Yes, It Works

Sometimes you just need proof of concept to start the belief process and build trust. Well, this edition of Music, Meals and Money is going to give you just that. Let's start with Money and back our way up to Music in this edition.

My wife and partner, Rachel M Duke , worked in an office years ago that started using a marketing and communications professional named, Jason R. . Jason made a big impression on Rachel not for just his acumen in marketing, but because of the type of human being he was and his vast network in Richmond. Because the leader of the organization Rachel was working at the time was not a good human, he decided to let Jason go and not take advantage of his talent or connections. Bad move for him, good opportunity for Jason and Rachel. Fast forward to early 2020 when Rachel was contemplating starting her own business, she found out that Jason had started his own business, Springstory . Rachel realized that Jason would be key to her start-up and an excellent partner and advisor. She was right! The business could not have enjoyed a better start without him. But, that is just the beginning of the story with Jason. More to come.

As many of you know I serve on the Richmond Development Board for World Pediatrics and have supported this amazing organization for years. We hold several events annually and have auctions for trips, local professional services and other experiences. One year, Rachel and I bought a private chef dinner as an auction item that would be held at our home with this new area chef, Emmanuel Baiden . Better known as Chef Manny! Since then we have worked with Chef Manny annually on events for Rachel's business as well as an annual dinner at our home. During the process we met his girlfriend at the time, Jalyn Baiden , who is now his wife. This is where the story gets even better.

Rachel knew she needed some help with her social media platform and content and Jalyn was starting her own business to do just that. Knowing the amazing human beings Jalyn and Manny are and their passion for excellence, it was an easy choice for Rachel to engage Jalyn as one of her trusted business partners. Together they have increased Rachel's social media presence and also provided Jalyn an opportunity to showcase her amazing talent and grow her business as well. And, all of this happened as a result of a meal at our home.

Now let's get back to Jason and music. Jason having the immense network he has and the desire to connect good human beings together, brought Will Keck (Will) to the Spring edition of the Richmond Fashion Week this year. Jason was working with Will on organizing and promoting the Something Indie Water music festival in Norfolk and also advising Will on his growing business at theMSQshop in Richmond. Rachel and I both are sponsors of our creative community here in Richmond and her business was a sponsor of Richmond Fashion Week so we were at the event with Jason and got a chance to meet Will. Needless to say my love for music as a DJ intersected with Will's as a hip hop artist and entrepreneur rather quickly and we continued to have conversations after that meeting about how to bring the creative community together and offer more opportunities for our youth to make a viable living in that business. In October we became investors in Will's business and I am a working and willing partner with him. Big things are coming for Will Keck and theMSQshop and I am honored to learn from him and serve as we grow opportunities for our community we share.

So, for those who don't believe the power of Music, Meals and Money - I hope this story gave you a reason to start. Without these three powerful things in our society, we would be far less advanced as a human race and we would not be able to come together to solve the challenges we face both professionally and personally. Thanks for everyone reading this edition and subscribing. Please feel free to share similar examples in the comments below. Happy Holidays!