Meet Robert Sherrill | Business Owner, Investor, Author, Mentor, and Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Sherrill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robert, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Nashville-born and raised. I had a more turbulent upbringing where I stayed in trouble and didn’t make the best decisions, but I do not regret anything in my past because it made me who I am.

I spent a large portion of my adolescent years on the streets raising myself, dealing and doing drugs, and getting in trouble. I dropped out of the 9th grade and ended up getting my GED while I was in juvenile custody. From there, I got into larger quantities of drugs and caught a federal case in my early twenties. And that was rock bottom from me.

I have been out of federal prison for 9 years and been in business for 8. I paid my dues, put in the time necessary, and took a chance on me. My past and hitting rock bottom showed me where I never wanted to end back up. I also tell people that even though I was hustling the wrong product, it taught me the art of hustle, grind, and business. I was able to turn what I learned on the street as a salesman and turn it into a profitable business where I am pushing a service that everyone needs – cleaning,

If I wasn’t the teen and young adult I was, I would not be the man I am now, I think that we focus so much resenting our mistakes instead of truly embracing the lessons that they give us.

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?
I own several businesses – Imperial Cleaning Systems, iStudio Nashville, and RCS Holdings.

Imperial Cleaning Systems (ICS) is one of the premier construction and commercial cleaning companies in the city of Nashville. We service buildings and clients across the state of Tennessee and have found a niche in construction cleaning and specialty floor services. Aside from that, we are a returning citizen friendly meaning that we give chances to individuals who have been written off due to past mistakes, records, etc. That has allowed us to establish ourselves as a go-to source for labor across the state and it creates an amazing internal culture for the company.

iStudio Nashville is an event and office space right outside of downtown Nashville. We opened in 2020 just 2 months before the pandemic started and have remained profitable, operational, and open the entire time. We are located in a great part of the city that has ample parking- a hot commodity in Nashville. This is the second space that I have opened like this in Nashville. The first one was the first black-owned co-working space in the state of Tennessee.

RCS Holdings is a real estate investment and holdings company that focuses on acquiring, retaining, and providing housing options to individuals in the Middle Tennessee area.

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?
I have reached an age where the nightlife is not as exciting as a good drink, great vibes, and good company. I belong to a couple of the members-only spots in Nashville. The atmosphere, food, and drinks are GREAT. It is a space where you can be amongst like-minded individuals, enjoy a nice cocktail, smoke a good cigar, and eat a nice meal. We would start at the Red Phone Booth-which is located downtown and go from there.

Nashville is known for Broadway but we have a lot of hidden gems around the city. There is a good time for everyone in the city. YOu just have to know what you want to get into.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout those people who believe in redemption and judge me based on my character and not on my past. Thank you for always supporting, cheering, championing, and rallying behind me. This is just the beginning.

I also want to thank those people who see my story and think ‘why him’?!? Your constant doubt is motivation and fuel for my fire!

Website: www.robertcsherrill.com

Instagram: instagram.com/robertcsherrill

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/robertcsherrill

Twitter: twitter.com/rcsherrill19

Facebook: facebook.com/robertcsherrill