Episode 29 - The $100 Million Wake Up
Welcome to episode 29 of Nicky and Moose the podcast. Check out today’s episode as your hosts discuss what’s going on with Kanye & Gap, A.Rod, and what’s poppin’ in the crypto world.
Learn certain behaviors to take on, things to look for, and do when investing in something new. Don’t miss out!
What You Will Discover:
- Keeping business & personal separate
- Looking outside of the path people typically take in your industry
- Check out who you're surrounding yourself with
- Ask the right questions
- Master the impact side
- Stop overthinking
- How to get a seat at the table
Nicky Saunders:
What's poppin'? What's poppin'? What's poppin'? Welcome to Nicky and Moose! I'm Nicky! That's Moose! What's up Moose?
Mostafa Ghonim:
What up y'all?
Nicky Saunders:
And it is Episode 29, and we're back to talking a lot of stuff just a lot of things happened. Which is funny because we didn't have anything to talk about now we have a lot to talk about. We have stuff like what did Kanye West reveal? Some Verzuz and Peloton. Some Coinbase type stuff, crypto type stuff. Moose, how are we feeling about this episode?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, the crypto space is exploding. It's hot right now. So I'm excited to dive right into that and expand on it.
Nicky Saunders:
Let's get into this intro.
Jaymie Jordan:
Two kids from Queens, cut from a different cloth. Now joining forces helping you to elevate your personal brand. Yeah I'm talking about Nicky and Moose! Bringing you a never before seen perspective into the mindset, the mentality, the behaviors, the driving force, but more importantly, the stories behind the people and brands that you know and love the most.
Nicky Saunders:
So let's talk about this review of the week. Shout out to InKredibl3. thank you for having a really good name even though you uniquely spelled. See I can't even talk already. Y'all already messed me up. All right, this one says "My
Weekly Branding Blueprint:
I listened to the Nicky and Moose podcast weekly at the gym, and it's taken my business and branding knowledge to the next level. Can't thank y'all enough for the constant gems, much love! *praying hands*" Yeah, you got to give love to the emoji. Anyway, like I said in the intro we have a lot to talk about but we cannot start this podcast without giving our condolences and love. The day that we recorded this we just found out that Black Rob passed. So rest in peace to Black Rob. Of course we're still mourning the loss of DMX. Really dopeness though. His memorial or whatever is going to be in the Barclays. That's really fire. Talking about DMX. That's really fire because that means that's going to be huge. That's gonna be super, super huge. So it's gonna be streamed everywhere. So I think that's pretty dope. I don't think there would be any other place to recognize DMX except for the Barclays. I don't know if Yonkers has something, 'but definitely Barclays is a good idea. Yeah, yeah. Um, but rest in peace Black Rob, for sure. I was playing :Whoa" earlier. I was like, Man, that was such a vibe.
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's such a classic hit man. That was a classic hit.
Nicky Saunders:
Oh, man, that was such a vibe and I actually had to find the clip to post on my Instagram. Just a simple thing. He was like, Yo, I'm I'm black Rob, like all I can be is me. That's how I got to where I was is by being me. I was like, I think we just over analyze the simple part of success.
Mostafa Ghonim:
100%
Nicky Saunders:
Just the simple parts. Like, I'm taking just little like I don't even look for deep bars no more. I think if you could tell me wake up I'd probably highlight it like how did you get successful Diddy? I woke up.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Crowd goes wild.
Nicky Saunders:
But I'm just saying. Anyways, okay, enough with the bad news kind of vibe. Let's talk about Kanye West right? Let's talk about how he revealed him and Gap logo. It is finally revealed. I don't know if I was supposed to like expect something different. I don't know. I don't... I'm not really sure. Okay, you combined The Gap and the Yeezy and it says YZY in The Gap kind of vibe.
Mostafa Ghonim:
With the Yeezy, with the Yeezy letters.
Nicky Saunders:
When are you dropping sir or ma'am, who's in charge of The Gap or whatever who else is involved with this collaboration? You signed the ink for, like 10 years. Are we waiting another year? Like what's happening? I'm not. I don't...Will you buy Yeezy Gap?
Mostafa Ghonim:
You know, I would. I'll be honest with you, I will try. Let me say that, but I just don't know. And the reason why I'm saying that is because I just don't know that, like the streetwear community, the HYPEBEAST community is going to be all over that. Like, I already know. I don't know that there's going to be a supply that, you know, I'm saying that's gonna allow people for it to be a regularly worn type of thing. That's what I think. I like the story behind it.
Nicky Saunders:
I think the first couple of releases, it will. I think it will have a lot of hype in the first couple releases. Now if they can really take off on those first two, three releases, and they come out with some limited doesn't even have to be heat, because some of his shoes aren't heat. Like he came out with a foam slippers that sold out. Like...Yeah, I don't know. Not my style, but they sold out. And it's like, you almost like those people who have it is like, in this whole prestige, club kind of vibe. So I'm like, I don't know what to expect from a Yeezy and Gap collaboration. But if they play their cards, right, and they look at the blueprint that Kanye has already done with the Yeezy brand. I can see this being part of the HYPEBEAST kind of vibe, and it's selling out and there'll be lines and The Gap. And Gap stock will go up. You were talking about it earlier, like Man, I wish I would have held on to The Gap stock. I never had it. Um, I just as much as I love Kanye. I don't know if I can trust him in an investment.
Mostafa Ghonim:
What you don't think like he has the consistency for an investment or, or what is it?
Nicky Saunders:
I just don't feel I don't feel comfortable with it. I don't know, I feel like if he has a bad day, the stock could go down. Um, I think it's just I need to see consistency with Kanye, rather than necessarily The Gap for me to invest in this particular thing, but that's just me.That's just me.
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's good feedback. That's good feedback.
Nicky Saunders:
But a shout out to Kanye because I do love Kanye, I just want to know when this finally drops. Thank you for dropping the logo. But I just want to know when this clothing head gear blah, blah, blah, kind of thing comes out. That's all. Uh, but let's get into some sports kind of vibe, right sports kind of vibe. But of course, we're, I think that today is going to be about investments. I have this vibe. I feel it right. For my audio listeners on the screen right
now we have "Reports:
Alex Rodriguez and businessman Mark Lore $1.5 billion deal to buy the Timberwolves, Lynx." So, um, let's, let's have an honest conversation. Let's have an honest conversation.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Let's talking about it.
Nicky Saunders:
Let's talk about it. Um, is this a distraction from the breakup? If you don't know what I'm talking about, Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez are no longer together. And we were rooting for them. We were really really rooting for them. I'm a huge...I just want J. Lo to finally have a love period. But it's almost it's almost like okay, we broke up but look, look what I did. Hello, right. And I did something really big. Like it's not, it's not even small flex. That's not a small flex to have ownership of $1.5 billion, like deal into it. That's not a small flex like, that's not like a I'm in the gym working out after my breakup kind of vibe.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Right. Right. Right.
Nicky Saunders:
That's a no I'm about my business. Hello, what's up? Bye. Like, even though I'm not talking, I'm talking mess Not one bit. Not one bit. on't mind me. Like, we saw ll the reports, they're be ter as friends, blah, blah blah, they're going to k ep the relationship of the b siness stuff that they tarted together, blah, blah, bl h, all that great stuff. I'm not saying blah, blah, blah t like, downgrade it. But how ver, I love how this breakup id not affect Alex Rodriguez mo At all.That's maturity. ey, or brand or anything at a l.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yep. Well, actually, that was the part that I thought even from the breakup as a whole was kind of cool, like, they separated, but they were like, you know what, we're gonna keep our you know, partnerships still intact, they had gone into business and pull their money on several different things. So I'm like, that's cool. Like, that's a new example of Okay, we can part ways from one part of our relationship, but we can keep our business stuff separate, which is good, because I don't think many people, you know, have the discipline to do that. Because it's like, once you once you mix pots, it's a wrap. So the fact that they did that, I think was really good. Now, A. Rod on the other hand, A. Rod is definitely, definitely in in a unique position right now with the way he's moving on. Of course, I imagine with a deal like this, it wasn't just like, Oh, I broke up with J. Lo yesterday, bought the team tomorrow. I'm sure the negotiations were happening for some time. It just so happened that it got revealed, you know, right in that timeframe. But, you know, they almost crazy thing is they almost bought the Mets together last year. I don't know if you knew that. Yeah, him and him and J. Lo were in on a deal to buy the Mets last year. And it didn't go through.
Nicky Saunders:
Look at God.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Oh, man. Yeah.
Nicky Saunders:
Welcome, Nicky and Moose. Um, but what I will say, here's my here's my not confusion. But we went over how LeBron got the Red Sox thing. Right. So now we're talking about basketball going into baseball. Now we have baseball, going into basketball, right?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah.
Nicky Saunders:
I'm like, do we not? Do we not want to do what we love? Do we want to like, Is there more money? on the opposite end? Do we value more of the opposite sport than the one that we put like, blood, sweat and tears in? I'm kind of confused. That's weird to me. However, then, D. Wade did the opposite of what I just said. And he bought into the Utah Jazz. Major, that was major. So shout out to you, D. Wade, even though you're not gonna watch this, but you know, I'm talking to you. I think you're amazing. And I think your wife is amazing. Your whole family is amazing. But that's not the point...kind of is. You can come to Nicky and Moose at any time. I'm just saying, anyway. Yeah, but um, I love and and we're bringing this up, because I love the fact that you're taking athletes even Marshawn Lynch did some that he bought his Oakland Roots, right? That's what its called Oakland Roots?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yep, something like that.
Nicky Saunders:
Some something like that he bought a team as well, right? And it just shows that, okay, life as an athlete is not forever. So we have to kind of get our foot not just in the typical. Let's be a broadcaster. You know, let's be on this side and announce everything. They're doing in a whole new level of ownership. They're doing it as far as let me get a seat at the table instead of you picking the players let me pick the players as well. Let me help in the management let me do... so I appreciate players like LeBron, A. Rod, D. Wade, Beastmode. To do things and show other players, this is possible because I bet that people on their their teams, whether it was old teams, new teams, new new players that are just like, yo, he was one of us, he put the same uniform on, he went through the same training, all that great stuff. You're saying that after this, I have the ability to, if I play my cards, right, to be an owner, and not just a worker?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. The tables are definitely turning.
Nicky Saunders:
Yeah, my salary isn't just limited if I put the uniform on or not. I don't have to only worry about endorsement deals. Like so, I like that standpoint of what some of these athletes are doing, and even the conversations that they're having with it, and I'm wanting to get your take on cuz I know, you were like bringing it up. And I was like, how do we spin this? Okay, here we go.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, no, I love it. Because I mean, from one side of it, it's showing the maturity of the players, right? Like they're starting to see themselves beyond just athletes and really saying, okay, that's one part of my career, it was my playing career. Now I have a whole nother part of my life I get to enjoy, because in either sport, baseball or basketball, for the most part, you're going to finish in your mid 30s. If you really think about it, in your mid 30s, in any other profession, you're just reaching your stride. So that can that's gonna mess some people up because in one side of it, you're your career is ending. But in another world, if you allow yourself to explore, your career is just starting. So I love that people are now exploring so we see D. Wade, even outside of just a sports industry, he also has some of his fashion stuff going on. And he's expanding businesses, you know, outside of the sports world now entered ownership with the Utah Jazz. Same thing with A. Rod and he kind of dibble and dabbled in a lot of places. But A. Rod's business portfolio stretches back to his playing days. Like there were some stories that were revealed that said that he went into the ownership of the Chicago White Sox, excuse me, the owner's office of the Chicago White Sox, I forget the guy's last name Jerry [Reinsdorf]. He's also the owner of the Bulls. He was like on "The Last Dance" quite a bit. Yeah, well, anyway, yeah, the owner of the Bulls and the White Sox, but he went into his office after batting practice, like, while he was still playing, to get some advice from him around business. So I think A. Rod has done a phenomenal job in being able to build his relational network with a lot of billionaires. Like that's, that's the thing that people don't see. So I think it's cool to see athletes now stepping up to the plate, and kind of, like you said, showing the pathway to other players who are still playing, but it's showing us that financial literacy is on the rise. athletes are more educated on how to utilize and grow their money. And then they're also stepping up to the plate in some of these spaces where they typically would walk away from because they just maybe want to live on a yacht after they retire and chill. They're like, nope, we're continuing, you know, the, the expansion into the ownership side of things, which I think is super cool. So yeah, I'm excited to see how it pans out for them. And when LeBron is done playing, that's gonna be interesting, because I know right now, he can't buy a basketball team because he's still playing. So for example, D Wade's able to purchase he retired. So when LeBron retires, you know, I think that's gonna be definitely a different conversation, too.
Nicky Saunders:
But he could buy a baseball team?.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, because it's not in a league. It's like a conflict of interest. It's kind of weird.
Nicky Saunders:
Okay, makes sense that makes, but yeah, something that you said that was very interesting that we hear common, but I don't think people really execute on it too much is like, who you surround yourself with. Like, like you just said, like, A. Rod, talked to a billionaire pretty much, right? I believe that each of these athletes that have that conversation of how do I own a team, how to become part of that, like, they surround themselves with people who know that information, if you want to know something, you have to not just have so much pride, and try to figure it out on your own. But as well as putting down that pride for a second and being like, Okay, let me ask somebody, let me follow them. Let me shadow them for a bit. Let me take them out for for dinner or so and just have regular, let me create this relationship. So that regular conversation can be about my future, instead of just my normal environment. Right there. Things that when we surround ourselves with great people, that they're instantly going to give us new gems that we never thought was even possible to hear. Because we didn't surround ourselves with it because we didn't know what to ask or what to say, you know, and sometimes it just starts with a relationship. Sometimes it's just being genuine, yo, you good, you need anything bah, bah. You know, sometimes it could just start with that. So I believe that you know, the surrounding yourself with people. It's funny, I had, um, I was on a Instagram Live shout out to Donni and Jeremy and Corey from from the Instagram Live. But Corey said something really dope. And he, um, he's one of the co owners or founders of the Support Black College movement, right? So he said, you know, um, it wasn't until I started chilling with Neo and, and all these people in Atlanta cuz I was chilling. You know, I was just working but I was chilling but they helped me raise the bar as far as you know, working and rewarding myself. Like I was just always in the just work work work work but because of the people that I surrounded myself with, I realized that I could also have some of the finer things as well. Right? And it was because of them because of who I was surrounded by I felt like I had to get this this new car I felt like I had to sometimes buy these different things because they're living that kind of lifestyle now nothing here say everybody Hey, get some friends that are you know, buying some stuff and get you a Rolly that's not what I'm saying. And if you do make a really good investment with the Rolly don't get the busted down one but I'm not saying that's not that's not what I'm trying to say don't be like Nicky told me to buy me Rolex now don't don't don't do that. But if you do buy two. But anyways, um, what I'm saying is whatever you whatever your environment is, as far as friends, co workers, associates and things like that is going to rub off. And if you're trying to get to a different level, you have to be in that environment. You have to ask the right questions you have to put yourself in your own future and then you will see that happen if you play your cards right...
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's a good bar. Put yourself in your future I like that. That's a bar.That's a bar.
Nicky Saunders:
I got bars people. I got I got bars. Let me stop. I'm playing, anyway. Anyways, let's get into the next joint. And I even you know what I need to do properly I need to continue to properly say this is the "What's Poppin'?" section, but I never do but yeah, already know. This is clearly when we're talking about current events. This is the "What's Poppin'?" section, but it is what it is. I'll do better. Okay. I'll do better. But remember how a few episodes ago we talked about how Verzuz was got acquired by Triller and all that great stuff? Verzuz is now made another move with... I'll just let y'all hear and see it.
Peloton Commercial:
Swizz and Tim here. And we're back on Peloton with brand new matchups. This month we have 2 super producers and 2 super great dressers. Who else? It's yours truly. Who you got?
Nicky Saunders:
So first off *air horns*. Second, Peloton and Verzuz.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Nice little collab.
Nicky Saunders:
Right. So make sense, at least for me. Maybe people were like, Why is Verzuz on this bike? Which I should be getting mines next week. Hopefully. I don't know. Feels like the longest wait. Shout out to COVID because COVID has really
Mostafa Ghonim:
What's that been? 4 months? 3 months? delayed everything in life. Um, but it only makes sense for the simple fact that music and working out normally goes hand in hand. Right? And the fact that Swizz and Tim know this, why don't we partner up with the most trending equipment that is happening through this whole pandemic? We started in the pandemic. Peloton got busy in the pandemic, we might as well do a partnership because this only makes sense, right? I'm excited about it. I can't wait to get mine to see what that's going to be the first thing I do, I'm not even going to lie. I did. I did. You know what had me laughing? Just Steve Harvey's Not gonna lie. I'm going to find Verzuz. I'm going to see this. And I like how they're saying it's going to be a new thing each month. Right? So what what Verzuz has been doing is now they're getting more structured. We see a schedule, right? 4/20 is happening so of course we're going to see Meth and Redman and yes, I will be talking about that in the next episode. Because they have been improving I don't know if you saw the Ro Isley and the Earth Wind an Fire battle. Did you see tha ? Did you look at it? It was involvement in it is what kind of got me hooked on it. I mean, I like Earth Wind and Fire I'm not gonna lie. I like... I don't know about the the others but I do know Earth Wind and Fire. I think their music is cool, but I think Steve Harvey's i volvement You know, it kind of t rew like a funny twist to it. S I thought that was a Yeah, t at was dope, but I did. Okay, but I didn't know he liked Earth Wind and Fire. Know, your friends better. Know, your... I'm an old soul man. I'm an old soul.
Nicky Saunders:
But um, the point I wanted to bring up is they because of this Triller and Verzuz collab, you could clearly see the brand elevate. So the with this one with the Isley and the Earth Wind and Fire one, even the Instagram stream finally upgraded. Had a little frame, it looked HD, the sound was better. Right? And of course when you get on Triller it the the quality was amazing, right? So they're really getting busy with the experience and just bringing a whole new look to it. Because this was like it had the revolving camera angles and everything like that the quality was just amazing. I think we're only going to see more from Verzuz. I think not only are they getting innovative with you know partnerships with like a Peloton, but even just from what they're they've already built. Like the quality can only improve. I'm like, like we said in past episodes like I'm really interested to see what happens when the world opens up. Vegas is going is either already or is going to open up 100% no mask no nothing and allow concerts.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Wow. Wow.
Nicky Saunders:
That right there is umm... mmm hmm. Yep. That's, that's different. That I don't know.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Very different.
Nicky Saunders:
I don't know how comfy I will be going into a concert just yet. Like full blown. Because they already have like a festival style ready. I saw Meg the Stallion talk about like a two day joint in Vegas that she's on and I'm like, oh, wow.
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's interesting. Yeah, that's interesting. I mean, just I've never been to Vegas outside of like work purposes. So I went for a conference in June maybe two years ago. But from what I know of Vegas, and you take into consideration the fact that people have been you know in their homes for over a year, that's a crazy combination to mix. But just as it relates to the concept with Verzuz and Peloton, very smart. Very smart.
Nicky Saunders:
But I just want to see like, because was crazy. And and shout out to everybody who's reading this book with me. Um, it's the 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, right? So they have this bonus joint that was talking about how to brand on the internet. Right? So they said, if you're creating a internet brand, right, you could you have the option of treating the internet as a business or medium. Right? And what's making Verzuz so dope is that they're treating The internet as a business and not just a medium, right, their whole brand is based off the internet. So now that the world is opening up, I'm like, Is it a smart move to do like mini concerts and allow people in and it's a hybrid kind of vibe, where we're so used to Verzuz being virtual. If they were to hone in on that with, with Triller, and things like that, I think I called it thriller for like, three times, but that's okay. Triller. And what they doing with Instagram and everything and Peloton, like, if they went and made it live, would that hurt or help Verzuz where it is right now? What do you think?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, I mean, I think is going to help it. I think it's going to help it because you know, one of the things that you consider like so with the collaboration, they collaborated with a complementing brand or service. It makes sense, right? Like, even on our last live show, we talked about, you know, the importance of collaborating with things that are complementing to the business or the service that you provide, right that that is one of the easiest collabs to make is like, Oh, you do this, I do this, we actually can do this together, because we kind of need each other. So that makes sense. But then the other part of it is, we also know that one of the important traits or characteristics of all successful brands and businesses is their ability to adapt with time. So right now, the fact that Verzuz a strictly an online brand and business and they're monetizing everything within this realm, it makes sense because there isn't a need for outdoor spaces just yet outdoor events. But once outdoor events become the norm, and we don't know when that's gonna happen, but when it does, you know, prayerfully, we know that it's going to happen soon. When it does, the concept of online, yes, it will work, but you got to adapt for Okay, now, how do we create a live experience for don't for the people who don't mind going to a live arena with people, you know, in close proximity, so I do think is going to help it because it's going to be one of those adjustments that they make to pivot or adjust and adapt, you know, to the times that Okay, now it makes sense to have the live experience for people to enjoy. So I could see you helping, but who knows? Who knows? Because Because I think of it like that. Imagine the Verzuz battle concept happening live like now you're not going to let's say, this person's concert, and they come up with a guest appearance. No, but it's both of them on stage at the same time performing their best hits, just like they would, you know, on an Instagram Live.
Nicky Saunders:
So So devil's advocate, right? Because even though I do agree, right? There devil's advocate is how do I word this? So let's get rid of the Verzuz thought real quick. You are a a manager. Right? And now, people are allowed to come into the location, but some aren't feeling safe to go. So your meetings is half live and half on Zoom. Right? Somebody is going to feel disconnected. Right? So does that help or hurt your meeting, if part of your team is feeling disconnected because they don't feel like they're in the room?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah.
Nicky Saunders:
So it's either you either do a full blown, and I saw Gary Vee talk about this, right? He was going off on it. But like you either do a full blown Zoom, or a full blown meeting at the office. So everybody's in line. everybody's on the same page, you have the attention. Is that almost the same vibe when it comes to concert, that are going to be possibly a hybrid when it comes to Verzuz? Right. I think with festivals, they were you know, they were starting the streaming on Tidal and everything like that. And still you were like, I wish I was there. Oh my god, right. Um, and it's not the same energy. As if you were there like I went to Hot 97 Summer Jam right? That was such a great energy very tiring people very, extremely tiring. But really good experience, energy, all that great stuff. I don't think I would feel the same way if I streamed it. Right.
Mostafa Ghonim:
100% yeah.
Nicky Saunders:
So when saying things like that, do you still feel the same way?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, what so I'll put myself in, like, an executive position at Triller or, you know, Verzuz.
Nicky Saunders:
Yes.
Mostafa Ghonim:
If I'm, if I'm in an executive role there, I wouldn't do both simultaneously, what I would do is, if we're going with a live experience, it's strictly live. And we stream to international viewers, right. But then I would use the content piece of it to roll that out for people who are in like, in the States at a later date. So if you can't attend live, you're not going to be able to view it unless you're International. But afterward, then you'd be able to watch it if you just were like, interested, like, Man, you know, a classic one, let's just say cuz I was Jay Z. And Kanye is like, Oh, hold up, you know, I've got to see this, even if it's not live. So I would roll that out after But to your point, because, yeah, while it's a similar example, for just for it to fit the context, if I'm head of, you know, business development, or whatever it is that either one of those places, that's the move that I will be banking on and just testing it, because I do think is going to create kind of like that, what you would consider FOMO not necessarily that that exact emotion, but just like, man, I do want to see like, there's somebody there who's in on it, that I'm not experiencing it. So it makes you want to go and catch it just so you can be involved in the conversation.
Nicky Saunders:
Verzuz you can write that check out to Mostafa Ghonim, Inc. Right. And we appreciate you because that was all him. He gave you that. I'm not even going to say Nicky and Moose. I'm going to say Moose. All right, that was Moose that gave you that whole thing. But I just alley hooped it.
Mostafa Ghonim:
We get a percentage.
Nicky Saunders:
Yes. But let's talk about what everybody has been talking about this whole week. And what we're gonna break down a little bit more, which is this crypto space. Warning. We are not experts in this crypto space, we are clearly going to show you some leaders and what has been happening. So disclaimer, we're not telling you to buy no type of crypto, nothing like that. Do not blame me if you lose money.
Mostafa Ghonim:
She said don't blame me.
Nicky Saunders:
Facts! But, um, I think it's easy to say that everybody who's anybody has at least had a conversation about crypto, we've been big about talking about the NFT's and kind of hinting at it and everything like that. But with what happened this week, which we'll get into, everybody is talking about crypto and wanting to know more about it right? And I have a clip of somebody who is hilarious to me. Hip Hop legend. Now going to make a whole series called Crypto Culture. None other than Jim Jones. Let's check this out.
Jim Jones:
Inside the crypto community was a very, very, very big day. A company by the name of Coinbase did an IPO that was valued at $86 billion. That's right $86 billion. Huge! This just totally legitimizes the crypto world. So if you had any doubts, if this money was real, if it was witchcraft we're doing, or if it's a hoax, no, it's for real. The currency can be spent. You better get you some. Shout out to Nas who was very early at investing. He's probably one of the forefathers in our hip hop culture when it comes to investing and seeing things through.
Nicky Saunders:
And since we're talking about Nas, it only is right to show and for all our audio listeners, I have a quick article that says "Nas' Early Coinbase Investment Could Reportedly Net Him $100 million".
Mostafa Ghonim:
Queen's kid! Queen's kid!
Nicky Saunders:
And that was early on that was before Coinbase went public. Right and they were assuming that it would open up at 250 I think it opened up around 300 and something. So we're looking at the high 100 millions, almost to 200 million that Nas just woke up to. Another surprising investor was Kevin Durant. He invested in 2017 in Coinbase. And he's getting a couple of million as well, which is crazy. Crazy. But the reason why I wanted to talk about this, for one, everybody's talking about it, right? Coinbase for those people who don't know what Coinbase is, it is a platform that you literally can buy crypto from, right. Everything from Bitcoin to aetherium to a whole but light coin, a whole bunch of stuff, right? And everybody is starting to get familiar with it, not only because some of the thought leaders that we have, has been talking about crypto and has invested in crypto and things like that everything from Mark Cuban to the Elon Musk to clearly Nas, Jim Jones. Like there's still a lot of people that Kevin Durant's people that we look at as being gurus and top of their lane now getting into a whole new just new currency. Right? But I'm not we're not gonna go to too much into what crypto is and all that great stuff. I really want to break down how dope Nas is as an investor. I think people sleep on Nas. Clearly, not from a rapper standpoint, but from a businessman standpoint. He's not a big talker in the public. But there are certain things that he's done. And I'm about to show you that you didn't think he was involved with like, I found out like I put this up real quick. I found that he was part of Dropbox very early. That was like one of his very first ones. Right? I'm like, Dropbox. What? I use that every day. Are you serious? It's crazy, right? Genius makes sense. Genius does make sense. But like you got Ring which it was like rumbles that he made a lot of money in Ring when that guy so right. Lyft, huge! Pluto TV. Seatgeek just some of the stuff for all our audio listeners. We have it up on YouTube, just some of the investments that he's done with his Queensbridge Venture Partners. I can't even talk what is wrong with me? I can't talk but Moose, how are you? How are you feeling about this Queens, Queens guy making a whole bunch of money investing in a whole bunch of money? And is really in this tech world as well as just a really serious investor that doesn't get enough props?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, this is, I mean, the first thing definitely, like you said, Queens kid, right like that. That's so dope. Like, we talk a lot about people when they do something they serve as an example, for people of that demographic or that generation, you're talking about somebody who literally is from the pretty much the same borrow, or very same neighborhood that we grew up in, that I still drive by towards this day, like, you know, that definitely gives you a different type of feel or connection to what's possible. And I definitely think that's the starting point to everything is like, man, the idea of just envisioning for yourself, like, you, too, can do this. The second part that I think is just as important is, of course, the concept of being an early adapter. Right? Like that is so big, like, you know, we look at some of these companies right now. And you think like, oh, man, like I missed out on my shot, I missed out on Apple I missed out on Google, I missed out on, you know, all of these different companies. But there's still stuff happening today. That if you were to just Devote yourself, develop the discipline to read a little bit, do a little research really just kind of continue to make your connections to figure out where is the marketplace shifting, what are the trends, what are the gaps, and what are some of the people who are positioning themselves as potential solutions to These things, you can be one of those early investors in the next Apple or Google. So when I look at a NAS right now and the way he's moving again, similar example, one part of his career finished, which is the music and I wouldn't say finished because I'm sure, I think there's talks of him putting out an album with Khaled. I don't know if that did it come out already or what did I did I missed that?
Nicky Saunders:
I think he's still on his Grammy win. I think he's still on his Grammy win over here.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Fair enough. Fair enough. But my point is he let's just say he's not as dedicated to the music as he wants once, at least from what it appears to be. He's now putting out albums regularly.
Nicky Saunders:
No need to when you're making $100 million.
Mostafa Ghonim:
I ain't mad at him, I ain't mad.
Nicky Saunders:
I would not writw no more. I gotta think
Mostafa Ghonim:
Unless its a true true passion. So I ain't mad at it.
Nicky Saunders:
I need to get to that part. When I tell you, I need to get hold on. Hold on. I need to get to that part.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Optional
Nicky Saunders:
You know me in the options, right? I just, I want the option to do this. I want the option to do that. My man woke up and was like, oh, man, Coinbase went public. Oh, that's, that's 100 mil right there. Oh, that's okay. All right. I got it.
Mostafa Ghonim:
And the key thing here is an extra 100 mil. You know, not to mention, he doesn't like some of the stuff beforehand is always an extra 100 an extra 100 today. Yeah, that's cool.
Nicky Saunders:
Facts. Hold on. Let's like let's look at some of this stuff again. Like, Okay, we got Pluto TV, Im gonna read it for our audio people. Right. Pluto TV acquired by Viacom for $34 million. Pill Pack acquired by Amazon...
Mostafa Ghonim:
340
Nicky Saunders:
What did I say?
Mostafa Ghonim:
34 that's ok.
Nicky Saunders:
Oh, my bad. $340 million. This is this is why I have him Okay, cuz I'm not. I'm I'm that all there. But um, Pill Pack acquired by Amazon for $1 billion. Ring acquired by Amazon... Amazon got a lot of money, right.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Two acquisitions at a billion.
Nicky Saunders:
Right, Amazon for another $1 billion. Dropbox market cap at $9.3 billion, Genius valued at $1 billion, Lyft, valued at $23 billion, Seatgeek valued at $1 billion. Right. He also has and you'll see in the in the clip, too, he's done like Casper, and there's a whole bunch of things that he's involved with. And I'm like, Oh, yeah, you, you good. And I know you have restaurants back home. What is it Sweet Chick or something like that? I forgot what it's called. But he has restaurants as well. He had Bezel. Bezel was really huge. He just has a lot of stuff that...
Mostafa Ghonim:
Its dope. Its dope.
Nicky Saunders:
The fact that he did come back with an album, right, because he's been investing since like 2013, or something like that with Queensbridge of ventures. Right. So, um, the fact that he still came out with music, and won a Grammy. Anyway, so let's get into what would get him to invest. Let's talk about that.
Nas:
Something about it has to make me think that this can be really impactful. If I'm recording, say, with a Dr. Dre or something, I know, there's some impact in that. So I look at investment sought sort of the same way. But there's some things out there that are just getting started that I that I believe in and I look at it and I give it a shot.
Nicky Saunders:
So simple. And I did um, look at what they offer these like startups, and they say from like, 100k to 500k is what they would give one of these these startups. I'm like,
Mostafa Ghonim:
That's crazy.
Nicky Saunders:
Okay, so there is like, depending how dope you are, you are to get this or this. You don't get the million you don't get to like, you get this or this right. I think that's really like that. That makes you think, I don't know that makes you think that makes me think makes me think like, Okay, if I get First off, I have to find a really, really dope thing. That's Give me just like 100, 300, 500k off of just like one night kind of thing, like how they do with the clubs and everything they walk out with, like 10k, 80k. And that all equals up after a while. Let me do that for a week. I have a good amount, right? Um, why don't we come up with our own little venture thing, right?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Hmm
Nicky Saunders:
See, see, because all we saw was we start here, we start with this amount, and then you could get the highest of 500k. So that's with somebody who has whole gwap of money, right. But there's still startups that still need something to go. Right. And so maybe we're like, not Queensbridge, but we're like, Elmhurst Elmhurst Ventures, like,
Mostafa Ghonim:
Hey, I love it.
Nicky Saunders:
And we start off with this to that, don't ask me what this or that is. Because like I said, I gotta get more money, people. Gotta get more money people. But he makes that look possible. He makes that like, okay, I made this much amount of money from my one thing, right, and I'm dedicating to help startups by just giving this amount, you know, um, and at the end of the day has to be impactful. I have to see, like, nothing that I do.. doesn't impact. Like, it just has to make sense with that. Not necessarily, and I love what he said about it, because it's not necessarily about money. But if you can master the impact side, money is going to come.
Mostafa Ghonim:
100%. 100%. I think that's actually a good way to know whether or not you're on the right track. Like, if you start off thinking about something you're like, man we're gonna make so much is like, just stop. It's like, there's just know that you're in it for the wrong reason, you might as well pull back, because I think now, and I'm sure you feel the same way. And many people who have, you know, tuned into the show, when the podcast throughout the year really have just like, watched what's happened around this whole period of the pandemic, right with the stimulus bailouts, with NFT's, with the crypto, with the stock market, with real estate, literally, there are so many vehicles or avenues to make ridiculous amounts of money, that it's not so much. The question isn't so much about man, is it even possible that I can have financial freedom or financial wealth? That's not the question anymore. It's about where do I want to dedicate energy and time, so that I can enjoy the fruits of the labor that come from behind it? So that's my point, like, even just around money, it's like, really a 2021 with as much free game as that's been available on the internet. The question shouldn't be about money anymore. It really is. For those who are listening or watching, it's like, Man, what is it for you that you would dedicate your time to? So when not if but when you make your money, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor?
Nicky Saunders:
Yeah, that's, that's so huge. There's so much money out there, like so much.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Huge! And that's crazy. Let me just tell you real quick from a shout out to the flight assessment for this. We haven't talked about it in a bit, but just my air traffic control, I'm looking at the the graph that you had up with all
Nicky Saunders:
I'm just saying people. where's where's your 100 the different like numbers. Just on that graph alone. There's $36.7 billion. And I'm just like, and what you you've you're tripping all making an extra six figures. Do you think if you made an extra $250,000 that the economy is gonna feel it like, Oh my God, so somebody from Jackson Heights just took an extra $250,000 home it really impacted the economy. It's nothing. It's nothing. It really makes you rethink like, what's possible what's money, you know, and the importance...it's over 7 just nearly 37 billion just n that chart alone for one million dollars? Where's when are you gonna wake up and make 100 mil a little bit over 100 mil? Just cuz just because you thought that thing was going to be impactful just because you had a little hunch about something and you weren't stingy with your money. Some are stingy. I'm just saying But, um, this next clip makes me really go over the whole we overthink things. Like some things are just as we're going along with this podcast, I'm like, man, we're thinking like, this whole success formula is all complicated, we think we have to actually work a lot harder, or these different gems are like hidden somewhere. And it's like, when you start hearing things over and over again, it's like, really, that's, that's what you alue. That's what. So for thos people who think they have to b very business minded, to get nto investments to, like, know everything about charts and tats, and all these diff rent things that I don't know about, that probably Moose know all about, and I have no clue because I care less. Oh, list n, and watch this.
Anthony Saleh:
I remember when we were analyzing whether we should invest in Casper. It's a mattress company, based in New York, and we were all sitting there like, yeah, it's a mattress company, like, you know, just shooting, right? And this was very early before they had a penny in sales. And Nas was like, yo, it comes in a box? It could fit in the back of your car? That's dope! No one's doing that! And we're like, oh, you're right. Alright, fine, let's do it. Like it was like, that's the, he gives the thing like we're sitting here like, like, like, analyzing, going through the business plan. And I'm we're all you know, we're all talking Business School, talk non stop going back and forth. And we're completely overlooking the things that consumers care about the most. And that is, that's been a tremendous value to us. And as as someone who's consistently thinking business, I have a guy who's thinking about the little guy who actually has to dig in his pockets, buy the product.
Nicky Saunders:
Moose
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, key thing right there, he said, right. He's able to think about the consumer, the person digging in their pockets to actually fund or determine whether or not that particular business is going to be successful. So I do love that part of it, it's like, yo, the simplicity of it is, okay, let's think about the people who are actually going to use this product. And let's think about what their experience or what their life is going to be like, as they engage with, you know, this business model, or this this product that we're putting out there. So I love that because it's true, when you think of it on the flip side of it, you might start to immediately race to all of the challenges, or all of the things that can possibly go right, that are very technical or practical concepts, and you overlook the most simplest thing of Okay, what is that process like for the end user? What What is their life like? Do they actually need it? Like, give you an example, we were talking with people in the energy space about with the increase of cars like Tesla and like just electric cars, do you think that at some point, we're going to see gas stations replace with electric charge stations? He's like Oh, wow, that's such a great idea. And like minds start racing. But then you got to start thinking about, well, the convenience of having a Tesla is that for some people, you can charge at home. Like there's and I was like, before you even race to say, yes, it's going to happen, let's invest all of our money and our time there, talk to someone with the Tesla, and ask them about what they do for a charge. So as I listen to this clip, it's exactly that, right. It's the person who maybe lives in New York City, who takes the subway and the train and the bus everywhere, they don't have the big truck to take the mattress, you know, whatever. And, and they could just buy the mattress and get it on the subway with them and take it home. So it's like, it's little things like that, that I think about that is like Yo, those are in reality. Those are the things that determine whether or not a business is really going to take off or not. And it's great when you hear that coming from, you know, just experienced people even Nas that you can still get a seat at the table by contributing some of the smallest things by simply saying, Yo, what about this box in the trunk? It works. That's cool.
Nicky Saunders:
Yeah, and I would say from just a simple standpoint, I think we look at it. First off, let me say I think Nas was either a flight attendant or grounds crew if he cares about the people. I'm just saying, I don't know what it is.
Mostafa Ghonim:
I like that. That's good. Yeah,
Nicky Saunders:
I can't I can't fully break it down just because there's not a lot of interviews. So it's hard to, but the fact that he was saying, yo, we have some... and for those who don't know, that was Nas' co founder of the Queensbridge Ventures Partners. But to find value in somebody who thinks about the people, is what I really want to focus on. Because business in itself is very intimidating. But the great thing is even how we talk about the flight assessment, if you don't know what that is flightassessment.com, flightassessment.com, flightassessment.com. But, um, even how we speak about the flight assessment, where you kind of need all four, to make something run. And clearly, we're talking about a business here. So you're going to need somebody who's analytical and looking at the business stuff, you're going to need somebody who's driving and gets the results, you're going to need somebody who cares about the people, and what they need and what the consumers have been asking for. And then you're going to need the people who are patient and is all about the support, and holding it down with the processes, right. So the fact that you, when you're thinking about investments, and you're thinking about jumping into business, you don't have to be so intimidated by I need to know about a business plan, I need to know about charts and stats and everything like that. You could just literally think about what do people need? Cuz in that clip, it was like, yo, That's dope, fold that thing out, put it in a box, we could bring it all over the place. That's what people need. He's like, Oh, my God, that makes so much sense. Let's invest. Right? You're right. No one else is doing that. Why? Because the people who are thinking only business are looking at how much has it made so far, what are the projected sales, all that great stuff, they're thinking about numbers and remove themselves from the emotional attachment Right? Where as there always needs to be somebody with the pulse of the people. And so it makes sense that he can invest in a in a Coinbase, it makes sense that he invest in Ring, for the safety of the people, you know, it would make sense for him to invest in Genius, which sometimes will, actually all the time, does lyrics on, on the songs and everything like that, and does different programming, about the breakdowns of different songs, because he's an artist, and he knows people would always wonder about these backstories and the lyrics, right? It would make sense to invest in Dropbox because we need a cloud solution to save all this new files and footage and all that. It's great to be that people person, if you are that, and you can get into investing and you can start a business and you can be very successful. Just by being that, because if you partner with somebody who thinks about the opposite, you're going to value them and they're going to value you. Like for me hearing that being the people person, right. I'm like, Oh, I could be a Nas. Okay, that's cool. I could be like, the people don't want that. Be like really? Oh, okay, fine. That's cool. Be like, oh, that that cleans my hat in like three seconds? Let's get that. Oh, because hats get dirty. Oh, my God, like. So I think there is a space and room for everybody in this investing situation. You just got to find out what your thing is. Right. Like he said, for him is more about the impact and the money which makes sense. He's a people person. So that makes more sense when I say it out loud now. Right. But I really wanted to highlight that part because it was just so simple. Okay, we invested in something, because there's nothing that's doing this. And it folds up. And it's mobile let's go. And they're like, light bulb. Let's go. Let's do that. Boom, boom, I should have you seen how much Casper is worth now Right. But, um, it is. It is interesting that each one of his investments, and not saying this is the crazy thing. Don't think that we're saying that everything that a Jay Z, a Nas has invested in all worked. Right. But the ones have worked have worked really big. Extremely big. But what what I like is, should everybody who is that successful have a venture capitalist thing? Jay Z has one. Nas has one. Chamillionaire became one. That's somebody we still have talked about. Right. Like, if people come up to you all the time. Clearly. We're not there yet. But we will. Um, people come up to you all the time about startups. Right? Is that the time to be like, huh? I should. I should look into that. I should. should invest in that.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, consider it.
Nicky Saunders:
You know, the three of y'all, what's y'all doing today? Let's make this venture capitalist thingy? Let's go do that.
Mostafa Ghonim:
I love how you simplify it. Venture capitalist thingy. Yeah, yeah.
Nicky Saunders:
Instead of making all these other different businesses and all these different other lanes and everything like that, why don't we just take advantage of what's coming to our door?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Its maximum impact too if you think about it. Like if that's what you really care about.
Nicky Saunders:
If something's always coming to our door, how do we capitalize on that? I'm just saying and this and this, anything. I'm not saying startups are literally at your door like Hello, I need money. Not what I'm saying right, but there may be something that always pops in your head. Maybe always an opportunity that continues to knock at your door. Have you capitalized on it and create a business around it?
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, hey side note. You talking with the pen in your hand was that intentional?
Nicky Saunders:
No.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Oh, it just it just makes you look very
Nicky Saunders:
I'm gonna do that more often! We doing pens intelligent. all day!
Mostafa Ghonim:
It's doing something. Yeah, it's doing something to me. I see the hand movement with the pen like okay.
Nicky Saunders:
Look at what we're doing. Shout out to people with pens. Oh my goodness. Shout out to people with the pens. Um, but real quick, real quick announcement. Tuesday's YouTube 8pm Eastern 7pm Central 5pm West Coast time. YouTube live every single Tuesday. Please go check us out all that great stuff and continue to follow us on all social media channels. Shout out to all our Instagram people. You got us to 2,000 followers. That was y'all. Appreciate it. Come holla at us on Facebook. Come holla at us at Twitter all that great stuff. We there, we there too. Come holla at us.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Check us out. Yeah.
Nicky Saunders:
So so so what are you going to invest in
Mostafa Ghonim:
Um, you know. There's a couple of things Moose? What are you gonna...I'm trying to get I'm trying to get the scoop people. I'm trying to get the scoop.I'm gonna try or y'all. Let's see what I can do. What are you goi g to invest in? Are we are we thinking about crypto? Are we g ing into more stocks? Are you g ing to have a venture thingy? What are you doing? Are you doi g ano happening. I think, definitely the immediate future. The immediate future is stocks and crypto.
Nicky Saunders:
Yay.
Mostafa Ghonim:
And then some other things down the line for sure that I think will include what you've mentioned cuz I think my heart is to build like a what I call socio economics, right? It's like this as like a people driven business. And the business is built on the people it serves. So it's like a very, it's a very, like personal drive that I have that I want to get back to. But immediately I'm like, Okay, you know what, there's opportunity in this space, because it's just one of those bases that everybody needs to have, regardless of where you're at. So I'm like, Okay, let's double down in this area. Keep doing what we're doing here. And then when the time comes for that, I'm sure you'll be a part of it. So it's not like you don't say like you're going anywhere. He said, Yeah, me.
Nicky Saunders:
That'd be me. That'd be me. See, I try to get the scoop. Of course, I didn't get all details. But I got something. Getting a little bit more of Moose people. I'm trying here. I'm trying to get like the spontaneous answers and everything like that, because I already understand this about our show. We really don't go over anything. Okay. Now, granted, no shade, no shade whatsoever. We're not as bad as as to as podcast that just jumps on. And then they randomly talk about a topic, right? And the only person who knows is C. Not not doing that or not that random, right? However, the real true like the details of what we're going to be talking about, that's never I'm already catching him in a spontaneous vibe. He's already spitting bar . So I'm like, Okay, if I'm i , get you in that mood. What abo t this? He'd be like now you pu hing it.
Mostafa Ghonim:
Gotta keep i protected. You know, gotta keep it pro
Nicky Saunders:
I tried people. I really did. I really did. But, um, that's Episode 29. Right? Man, we're already almost at 30 This is crazy
Mostafa Ghonim:
Almost at 30!
Nicky Saunders:
And I don't know if I announced it here. We made over 20,000 downloads of the podcast. That's huge shout ou to all our new listeners, old listeners, mediocre liste ers that kind of listen to us nce in a while. You may not eve be listening to this ending. Bu we love you all that great st ff, continue to leave us reviews and all that great stuff. Mo se, final wo
Mostafa Ghonim:
Yeah, just know that I think this episode serves as proof that regardless of w o you are, what you do, you c n have a seat at the table as lo g as you know, what you do. Ri ht, like Nas knows that he r ally what he what he's able to c ntribute is understanding what t e people need, right so that h has a seat at the table as a r sult of that. So you too can h ve a result that that you can h ve a seat at the table just by k owing what you have and what t e people need.
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