We had the good fortune of connecting with Devrin Batiste Sr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Devrin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was working at a chemical plant where we worked rotating 12 hour shifts. Some days 5 pm to 5 am and some days 5 am to 5 pm.

I remember when my son was about 3 years old and I’d leave out in the evening for work and he just cried and cried. It really hurt me because the doctor had told my wife and I that we would not be able able to have kids and then God blessed us with 6.

I started thinking that God has blessed us with kids and here I am leaving them to work for a company that don’t really care about my family life.

It was at that point that I realized it was time for me to start something for myself.

What should our readers know about your business?
I actually have two businesses that I run. The first is Batiste Fitness, formerly No Grind No Shine Fitness, and the second is Black Diamond FX Day Trading. I have been training since about 2012 when I stopped playing semi pro football. I have been a day trader for almost 5 years now and have been an educator for the past 2 years with Black Diamond FX.

Between the two, I invest more time with Black Diamond FX and have scaled back to only a handful of fitness clients. My kids have gotten a little older so now I am focusing most of my training with them for the sports that they play.

Starting Black Diamond FX wasn’t tough but I was a bit unsure about it at first. I initially had a lot of doubt about teaching others to trade since I had only been trading for 3 years. It was one of my good friends that really pushed me to teach others. I was in someone else’s group learning and I had learned quite a bit and was excelling at trading.

The funny thing is that even though the group was not mine, several of the members would come to me for advice about trading. Eventually that caused an issue with the person that owned the group and they ended up kicking me out. The members that I had helped, told me that I should start my own and that they would definitely support me and that is how Black Diamond FX started. Now two years later, I have helped students here in America, South America, Europe, and Africa.

I can honestly say that I really love trading and teaching others to trade as well.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly I’m not really a night owl but I am a foodie. Here in New Orleans we would definitely visit the French Quarter and grab some seafood at one of the restaurants there. Depending on the time of the year, we can go to either a New Orleans Saints game or a New Orleans Pelicans game. We could also get some shopping done on Canal Street.

One of my favorite places to go in New Orleans is the lakefront near the University of New Orleans. I often go there and just sit and relax. I also like going to a local coffee shop called PJ’s Coffee and work on some business matters.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes there are definitely 3 people that I really want to shoutout.

My best friend who is like an older brother to me, Tony Fisher. This man has been there for me through everything. All the ups and downs that I’ve been through and he’s also been a mentor to me in helping me to focus on God’s kingdom.

The next person is also a good friend of mine who was once one of my co workers. Her name is Raemeka Granger. Her life has been the ultimate inspiration in seeing what God can do for you.

And the last person is my wife Gabrielle. She has bad my back from the beginning. When I told her that I was thinking about leaving the job, she told me to pray about and let God lead me. She really wanted me to leave but she wanted it to be my decision. Of course she was excited when I resigned.

Website: https://blackdiamondtrading.godaddysites.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackdiamond_fx/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQCiE_BiKIiRSi1PXyhqaTg

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