what not to do.

I move on, you know, you can't dwell on what happened yesterday.

You've got to come in, put your big boy shoes on and open the store and start with a new smile every day and forget about what happened yesterday.

- Very good.

- You know, that's my attitude.

- Good for you.

I have promised a couple of times that we're going to circle back to these kids.

Tell me about your children.

- Well, I have a 31-year-old.

- She graduated from Dieruff.

- Nice.

Yeah, so she works.

for the state.

It's called OVR, Office of Rehabilitation.

She does that.

Then I have a 25-year-old girl, she's a teacher at a daycare center.

And my son, he's coaching at Moravian College .

He graduated from Muhlenberg and he's coaching the Moravian College.

- What does he coach?

- Football.

- Nice.

- Yeah, yep.

So, my two younger ones went to Central Catholic and all the older ones were like, I want to be like you, I want to go to Dieruff.

So, they all live local.

- She's a Husky.

- Yeah, she's a Husky.

- Nice!

So, obviously, you're proud of your kids.

Obviously.

What do you think they've taken away from watching you run your business?

- Get up and go to work every day and work hard.

Honestly, they say that.

They're like, that's what we learned from Dad, you know, to work hard.

And that's the number-one thing.

For most of them, they all had jobs through high school.

My son and my older daughter had jobs, two jobs throughout their life.

My younger one, because of the way the school and the way she works, she had one job, but even at times she had two jobs when she was still going.

So, they all had two jobs at one time.

So, they're not afraid.

They're not afraid to work.

I'm proud of them for that.

- As a father, one father to another, if that's what you gave your kids, you gave them everything.

- They can't be lazy in my house.

- Lazy is highly overrated.

- That's right!

- If they are blessed as we are to get to a stage where you're saying, my work is my play... - Yeah, yep.

And that's where I'm at.

You know, my work is my play.

- My work is my play.

Oh, what a blessing that really is.

- Absolutely, absolutely.

- Red, thank you so much.

- Thank you.

- I appreciate it very much.

- No problem.

- Goodness, if you didn't pick up a couple of ideas right then and there, you weren't even trying!

So many fundamentals that not just young people - I keep saying young people because I'm an old codger - bottom line is that there are a lot of folks out there that they watch Shark Tank or they watch something and they say, hey, we're going to be an overnight success.

We want to be an overnight success.

Red Kohli is a 15-year overnight success.

Our company, 10,12-year overnight success.

If you're building your business to be an overnight success, I think you're setting yourself up for some real heartache.

if you're building your business with patience, persistence, if you cut yourself a little bit of a break along the way, you make a mistake, you make a mistake and you put it behind you and you keep on moving - I think you've got a real opportunity.

And at the heart of everything that we talked about, the heart of everything that sadly most MBA programs don't pay very much attention to, and sadly, too many business books, maybe they'll have a paragraph or two, but certainly not the emphasis that both - I would certainly say I do, I know Red does - is that it's all about serving your client.

It's all about the client, it's all about your customer.

If you're making your clients happy, if you're serving them and giving them what they need, they're going to come back over and over again, they're going to refer their friends to you, they're going to consider you a friend.

I learned a tremendous amount, I hope you did too.

Now, we have to wrap our show, we've just a few seconds left.

If you heard anything that you'd like to get more information about, make sure you send me that e-mail, Gene@AskMTM.com.

If you've got questions, our financial correspondent Megan often brings us questions that you have sent us by e-mail, whether they be about investments or retirement, income taxes, 401Ks - it doesn't matter the topic, if it's important to you, it's important to us and we're here to serve you.

So, please send those along as well, Gene@AskMTM.com.

And just before we break, I want to remind you, I'm going to implore you - I'm going to pray with you that we pray for the people of the Ukraine, that they are rescued in some way, shape or form that will preserve their independence, their democracy and, of course, their lives.

So, join me, keep them in your prayers and hopefully, the next time that you and I speak, that situation will be much, much better.

Thank you so much for spending part of your evening with us.

We hope that you'll rejoin us right here next week as we bring you another More Than Money.

Goodnight.