Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Hummons.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I started my own media/entertainment company while I was in high school. I went to North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School on Chicago’s west-side. A friend and I started “Heavy Addiction,” which satisfied the “addiction” we all had to media. We gathered the most artistic and talented students in the school and hosted concerts at professional and inclusive venues around the city. This could be a coffee house, a church, or an official performance venue. That gave me the “itch” for business. Ever since then I’ve started businesses, clubs, community initiatives, and more. It’s been my passion to help others and bring the light out of other passionate people. We live in a brighter world when we all shine.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
My biggest challenge was taking the first step. It was right before the pandemic when The Blackeneur started. Starting in a pandemic was extremely challenging.
The Blackeneur is what I am most passionate about. So many of my acquaintances, friends, and family have businesses and passions they would like to share with the world. Their struggles become my struggles. It could as simple as getting their business online, figuring out marketing, or just having enough support to get through the day. Some of us have multiple jobs that we work morning and night and then must make time to build our legacy, our future, our passion. In the world today, most people do not have the means to make time for what makes them happy. Overcoming that lack of time will always be hard.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
We aim to become an online, one-stop-shop for minority businesses. Minority businesses are consistently disadvantaged in the small business space. Lack of resources and mentoring make growth and scaling their business a real problem. Over 3.4 billion people use the internet. My goal is to help minority businesses access more of their markets and reach more customers. We handle the marketing, the orders, the payment routing, everything a business needs to sell their item. And we help connect them to customers. At the end of the day, the entrepreneur gets the profit and more time in their day to focus on their product and the customers. The benefit for customers is that they know anything that they purchase on our site benefits a minority-owned business. The benefits extend beyond just the manufacturers and customers, well. Companies that are looking to invest in their communities or that are required to meet Supplier Diversity standards can also connect with our site to find minority business/suppliers to fit their own needs.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
The best piece of advice that I can give is: don’t quit. Be consistent. There are habits that successful people follow. They don’t quit in the face of failure. They use that failure or hardship as a learning experience to grow from. I have failed many times. It was discouraging. It made me question everything. I didn’t know if what I was doing was right. But faith pulls you through those moments. The only failure when you really want something is when you quit. Consistency is the most valued trait to help you succeed. Anyone that has tried to lose weight will tell you that you can’t just stay on a diet for a few days. You can’t just go to the gym for a week. Consistent and unrelenting effort will drive results. Everything else falls short.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
I see success as, “We are all winning.” The world becomes so much brighter when we all shine. My vision of success is seeing more businesses make it past year 1, year 2, 3, 5, 10! I want to see fewer small businesses and minority businesses close each year. I want to see more business owners following their passion, reaching more customers, spending more time with their family, taking more trips, and being genuinely happy.
What’s next for you?
My next step is to get back to the work! I spend most of my days trying to connect with businesses and help them reach more people. I also am on the constant search for relevant news and educational material that will benefit minority businesses and professionals. The goal is that we truly become the one-stop-shop for your diverse business needs.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more.
You can find our business by visiting: www.theblackeneur.com We have an online shop where you can find a load of products provided by minority entrepreneurs. The list is growing daily! We are also building a directory of minority businesses that do not sell a physical product at the moment. Lastly, we will be releasing a video series so that you can get to know the story behind many of these businesses. For those looking for business services, Hummons Consulting is a Blackeneur partner and can be found: www.hummonsconsulting.com.