I ran across this viral Facebook post this week, and after a quick laugh, I realized its brilliance. Instead of simply telling potential customers about his TV mounting service, the Toledo, OH-based Elmo Fly showed the results of his work, and did so in a way that alleviates every customer's major pain point––the fear of their expensive flat screen television falling off the wall. 

Broke: "If you need your TV mounted, give me a call at..."
Woke: "Here's a photo of the TV I mounted for a client."
Bespoke: "Here are three photos of me, a grown man, hanging from the TV mounts I installed for my clients."

As you prepare for the week ahead, consider ways that you can show vs. tell in your business, at work, and in your personal relationships.

And if you live in the midwest, contact Elmo Fly at 567-806-0351 for your TV mounting needs. He services Ohio, Michigan, and Chicago areas. 

Trademark is an area that is unclear to many creatives, which brings up one question: is it important? A trademark is what your consumer or consumer base identifies you with; specifically, that good or service that you provide to the industry you are in. My curiosity to know more about trademark law got the best of me, but Jo was gracious enough to answer my questions. We met at Kaffeine Coffee (@kaffeinecoffeehouston) in Houston’s 3rd ward to discuss adversity, becoming a trademark attorney, and most importantly, protecting your intellectual property.

Do you need a trademark / how long should I wait to get one?

Absolutely. Especially if you are building any type of business or legacy. It’s your branding, it’s how people identify you with what you do, and it could be the very thing that sets you apart. As far as how long you should wait, not too long. You don’t have to be well established, but I would consider trademarking around the same time you are making the “LLC” or “S Corp” decision. Brands should realize as you grow, your branding grows as well. During this time, you are building your brand portfolio.

How long does a trademark last?

It could last forever if you are using it. There are renewal documents that need to be submitted at certain times, but this is something an attorney can help with. One quick tip: it’s better to file your trademark under your business. Meaning, list your business as the owner. Ownership of trademarks can be passed down to your heirs. Kobe is an unfortunate, but great example of this. The trademark for his daughter’s name “Mambacita” will still be owned under his company, which is likely to be passed down to his heirs.

What is intellectual property and how do you protect it?

It is the protection of the tangible expression of your ideas. Meaning, those protections don’t kick in until the idea becomes something you can conceptualize or build. Intellectual property is an umbrella term and there are three main properties: patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Patents – These protect inventions because you can’t patent ideas. The idea must become something tangible, because depending on the patent, you must submit a blueprint for what the item is and how it works. Copyrights- These are used to protect artistic expression. Think films, music, photography, paintings, and sculptures. Basically, works of art. The idea must be pulled out of your head first, and at that point, a copyright can be introduced. Trademarks – See previous questions.

Read the full interview at Shots on Taylor

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), America's first African American athletic conference, celebrated its 75th anniversary last weekend in Charlotte, NC. Consisting of twelve HBCU member institutions, the tournament has been hosted in Charlotte for the last 15 years and has had an enormous economic impact. After being outbid by the City of Baltimore, (which committed $2 million in scholarships for CIAA member students) the CIAA Tournament will be moving from Charlotte to Baltimore in 2021. Here's a snapshot of the economic impact of the CIAA on Charlotte's economy and a preview of what Baltimore can look forward to.

• $600 million: the economic impact of the CIAA on Charlotte's local economy since 2005
• $43.7 million: how much money the CIAA brought to Charlotte in 2019
• $25.6 million: the direct visitor spending pumped into Charlotte from tourists
• 140,000: the estimated number of tourists visiting Charlotte for the tournament

––State of Black Workers in America Conference, March 11, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA
Sponsored by the Black Worker Initiative of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and featuring Steven Reed, Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, the 4th State of Black Workers in America Conference will highlight some of the most innovative and best organizing being led by Black workers in the US. Learn more here and RSVP for free here.

––MVEMNT CON, April 4, Washington, DC
MVEMNT CON is a curated conference created to empower and energize entrepreneurs and creatives.This conference helps attendees reach new levels of success through a variety of learning and networking sessions. The hand-selected industry executives and accomplished professionals will highlight topics including branding, business law/finance/growth, content creation entertainment law, marketing, and social media. Learn more and register here.

––BroccoliCon 2020, May 7-8, Washington, DC
Broccoli City Festival's annual conference for millennial people of color brings together the world's most influential leaders in technology, finance, community development, marketing, and content creation to focus intently on leveraging resources and exchanging ideas to address the greatest challenges facing urban communities today. Learn more here and buy tickets here.