Brand Building: A 24-year-old entrepreneur tells us how he owns three Atlanta hotels and is a touring artist.
The Steve Harvey Morning Show
iHeartPodcasts
4.5 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 4 September 2025
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Isaiah Tatum.
A 24-year-old entrepreneur, touring artist, and hotel owner:
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview showcases Dr. Isaiah Tatum’s extraordinary journey from homelessness to becoming a venture capitalist, hotel developer, and touring saxophonist. It aims to inspire young entrepreneurs by highlighting the importance of faith, planning, mentorship, and financial literacy.
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Early Passion for Music
- Began playing saxophone at age 10.
- Influenced by legends like Kenny G, Curtis Mayfield, and Aretha Franklin.
- Practiced obsessively, leading to proficiency and touring opportunities.
- Maintains a strong connection to music despite business ventures.
“I couldn’t wait to get home and play… I practiced six hours a day.” — Isaiah Tatum
2. Entrepreneurial Drive & Financial Literacy
- Overcame homelessness and used that experience to fuel ambition.
- Became an equity investor in Jazz Pharmaceuticals at 18.
- Invested in real estate and hotel development with a focus on recession-proof models.
“I didn’t want to be an artist who had to stay on tour to maintain. I wanted to be financially free.” — Isaiah Tatum
3. Hotel Ownership & Strategy
- Owns two Candlewood Suites and an Embassy Suites in Georgia.
- Focuses on extended-stay models for consistent revenue.
- Emphasizes customer experience and operational efficiency.
“Even if they’re spending $160, make them feel like they’re spending $1 million.” — Isaiah Tatum
4. Mentorship & Education
- Studied finance and earned credentials from Wall Street Prep.
- Values mentorship from icons like Kenny G and Keith Worsham.
- Now mentors others and encourages financial literacy and self-confidence.
“Don’t look for who you are to fit in with everybody else… Elevate yourself.” — Isaiah Tatum
5. Vision & Future Endeavors
- Developing new properties in Tupelo, MS and Nashville, TN.
- Planning a Sweat Hotel concept and returning to music with a new album and tour.
- Driven by a daily mindset of growth and execution.
“Even though I’ve done really good, it’s about what I’m doing tomorrow.” — Isaiah Tatum
📌 Notable Quotes
- “Faith and a plan. A lot of people jump out there on faith. You better have a plan in your back pocket.” — Rushion McDonald
- “I fell in love with credentials… I wanted to maximize every opportunity.” — Isaiah Tatum
- “Let your results speak for themselves.” — Isaiah Tatum
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an IHeart podcast. |
| 0:04.1 | Hi, I'm Roshan McDonald. |
| 0:05.5 | I host this weekly money-making conversation Masterclass show. |
| 0:08.8 | The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone, and includes you. |
| 0:13.9 | It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and really start living your own. |
| 0:18.6 | If you want to be a guest on my show, Money Making Conversations Masterclass, |
| 0:22.3 | please visit that website, moneymakingconversations.com, and click the be a guest button. |
| 0:28.2 | If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer, a nonprofit, |
| 0:33.5 | I want you on my show. |
| 0:35.2 | Now let's get started. |
| 0:36.6 | My guest's hotel ownership includes two candlewood suites and an embassy suites. |
| 0:42.9 | He's a touring artist and venture capitalist. |
| 0:45.4 | That's three things. |
| 0:47.0 | He's one of the youngest individuals to ever receive an honorary doctorate, |
| 0:51.5 | as well as receiving an outstanding citizen award from the state of Georgia. That's five things. Please work with the money-making conversation master class, Dr. Isaiah Tatum. How you doing, Dr. Tatum? How you doing? I'm good, man. You see, lay back now. I've seen you out, man. Way more energy. You're not going to play it cool on my show here. I'm taking it easy. You can't take it easy, man, because you're inspiring, your inspiration. I appreciate it. I brought |
| 1:14.5 | you only here to tell your story. I appreciate it. And how old you right now? I'm 24. |
| 1:19.2 | 24 years old. Can you scroll that back down a minute, this 24-year-old brothers? |
| 1:23.8 | Did he say two candorwill sweets and an embassy suite. |
| 1:30.0 | He's a touring artist and a venture capitalist, and he's 24 years old. |
| 1:34.8 | Okay. |
| 1:36.3 | How? |
| 1:38.3 | I'm just going to throw that out, but we're going to get more detail. |
... |
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