3 Lessons For Entrepreneurs From Kanye’s Super Bowl Win
By Dominique GalbraithThe Kansas City Chiefs weren’t the only winners in Sunday’s Super Bowl. Rapper, producer, and fashion designer Kanye West made headlines after reportedly earning 19 million dollars in 24 hours with his 30-second Super Bowl ad. Apart from the substantial return on his investment, what has most people talking is how underwhelming and basic his reportedly $0 cost production commercial was. West seems to have shot his commercial in a dark vehicle, using the time to tell people to visit his site. And they did! This winning move is one I believe all entrepreneurs can learn from, even if you don’t have $7 million to spend on an ad or a major platform.
Here are 3 keys:
1. Stop overthinking content.
Many of us become stagnant because we lack the resources and the team to produce content like our competitors. The key here is to use what you have access to, leverage, and emphasize your knowledge and strong points. What you need won’t come if you don’t push forward and get the content out. There are many creators and business owners who not only started with humble beginnings but got a camera or camera phone and allowed the world to see. They made the best use of free social media marketing and built a loyal fan base of customers who support them, particularly because they witnessed their transformation and played a role in their elevation. In Kanye’s case, his budget didn’t allow for production, so he leveraged his fame and the fact that people expect him to do what is outside of the box.
2. Find where the attention is and strike.
Kanye understood that Super Bowl ads yield large returns. If they hadn’t, companies wouldn’t invest millions for a 30-second slot. He did his due diligence and made the investment where attention was at that moment. We ought to do the same, which doesn’t always mean you need a big budget. If you are marketing your business, part of your job is to find out what platforms have the attention of your target audience and invest time and money on those platforms. If you sell a product that appeals to a young audience, then your focus should be TikTok or Snapchat. If you sell a product that appeals to an older audience, then you may want to focus on Facebook. It is important not only to understand where attention is but most importantly, where the attention of your target audience is and focus your resources there.
3. Cancel Culture only has power if you quit.
If there is anyone who should be canceled and disregarded by the general public by cancel culture’s standards, it would be Kanye West. But cancel culture doesn’t seem to be winning. Why? Because many consumers value the product or service over the message or what a brand is thought to represent from a social standpoint. Secondly, there isn’t always a general consensus about who or what should be canceled. Regardless of what the leaders of cancel culture decide or try, it doesn’t seem to concern Kanye’s fan base. What the media says doesn’t always hold sway with consumers, besides the fact that there is a growing disconnect between mass media and the masses.
All entrepreneurs, regardless of whether they like Kanye or his brand, can glean from his Super Bowl win and be motivated to use what they have, consider what has the attention of their target audience, and never quit, even when powers and the powerful want them to.
Is Elon Musk Right About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?
I am an avid viewer of Shark Tank, and one observation I’ve made is the consistent line of questioning that every entrepreneur faces when seeking investment. The sharks, regardless of the entrepreneur’s race, age, gender, or any other identifying factor, always inquire about crucial business fundamentals. These include inquiries about sales year to date, the genesis of the business idea, profit margins, and the entrepreneur’s professional background. These questions are pivotal as they reflect the sharks’ willingness to risk substantial sums of money on a small business. The show’s enduring popularity over 15 seasons stems from its diverse array of entrepreneurs, many of whom hail from humble beginnings but have put in the effort to build successful businesses and secure deals.
Shark Tank demonstrates the essence of a free-market economy, prioritizing business fundamentals over identity. Despite claims of unequal access based on birth circumstances or individual identity, the show presents numerous success stories from entrepreneurs overcoming hardships. These individuals, including some classified as “oppressed,” have met requirements and secured the essentials for success. Shark Tank highlights the principle of equal opportunity in the free market, positively impacting the economic paths of many families. Given the undeniable proof of success in the face of adversity, I find diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I) measures unnecessary and insulting. The free market’s inherent equality and access to opportunities render such measures obsolete, as individuals can triumph over challenges and achieve success on their own merits.
Mark Cuban, is That YOU?
Coincidentally, Mark Cuban, the main shark, recently voiced his support for D.E.I. He stated, “Race is part of the equation, never the deciding factor, as is diversity of background,” while facing challenges to his views. However, he later contradicted himself by asserting, “All of our decisions are based on hiring the best candidate.” If the latter is true, race should never be a part of the equation or a “motivating factor,” as pointed out by Andrea Lucas, a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission commissioner, in response to Cuban.
Cuban may have found himself in hot water as he navigated between legal hiring practices and, as fellow billionaire Elon Musk highlighted in response to Cuban, “signaling his virtue.” Elon Musk asserted, “DEI, because it discriminates based on race, gender, and many other factors, is not merely immoral, it is also illegal.”
As a fan of Cuban, someone I hold in high regard and view as an inspiration for his business acumen and apparent impartiality, sticking to the fundamentals of business, I found his support of DEI highly disappointing. It seems contradictory to the core values of his hit show which are working hard and grinding regardless of one’s circumstances.
Assumptions, and The Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations
DEI policies operate under the assumption that the underrepresentation of Black individuals in organizations stems from racist selection practices or historical factors such as slavery, making it harder for Black applicants to acquire the necessary skills. However, in practice, these policies often do more harm than good. By emphasizing superficial characteristics in selection processes, they inadvertently exacerbate racial tensions and bitterness and undermine the organizations that practice DEI. Advocates often overlook the impact of modern cultural habits on the lack of interest or qualifications in certain positions, as well as the overall size of the Black population. In essence, the pool of qualified Black applicants may be smaller due to population size and varying career interests.
“DEI is just another word for racism.” “Shame on anyone who uses it.” – Elon Musk.
DEI measures, whose predecessor is government-mandated integration, reinforce notions of Black inferiority and white supremacy. By suggesting that Black Americans need government intervention for success, these policies contribute to an overreliance on the state, benefiting politicians. Our value and self-worth should not be tied to positions in predominantly white establishments; rather, they come from a higher source – the living God who sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins. The historical impact of integration, often overlooked, includes the closure of many Black schools and businesses, as legal access to white establishments led to a shift in patronage.
Why the heavy focus on forcing Black individuals into white establishments and schools, rather than fostering and strengthening their own? The truth is integration was about increasing the liberal voting base rather than empowering Black communities, at the expense of Black-owned entities, families, and individualism. I find it strange that individuals who claim to be proud of their Black identity would demand inclusion in companies they perceive as racist, as investing one’s money or talent in such an environment seems counterintuitive.
“DEI is just another word for racism.” “Shame on anyone who uses it.” – Elon Musk.
Indeed.
Textured Hair Styling for Cosmetology Students Now Mandatory in New York: A Win for Black Women or Threat to Black Stylist?
A new law mandating that cosmetology students in New York learn how to style textured hair has been passed. While many supporters of the bill celebrate this new regulation as a diversity win for Black women in New York State, others view it as a potential threat to Black hairstylists. They fear increased competition as non-Black stylists are now required to learn how to style Black hair. The bill, introduced in April of this year by New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, was signed into law on November 17.
Those who view this law as a victory see it as an end to the ‘discrimination’ based on hair texture that some Black women have faced when seeking service in salons with stylists who don’t know how to style textured hair.
Jonaise Pickett, a stylist based in New York, shares her experience of working in a salon among white stylists who pass their clients to her because they are incapable of styling textured hair, despite being overwhelmed with her own clientele. Pickett took to her Instagram to respond to the backlash about the bill and shared her thoughts: ‘Hairstylists should know how to style all types of hair.’ She added, ‘Whoever is best fit for the job, should get the job,’ encouraging those who feel this law will cut into the market share of Black hairstylists to focus on excellence rather than competition.
The issue of non-Black stylists being unable to style textured hair has long been a problem in the fashion industry. Models have complained for years about the lack of ability or consideration for their hair type on sets of photoshoots and backstage at fashion shows. This may now become a thing of the past with the passing of this bill.
On the other hand, diversity and inclusion actions, designed to tackle discrimination and segregation, have historically had negative impacts on Black-owned businesses and institutions. In the years following integration, many Black businesses lost sales and had to close due to their customers opting to spend money in white-owned establishments and businesses outside their community.
