Forbes - Inside Actor Tasha Smith’s Business Portfolio
Tasha Smith shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting her resilience and growth from a difficult childhood in Camden to a successful career in Hollywood. She emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, recounting her initial fear of credit cards and the realization of their importance in building good credit. Smith also discusses her transition into directing, attributing her comfort and success in this role to her experience teaching acting, which helped her communicate effectively with actors. She stresses the importance of being prepared and decisive on set to manage time and budget efficiently. Smith's production company, Camden Bridge, focuses on developing scripts and projects that reflect her vision and values. She also runs an acting school, aiming to inspire and support aspiring actors. Smith's story is one of perseverance, self-belief, and the pursuit of dreams despite obstacles.
Key Points:
- Invest in financial literacy to overcome fear and make informed decisions.
- Embrace resilience and authenticity in personal and professional life.
- Preparation and decisiveness are crucial for effective time and budget management in directing.
- Building a supportive community and network is essential for growth and success.
- Pursue dreams with perseverance, regardless of past challenges.
Details:
1. ✈️ Embracing Turbulence: Navigating Life's Challenges
- Turbulence is an unavoidable part of life's journey, and it's critical to embrace it to reach your goals.
- Discomfort should not deter you from pursuing your destination; persistence is key.
- Developing resilience in the face of turbulence can lead to personal growth and achievement.
- Practical strategies, such as setting clear goals, maintaining a positive mindset, and seeking support from others, can aid in navigating turbulence effectively.
- For example, setting incremental milestones can make large goals seem more achievable and less daunting.
- Engaging in regular reflection helps to identify patterns in challenges, allowing for more informed decision-making in the future.
2. 🌟 Meet Tasha Smith: A Multi-talented Star
- Tasha Smith is celebrated for her exceptional garlic crab dish, showcasing her culinary talent.
- She is also recognized for her significant achievements in business, demonstrated by her feature at NASDAQ, a testament to her success and influence.
- Her guiding philosophy is to overcome fear to reach her goals, which is a driving force behind her diverse career accomplishments.
3. 🎭 Career Highlights and Financial Insights
- Tasha Smith is a multi-talented actor, director, and teacher known for her role as Angela Williams in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married."
- The segment features an introduction by Jabari Young at the NASDAQ Enterprise Zone, highlighting Tasha Smith's career and contributions to the entertainment industry.
- The conversation includes a personal touch with birthday wishes, emphasizing the positive rapport between the host and guest.
- Tasha Smith has expanded her career beyond acting into directing and teaching, showcasing her versatility in the entertainment field.
- Her work has not only been recognized in film and television but also in educational circles, where she mentors aspiring actors and directors.
- Tasha Smith's career is marked by significant roles in both film and television, contributing to her reputation as a respected figure in Hollywood.
4. 💳 Credit and Money Management Wisdom
- Investing early in companies like Uber can lead to significant financial gains; early awareness and proactive action are critical for success.
- A lack of financial education and fear often prevents individuals from capitalizing on high-potential investments, such as early-stage tech stocks including Microsoft and Apple.
- Improving financial literacy through education empowers individuals to make informed investment decisions and recognize lucrative opportunities.
- Engaging in regular financial discussions and seeking resources, such as financial workshops or online courses, can help individuals overcome investment fears and improve their understanding of financial markets.
5. ✨ Confidence and Growth at 54
- Twenty years ago, the speaker faced significant debt and decided to eliminate all credit card use for almost a decade to manage this situation.
- While avoiding credit cards helped prevent further debt, it hindered the speaker's ability to build a strong credit history, highlighting a downside to this financial strategy in a credit-driven economy.
- The speaker identified cutting off all credit cards as the worst financial advice they'd received, due to its negative impact on credit building.
- At 54, the speaker reflects on feeling their best and most confident, indicating substantial growth in their financial understanding and personal development over the years.
6. 🎶 The Soundtrack of Life in 2025
6.1. Self-Awareness and Comfort in Aging
6.2. Resilience and Overcoming Challenges
7. 📺 Thriving in Entertainment with 'Survival of the Thickest'
- Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper are pivotal in shaping the speaker's personal soundtrack for 2025, underscoring their substantial influence in the music industry.
- The speaker's intention to attend Terrace Martin's performance at the Blue Note in April demonstrates the strong appeal and anticipation for live events by influential artists.
- Live performances are a critical component of the entertainment industry, offering unique experiences that drive audience engagement and artist visibility.
- The personal anecdotes about missed opportunities and future plans enrich the narrative of how live music experiences are valued by audiences.
8. 🎬 The Dual Role: Actor and Director
- The series 'Survival of the Thest' features a financially successful black businesswoman, providing positive representation and challenging stereotypes.
- The character's line, 'I am a bank loan,' highlights her financial independence and capability to invest in others.
- The show is praised for its humor and emotional depth, making it both entertaining and meaningful.
- The character embodies boldness and fearlessness, serving as an inspiration.
- Comparison to Vivica Fox's role in 'Two Can Play That Game' underscores the importance of powerful images of successful black women.
- The interviewee is involved in diverse roles, as seen in the Lifetime project 'Desire Temptation Story.'
9. 🌍 From Camden to Hollywood: A Journey of Resilience
- Directing experience with Adrien Holmes highlighted the importance of selecting the right talent for impactful storytelling.
- Teaching acting significantly contributed to directorial confidence by enhancing communication skills with actors, reducing initial fears.
- Leading on set involves creating a welcoming, family-like environment, encouraging collaboration and valuing input from all crew members.
- Effective budgeting and time management are crucial in directing, as demonstrated by a scenario requiring 20 minutes for seven shots, emphasizing the cost of overruns.
- Specific challenges included managing tight schedules and budgets, requiring quick decision-making and adaptability.
- Personal growth was evident through overcoming initial directing fears and building confidence through teaching and practical experience.
- An anecdote highlighted a time when a creative solution was needed to shoot a difficult scene within budget constraints, showcasing adaptability and problem-solving skills.
10. 🎤 Stand-up Comedy and Influential Connections
- Directing taught the importance of being prepared and respectful of the production process, emphasizing punctuality and readiness to allow directors time to tell their story.
- Growing up in Camden, a city with high crime rates, instilled resilience and tenacity; overcoming this environment is considered a significant personal achievement.
- Recollection of childhood dreams highlights the importance of perseverance, with the speaker expressing gratitude for living their dream despite past challenges.
- Personal experiences and setbacks, such as dropping out of school and working in unfavorable conditions, are used as motivation to look forward and work hard.
- A chance encounter with Tisha Campbell led to opportunities in Los Angeles, illustrating the value of networking and seizing opportunities.
- Performing stand-up comedy, inspired by Martin Lawrence and encouraged by Joe Tori, became a platform for self-expression, leading to encounters with notable comedians like Eddie Griffin and Dave Chappelle.
- The narrative underscores the importance of community and mentorship in personal and professional growth.
11. 🎥 Mentorship and Career Development
- Charles Dutton served as a mentor, offering practical guidance and opening doors in the entertainment industry.
- The speaker performed various tasks as Dutton's assistant, such as cleaning and cooking, which were crucial in building trust and gaining valuable mentorship.
- Despite the close working relationship, the speaker still had to audition for acting roles, underscoring the importance of merit and earning opportunities.
- Participating in 'The Corner' marked a significant career milestone, transitioning from comedy to dramatic roles, facilitated by Dutton's mentorship.
- The mentorship instilled a strong work ethic and integrity, which significantly influenced the speaker's career trajectory as an actor, producer, and director.
- Specific skills learned included audition preparation and the importance of resilience, directly contributing to the speaker's success in securing diverse roles.
12. 💼 Building a Business and Personal Legacy
- Tyler Perry's journey exemplifies the power of having a clear and ambitious vision, demonstrated by his expansion from a modest studio to a formidable entertainment empire.
- Persistence and a strong work ethic are crucial, as evidenced by Perry's relentless dedication, which has been pivotal to his achievements.
- Faith and belief in one's vision are essential, highlighted by Perry's practice of praying and affirming over future projects, which helped realize his ambitions.
- Entrepreneurs can learn from Perry's commitment to self-belief and vision, underscoring the significance of these attributes in achieving business success.
13. 📝 Creating a Lasting Impact
- Tasha Smith is making strategic investments in both her personal development and her production company, Camden Bridge, by focusing on developing, writing, and producing movies.
- A significant initiative includes an affordable education program priced at $2.95/month, featuring renowned instructors such as Lamar Latrell, to expand access to quality education.
- Darlene Woods, the manager of this educational program, is fulfilling her childhood dream while supporting Tasha Smith's vision, demonstrating a commitment to empowerment and personal development.
- The overarching theme of Tasha Smith's efforts is the emphasis on 'legacy' over 'eternity,' prioritizing long-term impact and sustainable contributions over immediate gains.
14. 📚 Books that Inspire Leadership and Growth
14.1. Legacy and Impact
14.2. Financial Milestones
14.3. Economic Outlook and Investment Opportunities
14.4. Creative Leadership and Authenticity
14.5. Inspirational Reading
15. 🎬 Directing with Authenticity and Final Thoughts
- Leaders in directing, acting, and teaching benefit from developing leadership qualities, as highlighted by recommended readings from John C. Maxwell, stressing the nurturing of leadership in creative roles.
- Achieving greatness as a director involves maintaining honesty and authenticity, understanding one's unique voice, and resisting the urge to compare oneself to others.
- Personal individuality and a distinctive voice are crucial for success, rather than imitation, as demonstrated by the speaker's personal directing philosophy.
- An interest in cooking and experimenting with seasonings is shared, illustrating the speaker's approach to creativity and authenticity in both personal and professional life, highlighting how personal passions can inform and enrich one's professional practice.