Meet Nonie B. Mckinney | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nonie B. Mckinney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nonie B., is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite affirmation is…

“Everything that I’ve been seeking is now seeking me…”

I love this affirmation because we get so wrapped up in “chasing the dream” that we don’t realize anything you’re chasing is running from you. This affirmation brings you into the reality of “what I want also wants me”! It allows you to relax a little and be on the receiving end. Play with it to make it your own, “Everything that I am seeking is also seeking me”! Stay positive and stay present!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I was a child I was asked that big question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I responded, “A doctor, a lawyer, dancer, writer, actress…” The list goes on. Long story short, I couldn’t choose and it doesn’t help that I’m a Libra. I started working around the age of 15 and had many different odd jobs. By 17 years old I was working 3 jobs at a time. It was an experience you really can’t buy and though it was extremely hard at times, I’m so grateful for the lessons.

After realizing early on in my professional career that I really didn’t like being an employee, I circled back to that question I was asked as a child. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” With that being said, I still couldn’t choose so I started 5 businesses. Haha!

“Serial Entrepreneur”… A serial entrepreneur is a person that regularly starts new businesses through a series of their own consistent ideas. I love turning my ideas into reality as something tangible or interactive.

My first business was building myself into a brand. Around 18 years old I began working in the entertainment industry. My aunt would use me in her fashion shows and I got scouted to be an Urban Beauty hair model (aging myself). After that I would also get music video gigs and I’d start bringing my sisters and friends. One time I was walking around in Little Five Points and a casting director chose me to be in “Stomp The Yard.” That’s how random the blessings would be. I didn’t understand it then, but I had something special that I should capitalize on. I began gaining notoriety. I continued to work my 9-5 jobs as well as take gigs on set until I finished college.

In 2011, after graduating from Georgia State University I worked at V-103 Atlanta as a producer for The Greg Street Show 6pm-10pm. My branding continued. I loved radio, but it was truly just a stepping stone to my TV/Film career. I’ve been writing as a kid and always had a dream of making independent movies. After 3 years the door opened. On one random night while working on a radio event with Tyrese, he asked me and a colleague to meet him on set. He was on the set of Fast and Furious 7 and I left there with a job! That started my transition out of radio into film. It was a bit bumpy while I was learning the ropes of the business, but I bumped into so many people that needed media services like press kits, pitch decks, ghost writing, and more so I launched “Lala Land Media Services” in 2015. Everything was working in my favor and I was living the dream. People know my name and know my work. Of course freelance was hard work, but it wasn’t as hard as what I’d come through already.

Because I had such a troubled childhood, but beat the odds and was more or less “living the dream” I decided to give back to the community by starting my mentoring program, “Dream Life Academy”! It services over 1000 at risk youth and low income families throughout the year. We help with back to school giveaways as well as holiday events. We work with over 100 youth at camp each summer. I will say, don’t ever forget where you came from. This creates a balance in life. Don’t forget to put God first. Don’t forget your purpose is most important. Giving back opened up many more doors because right after this I landed an opportunity to move to L.A. to work on the daytime talk show, “The Real”.

Los Angeles was an eye opener for me. In Atlanta everyone was looking for a “sponsor” or “investor”, but I got a chance to see people put their own money up or build up their own connections and make things happen in the same way a major studio/company would. I felt empowered to make a move so I did just that. I was already living the dream with my entertainment career so I wanted to create something for my family. In 2017 I started my first family business, Singleton Xpress Transpo, an interstate trucking company. After trials and tribulations with being a new business owner and working with family I started to write about what I’d learned, sharing my knowledge. At that time in 2018 I started my own publishing company, “The Turning Page Publishing”, I’ve published two of my own books, the third one is on the way. I’ve also published two authors and have a book writing course called, “The Best Seller Bootcamp”.

Earlier that same year I started my spiritual store, Tenants of The Treehouse, paying homage to my magical New Orleans roots with candles and crystals, but also assimilating with the L.A. culture and offering CBD products. Check out the website – www.tenantsofthereehouse.com

And last, but most certainly not least, in 2020 during the height of the pandemic everything was shut down for a minute so I had to thing fast! Stocks and crypto were becoming very popular on my timeline. I jumped in and learned it. I built my portfolio to $30k over night and it hit $60k soon after. Where had this been all my life? Then I built a following teaching it to others. This sparked my newest baby, “Always Bet On Black” business and financial services. I’m currently working on my Series 6 and 7 license so that I can a have all the credentials needed.

I’m only 33 years old and I feel I’ve built my empire! I’m truly grateful and excited to see what’s next for me. I had so many plans before, but everything came out so much better than I expected. I can only thank God and my supporters. I’ve had so much internal conflict surrounding having so many interests and feeling I was “doing too much”. Now I understand why I had to get it done all at once. There is still more for me to do. At around 25 years old my sister Meekie bought a book that explained why you don’t have to choose just one path for a career or live just one lifestyle forever. Life is not short, it’s long and we should make the most it. We are all multi-faceted and shouldn’t pigeon-hole ourselves. Try something new. Learn something new. Remain a student to life and the industry you’re in.

Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t choose. Just make a move. Go slow. The rest will fall in place. All of my businesses give me life in some way. You have to follow what fulfills you. Don’t trip if your first few don’t stick or you have to close it and circle back or create another plan. The beauty is in the journey. The journey IS the destination. Trust the process.

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?
When a friend comes to town I’m usually “The Hostess with The Mostest”. For breakfast or brunch I would take them to Milk & Honey in Cascade or Bella Restaurant in East Point. After some good food and a few mimosas I would probably want a nap. Haha! But if my friends are ready we can walk it off or ride a bike at the belt line. It’s a two for one because there are usually vendors set up with a festival vibe so we can shop and sample products from local small businesses. After that we will need a quick intermission. But later that night we can have dinner and a move at iPic Atlanta or for a more upscale night we can hit Pasha for dinner. It turns into a lounge after. That’s just one day, a night Saturday.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my tribe who’s had my back from the start, from family and friends to mentors and colleagues. So many people saw greatness in me and kept telling me. My siblings have been my strongest inspiration. My sister Meekie has been my strongest cornerstone. Now she shares that honor with my husband Ken. I want to shoutout to my nieces, nephews, and my baby Naiya because they continue to show me “The Dream is Real!”… I love you all!

Website: www.tenantsofthetreehouse.com

Instagram: @wherethewildthingsgreaux

Image Credits
The cover photo with me in the red on the couch was taken by Peter Aguillard IV The photo with me in the white was taken by Orson Ellis