Embark on an inspirational odyssey with Kenny, a web entrepreneur turned real estate virtuoso, as he lays bare the roadmap of his meteoric rise in the heart of the Big Apple. This episode is a treasure trove of business savvy, seasoned with Kenny's unique perspective on treating each property as a universe of its own, teeming with untapped potential. He candidly discusses the critical mindset shifts essential for battling the fear of failure, which have catapulted him into the limelight of his industry. Kenny's story is not just a narrative of success but a guide to the robust foundations of entrepreneurial spirit and the transformative power of operational know-how.
This intimate conversation also peels back the curtain on Kenny's vibrant Instagram life, where his handle @mrkennethj acts as a beacon for community engagement and knowledge exchange. Discover his secret sauce for creating an authentic digital presence that goes beyond mere aesthetics, fostering a space for learning and mutual growth. By sharing the tales of his ventures, including a pizzeria and a tax service, Kenny emphasizes the significance of giving back and the ripple effect it creates in the digital ecosystem. Tune in for a mesmerizing blend of real-world experience, digital wisdom, and the sheer tenacity it takes to leave an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Embark on an inspirational odyssey with Kenny, a web entrepreneur turned real estate virtuoso, as he lays bare the roadmap of his meteoric rise in the heart of the Big Apple. This episode is a treasure trove of business savvy, seasoned with Kenny's unique perspective on treating each property as a universe of its own, teeming with untapped potential. He candidly discusses the critical mindset shifts essential for battling the fear of failure, which have catapulted him into the limelight of his industry. Kenny's story is not just a narrative of success but a guide to the robust foundations of entrepreneurial spirit and the transformative power of operational know-how.
This intimate conversation also peels back the curtain on Kenny's vibrant Instagram life, where his handle @mrkennethj acts as a beacon for community engagement and knowledge exchange. Discover his secret sauce for creating an authentic digital presence that goes beyond mere aesthetics, fostering a space for learning and mutual growth. By sharing the tales of his ventures, including a pizzeria and a tax service, Kenny emphasizes the significance of giving back and the ripple effect it creates in the digital ecosystem. Tune in for a mesmerizing blend of real-world experience, digital wisdom, and the sheer tenacity it takes to leave an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial landscape.
What's going on, everyone? Welcome back to the innovators, then. I am formerly known as hashtag and I'm here with Steve all business and we have a special special guest today.
Speaker 2:
We got Kenny. What's up Kenny are?
Speaker 3:
we doing guys man, finally finally got to meet again, finally got to show up and to your guys podcast. I was looking forward to this a long time. I've seen you guys work. It's impressive.
Speaker 2:
No, no me, man means a lot coming from you. You've been doing a lot. You've been storming the way for a lot of us.
Speaker 1:
You've been leading even here close doors, you're actually talking to this podcast.
Speaker 2:
You know I'm saying so. It means a lot to have you on today to tell your story, because a lot of people don't know, want to know and they're gonna get the facts today. So you know, let's. Let's start back when you was like before it all started. Right, because a lot of people know you as entrepreneur, but where the stuff why you want it to be entrepreneur and you know you could start your story.
Speaker 3:
However, you know my story has a lot of ups and downs. I think a lot of people in my space tend to not highlight that. I think it's part of my story so I'm always highlighting probably a little bit too much. I could go as back as back as my first business. I think, I was about 18 years old, 18, 19 years old. This was before social media, way before social media. I had a business called inbox PC. Inbox PC was a website creating business this was before.
Speaker 3:
I don't even know what was around probably me hinted before then and I had a business partner that was the creator and that was like my first journey into self-employment. As far as business, I've always had a business mindset. I think my mind kind of works in a way where anything I see like I'm looking at this, this whole setup, I'm looking at how much each might cost, how much is the engineer cost, like the concept of business behind anything, it's art.
Speaker 3:
So it's it's. It's weird how it works. I can go to the circus and I'm trying to figure out how much does it cost to XYZ. I've always had that mindset and that's, I guess, was my initial start into business but that PC thing I was making websites for.
Speaker 2:
Who's making websites?
Speaker 3:
so funny story is I met this gentleman and he's like, look, I figure out how to do actual movie. I guess at the time websites were just like writing, like there was like a platform. And he's like, look, I noticed in called flash and we can create XYZ and it just shows like the logos popping out here and there is like more graphic. No one was doing that, yeah, and my business mind was like, okay, cool, let's just go tap into X, x businesses within our areas and we were doing pretty good money. Right, I actually started. I actually purchased my first property at 19 years old from the money I made with that business.
Speaker 3:
Looking back, that wasn't a business. It was never incorporated, was never anything right. It's just learning, we just is an idea. I didn't have it together I didn't have anyone to mentor mentor I probably did, but the idea of everyone now speaks of of LLCs and things of that nature that wasn't a conversation 20 years ago it wasn't right for our culture for at least for our culture.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, that's. That was my, my initiation into like business. Obviously, that had its run, did not work out, but it took me elsewhere. Well, a lot of people don't know and I tend to always be behind the scenes. So for many years I was in an operational role either for major corporations, which then led to my real estate management career. So that's actually where I was as a corporate level managed from high rises in Miami to luxury properties in New York City Tribeca, chelsea, soho. That was what I was doing for the last 10, 15 years, aside from still being behind the scenes on different other businesses.
Speaker 2:
Fast forward. You wanna fast forward, to fast forward to where you going, and we'll lead up to that. But though.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, so that was kind of like where I got. I was always behind the scenes on operational role and I always knew that eventually I would lead to some type of like 100% self employment.
Speaker 1:
So real quick. Has the experience in real estate like helped you like transition, Like cause you, now you understand the market so you're able to kind of like look for different things that you wouldn't if, like, you're a person that is not a?
Speaker 3:
person much so I can go into a real estate transaction and see things that I know 100%. Your realtor doesn't see or doesn't know, because I was behind the scenes. I managed the actual infrastructure.
Speaker 2:
You had to close it, everything, everything. You were on the writing and all that stuff.
Speaker 3:
Everything. So if you're in New York City and you deal with board of directors, there's an approval process. I was part of that approval process. So, yes, I have that insight, but, most importantly, I have the ability to manage and operate individual business, because each property is a corporation.
Speaker 2:
Pays taxes.
Speaker 3:
Yes, co-ops is corporation Pays taxes.
Speaker 1:
That's still a corporation. You do everything just like a regular business. Yeah, right, even has the board of directors.
Speaker 3:
Board of directors, everything. So essentially I was for 15 years. I managed or I ran up to 13, 14 companies.
Speaker 2:
I wanted yeah.
Speaker 3:
Right. So it's not. People see real estate, I see actual corporation. Yeah, you're looking at the books. You're looking at, I'm looking at the books, I'm looking at the budgets, taxes lawyers lawyers, employees, everything.
Speaker 1:
Bills that are passing, because not as a Bills Thanks sir.
Speaker 3:
Multi-million dollar construction. So I've always had an operational mind. I was just looking for the right opportunity and the right business, that it could be mine and I can just run it how I want to, and that's where we end up. 20,. That leads us up to like 2019.
Speaker 2:
Got it and that's when.
Speaker 3:
That's when, before I fully transitioned over to self-employment, I partnered up with now one of my business partners, a really close friend by the name of John Hernandez. I've known him for over 10 years. Same thing. He was kind of in my industry. He was a building engineer and he was also into the tax world by 2018, I was looking to transition or just obtain another source of income that it's relatable to me.
Speaker 3:
I can't sell you, I don't know how I can draw, but I know business. So I was looking for something that it's obtaining, with something that if you say Kenny's doing this is like okay, that's down his lane. That's what we know him for, and what he created in 2019 was a partnership where he provided all the tools to start your tax firm for a small percentage in return. At the time, because I was so busy in my career, it made sense we do a partnership. I give you a small percentage and I'll handle my business. I'm a sole operator. I handle, I market, I do everything my own. I'm just giving you a percentage. I don't have a problem partnering up with anyone that I feel have the same vision and brings value to whatever it is I'm doing, and that's what occurred At the time. I was doing both. I was real estate and I was taxes and so I got to the point where I grew my clientele and then was able to transition.
Speaker 2:
And what's up with the car rental stuff?
Speaker 3:
I know that should be fine Car rental was something that started as an idea, right? So you guys are business partners and you're friends, right? This is rare For everyone that's out there. This is rare when you have a friendship with someone that have the same vision. Right, right, business Tomorrow, because you're somewhat in the same.
Speaker 2:
We're safe with the same same.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, exactly and that's what I have. I have a good team around me that we kind of have the same vision. Building a business to us is effortlessly. Literally I can say something on the mic right now Monday, we have a business. That's how the car rental started, which was great. We had a good run A great run actually. But then you start time is the most valuable asset, right? So I start way I'm starting to weigh my time to what I'm actually Producing, and it was time to to transition and right now you're working on a rebrand right so Not necessarily a rebrand.
Speaker 3:
So what happens is that when the taxes thing took off, everyone Kenny taxes, kenny taxes, kenny taxes. That wasn't, that wasn't on purpose, it just happens right and really what I am is a business manager. Taxes is just part of the overall scheme yeah but I am Branding. Is that because a lot of people I Fouls being put in a box of just a tax preparer or tax professional, when I'm behind the scenes of a lot of brands, a lot of?
Speaker 2:
Behind the scenes of a multimillion dollar business. Exactly right.
Speaker 3:
I'm don't know exactly. So it's time to highlight that right, and it's time to let everyone know that there's opportunity within what I do, that if you have something going on and you just need that infrastructure that we talked about, yeah that's, that's my, that's my expertise, that's my forte.
Speaker 1:
When we need more people like you can you speak a little bit on that infrastructure, and I know you're also like you have several.
Speaker 3:
So, yeah, so I have. Besides, besides that, I am owner of what he's a Broadway, which is a staple, which is a staple in Washington Heights what he says, a peteria that was founded by one of my mentors, junior Lan Tigua, back in 2016. This gentleman also founded the first lounge indictment Restaurants all types of things, right, he's. He's an innovator, right, so, and I'm lucky to be surrounded by innovators John Hernandez, an innovator, right, and I know that's part of you know the podcast right, I'm lucky to be surrounded by these individuals. 2016. He created what he's a. I came on and Kind of tick the brand and and I Scaling it, making a national international. So I am owner and partner of what he's a, what he's a Broadway. It's located in Washington Heights. Washington Heights pizza we're known for the Jimmy pizza, the oxel pizza, authentic margarita pizzas, amongst other things.
Speaker 2:
It's like mixing Dominican cuisine with Italian.
Speaker 3:
That's exactly what. It is exactly what is.
Speaker 2:
And you guys, on top of that, you guys branded the name and the environment when people eat.
Speaker 3:
So it's so the logo and everything is like everything as you guys can see, if you follow me, I'm extremely detailed with with my branding and my, and that's why he's a what he says is incorporated home of the Jimmy pizza. The Jimmy pizza is incorporated is a trademark, it's, it belongs to not like your normal pizza shop.
Speaker 2:
No, walk into like you walk into a boutique Pizza, right? You know I'm saying so.
Speaker 3:
It's really dope that, that concept, what I'm doing with that and and my team and junior as well is is not just your regular peter it right?
Speaker 2:
and it could franchise.
Speaker 3:
Maybe it is a franchise, oh it is that's, that's the, that is what essentially I part of my mind Exactly so that's that's what it is. It's a franchise. We have a line of a list of potential new franchisees that we, you know, we interview and obviously, and this is also couldn't transition out of New York correct.
Speaker 3:
So I've I've been down to Miami, jersey. We have a Jersey location. We have a wasa ties location. Right now we're in the midst of another Jersey location. So it is, it is part of part of the overall brand, but it comes down to infrastructure.
Speaker 1:
Can you speak a little bit of, unlike what it would take to open up a franchise like what he's a oh, it depends.
Speaker 3:
So I could go, based on the deck, anything from 150,000 to 250,000. And that's just a regular-scaled peteria. If you go into the liquor license things of that nature, that gets a little complex depending on where you are. New Jersey is a little bit more New.
Speaker 3:
York is less, but that's more or less the average, obviously, with people like myself, a junior. When it comes to the actual franchise, you're getting over 30 years of experience on the restaurant and business level and you have my experience on the management and taxes and branding and aesthetics level. So it's a complete package, right? I have no problem. Some people want their own, they want their Steve peteria, right, I have no problem with brand, brand anything and bringing value to it. I have no problem. I have no ego. It's just you're doing good, you guys are doing good. Let me see what I could bring to the table Elevates your brand. I don't need to take the credit for it. I'm in the background. That's my thing.
Speaker 2:
Right, that's a blessing and we need more people like you in the community because we lack that. You know, we us growing up and when we was in the early nineties and you know, in the late eighties and nineties, we didn't have nobody to really guide us to do business at all. So right now, if there's a kid looking, what will you tell him? If he wanted to be to start to be an entrepreneur Somebody watching, like what will you tell them? As honest as I tell them.
Speaker 3:
Well, I tell myself, and I tell myself everything.
Speaker 2:
You tell yourself.
Speaker 3:
Don't be scared to lose. I think when that switch in my head of you lose it all I've lost it all Probably three times in my life, all Right, and what happens is that you lose and you want to get up real fast Sometimes stay down, stay down.
Speaker 1:
There's a reason why you're there.
Speaker 3:
Stay down, take a knee, don't get right back up, right. So once the switch in my head of the fear failure left, that's the difference you see in the last three to four years. That's why you see me in front of the camera more than behind the camera, because it gets to a point where who's going to say my story better than myself yeah. Who's going to sell my product better than myself? Yeah, I tell my team don't let me in the room, right? Don't ever let me in the room Is it true story.
Speaker 3:
Don't let me in the room because there's no fear of failing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, right.
Speaker 3:
I'm going to tell you something with the car rental company. We'll go get a car and get denied, or the deal won't go through, and two weeks later we'll get a better car, a better deal, a better interest rate. So it got to the point where I was looking forward for the failure.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, like that's an opportunity, that's it.
Speaker 3:
It's about to come and what that created was momentum, momentum, momentum. And that's another thing I tell my team is just like just create the momentum. I don't focus about the dollar, I don't focus about the, whatever it is, I just focus on the relationships and momentum. Keep it moving.
Speaker 1:
That's it. So if someone was building like a business from scratch, why would you say, like our three things that they need right now, like immediately to get started?
Speaker 3:
Like something. One thing is it has to be authentic to yourself. Right, Because a fashion brand or a t-shirt line came out doesn't mean that I have to do that.
Speaker 3:
If it's not authentic to me. You have to. It has to be authentic to yourself, because if you're making money, it doesn't mean that I'm going to make money, and that's a common thing. So you have to find something that's authentic to you, because even if it's not, you won't put your all to it. Eventually you'll get tired, you'll give up because it's not your calling, it's not your dream, it's not your passion. So the first thing I look is it is it something that it's true to me? Can I sell it for myself? Is it my authentic to it? That's number one. I don't compromise that at all. Second thing is you have to assess the market. Right. You have to assess the market. You have to see your reach, you have to see your network. You have to see I tend to go at businesses that are could sustain itself without my network, right, Sounds.
Speaker 3:
That's the way it goes, because you guys are my guys but everyone is busy. If I depend on you guys to come to my peteria, yeah it's tough and it's not it's like.
Speaker 3:
So I tend to certain things taxes everyone needs to do taxes. Everyone, the whole world, the whole US at some point have to do taxes. So these are things that I'm not dependent. It's just a product that is self right. So that's my thing. But the first thing I look at obviously the product. Can it, does it have a market for it? Is it true to myself? And then I start creating the infrastructure, which is the tax part. How you know that?
Speaker 2:
how to maximize.
Speaker 3:
So that's the main thing, and from that point on, it's consistency.
Speaker 1:
Are there any specific tools that you would say that the person should have?
Speaker 3:
As far as to start a business, yeah yeah, intuit or whatever else people use. Quick books.
Speaker 1:
Quick books, but even that it's still mindset.
Speaker 2:
That's too far ahead. That's too far ahead.
Speaker 3:
Find someone that you trust that's on the back end as far as like the taxes part and that part. Find someone you trust that's willing to give you information right, not just punching the work for you, and give you at least consult you on it, Consult you.
Speaker 3:
So when people ask me, what do you do? A lot of times I joke around. I say I'm in the information business. I just give information. You get it, I get it, I just share it. But that's important, that's how that's a lot of what I do. So it's not just you know you're my client, I give you information. I call you in July because I know there's a business opportunity in your field.
Speaker 2:
Right.
Speaker 3:
Right, that's the type of stuff.
Speaker 2:
The follow back is important.
Speaker 3:
Exactly, and it's just the relationship. So it's not necessarily the quick books and that stuff. Yes, learn that because that's important, but it comes down to having people around you that can provide that information. And don't be afraid to collab with people. Just don't because you guys have something I don't have, a skill or knowledge I don't have. Don't be scared to collab with people, ask questions, ask a million questions.
Speaker 2:
You know you've got to reach out and be yourself, because it's like you can reach out.
Speaker 1:
If you're scared to reach out, you're not going to go yourself Because when you were speaking you said don't be scared. It seems like that's almost every single episode that we have. That's almost like the theme. Everybody's like fear, right. One of the biggest things that's keeping us from success is really just being fearful of what might happen.
Speaker 3:
So, yeah, it's that I was. You know as much as I've always been self aware, right and independent. I'm an independent thinker. Right, always. You have you create doubt, right?
Speaker 2:
So I would think sometimes the strategist is trying to think about all the bad things and all the good things that's happening, to strategize around it right.
Speaker 3:
What if it works? What if it works out? Right?
Speaker 2:
That's it. What if?
Speaker 3:
So it's that, it's just don't be scared and I'm not saying that I'm not, I'm scared as shit. Yeah, yeah, right, I'm terrified, I'm terrified. Right, People ask you. You move too much. You're moving around. It's fear I'm operating out of. I have to keep moving. So I'm telling myself don't be scared. I'm not, you know. I'm not telling you to not be scared, I'm telling myself not to be scared.
Speaker 1:
But that's something that you have to tell yourself.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, you have to, every single day, so it's important, no, no.
Speaker 2:
That's dope. So is there any upcoming projects that you want to highlight that the people don't know, or anything you want to make sure?
Speaker 3:
No, just what he's up, what he's a Broadway, what he's does is expanding, expanding really fast.
Speaker 2:
We have the content is dope. By the way, it's like different. There ain't no pizzeria doing this Like you know what I mean Look, even that is collabs with that.
Speaker 3:
They're a collab with a fashion brand. We have another collab coming in with another fashion brand. That's not a normal pizzeria, right?
Speaker 2:
Right.
Speaker 3:
You know I'm behind the marketing.
Speaker 2:
Right, you know.
Speaker 3:
That CEO? Is that CEO, mark? That plan was me. I'm the guy behind doing all that type of stuff. It's my vision. So what he's up, what he's is, you know, aiming to open up at least two locations per year, possibly three. That's the projection. So you will see the markets full of pizzerias. You know Supreme clientele, that's the management firm. You'll start seeing. That's actually what you will start seeing soon is more of highlighting the brands and the businesses that I'm actually behind, you know, bringing that to the forefront of hey, the next, you know, rock nation, or the next, victor Victor or Steve Stow is running around right in front of you.
Speaker 2:
Right from uptown.
Speaker 3:
Right from uptown and you know as much as I like being behind the scenes and eventually you know there's a lot going on behind. When the camera is shut down, there's a lot going on.
Speaker 2:
That's dope man. It's a pleasure and an honor to have you.
Speaker 3:
No, my pleasure.
Speaker 2:
And I think you know you've been doing so much and we had to put you in the front now. You know what I'm saying and it's an honor to be able to do that you know and you've been inspiring. You've inspired us as well, you know. So we appreciate you and you know. I think that's a great thing. Using your you as a voice is gonna impact people who are looking, that might know you, not know you, but the goal is don't be scared, right don't be scared, man, and might impact somebody like closely, like your son or you know definitely, I am.
Speaker 3:
Another thing like you've been doing this with your I have kids, I have a family, I have everything.
Speaker 2:
Oh and people forget that that's life is real. You know, all of us, life happens and you know. And to push you know beyond like y'all, gotta keep doing this, not only for me but for my family, correct, and if they don't understand what you're doing, right and it's and it's tough and it's tough.
Speaker 3:
I think that sometimes you're you're stuck in in your own world and in this stuff and and you know there is a lot of sacrifices and things of that nature. But you know, I Rather go out trying to figure this out than just live life. What if?
Speaker 3:
you know down in a soho in their corner office is great and all, but I know I could impact more, I can help out more. Exactly, that's how we all know. That's a that's a phrase that I've been following my whole life right? So that's that's where it comes down. And then one thing to don't be scared, reach out, reach out. You see me, you see me. I might look extremely serious. I am not. I'm actually a super. I'm always joking, I'm always lighthearted, I am about my business.
Speaker 3:
I do not play about my business, but I'm also super approachable. Any questions, I'm always that's what I do honestly speaking, what can people find you? Oh, you can find me at MR Kenneth J. That's my Instagram. Mr Kenneth J. Why he's a Broadway, why he's a Broadway, is the pizzeria while he's just at what he says, also the other man and Kenny taxes, my other other page that's actually getting rebranded, but mainly a mr Ken J and then just reach out any questions.
Speaker 3:
I'm always here, you guys. You guys interact with me on DMs and look, if I don't have the information, I have a strong team that has the information and if I do have the information, then I'm. 99% of times I'm sharing it and that's that's all I ask. Just you know, share, share, pay it forward.
Speaker 2:
Thank you, kenny. Well, this is another amazing episode with a very special guest, kenny. We got formerly known as hashtag.
Speaker 1:
Yep, please make sure you like subscribe share.
Speaker 2:
And hit the like.
Speaker 3:
Button hit the hit the like button on top right make sure you follow and all that stuff.
Speaker 2:
So, um, thank you very much everybody. It's a wrap, please.