Inside Actor Tasha Smith’s Business Portfolio

Key Concepts

• Financial literacy and money management
• Credit card usage and building credit
• Personal growth and overcoming fear
• Resilience and pursuing dreams
• Importance of mentorship and community
• Directing and acting in the entertainment industry
• Leadership and creative authority
• Legacy and impact

Financial Advice and Money Management

• Best Advice: Learning how to properly use credit cards to build credit, rather than avoiding them altogether due to past debt. Tasha Smith realized that avoiding credit cards, while preventing debt accumulation, also hindered her ability to build good credit.
• Worst Advice: Cutting off all credit cards.
• Uber Regret: Tasha Smith expresses regret for not investing in Uber early on, highlighting a common fear of investing due to a lack of education.
• Financial Literacy Month: Jabari Young mentions Financial Literacy Month in April, emphasizing the importance of financial education.
• Debt in America: The conversation acknowledges that the US economic system operates on debt, making credit management crucial.

Personal Growth and Overcoming Fear

• Age 54: Tasha Smith describes feeling at her best at 54, more confident, aware, and comfortable in her own skin.
• Overcoming Fear: She contrasts her current state with a past filled with fear and self-doubt, emphasizing the wisdom gained through trials and tribulations.
• Turbulence Analogy: Tasha Smith shares an analogy about turbulence during flights, comparing it to life's challenges. She learned that turbulence is just a "bump in the road" and doesn't prevent reaching the destination.
• "Latter Days": She references the saying "your latter days will be greater than your beginning," reflecting her positive outlook on the future.

Career and Entertainment Industry

• "Survival of the Thickest" Season 2: Tasha Smith is promoting her role as a wealthy businesswoman in season 2 of "Survival of the Thickest." Her character is portrayed as financially successful and willing to invest in her friends' businesses.
• Businesswoman Role: She enjoys playing a businesswoman, contrasting it with stereotypical portrayals of Black women and highlighting the importance of representing financial success.
• Lifetime Project: Tasha Smith also stars in a Lifetime movie, "Desire Temptation Story," where she plays a talk show host.
• Directing Comfort: Tasha Smith discusses her growing comfort as a director, attributing it to her years of teaching acting at her school, Tasha Smith Acting Workshop (TSAW).
• Directing Style: She describes her directing style as motivating, loud, and inspiring, emphasizing collaboration and creating a welcoming environment on set.
• Budgeting in Directing: She stresses the importance of budgeting and efficiency in television directing, noting that going over time can be very costly. "20 minutes seven shots" example from Empire.
• Acting Preparation: As an actor, she emphasizes being on time, prepared, and mindful of the director's process.
• Camden Bridge Productions: Tasha Smith is investing in her production company, Camden Bridge, to develop and produce movies and scripts.

Tasha Smith Acting Workshop (TSAW)

• Teaching Experience: Tasha Smith's years of teaching acting have helped her become a more comfortable and effective director.
• TSAW Teachers: Mentions Lamar Latrell (from "Nerds"), Tiffany Black, Eric Rudo, Nate, Diva, and Darlene Woods as teachers at TSAW.
• Affordable Tuition: The school offers affordable tuition at $2.95 a month.
• Darlene Woods: Tasha Smith highlights her childhood friend, Darlene Woods, who manages her school and has been a long-time supporter.

Overcoming Adversity and Resilience

• Camden Background: Tasha Smith discusses her difficult upbringing in Camden, New Jersey, including dropping out of school in the ninth grade and working as a bartender at a strip club.
• Resilience: She emphasizes the importance of resilience, forgiving oneself, and looking forward to the future despite past mistakes and hardships.
• Dreaming Big: She recounts dreaming of being an actress in Hollywood and the support she received from her grandfather, who was also an actor.
• Tisha Campbell Story: She shares a humorous anecdote about inviting Tisha Campbell to her house, where a mouse incident occurred.
• Comedy Act Theater: Tisha Campbell took her to the Comedy Act Theater to see Martin Lawrence, which inspired her to pursue comedy.
• Mentorship: Joe Tori encouraged her to do stand-up comedy, and she met Eddie Griffin and Dave Chappelle during that time.
• Charles Dutton: Tasha Smith discusses her experience working as Charles Dutton's assistant and the mentorship he provided.

Mentorship and Community

• Charles Dutton's Influence: Charles Dutton instilled a strong work ethic and taught her about culture and integrity.
• Tyler Perry's Dream: Tasha Smith witnessed Tyler Perry's dream of building a studio come to fruition, emphasizing his hard work and faith.
• Dave Chappelle's Support: Dave Chappelle has been a supportive "big brother" and mentor to her.
• Importance of Friends: She values making her friends proud and being focused on her goals.

Leadership and Creative Authority

• Creative Authority: When asked about assessing creative authority as a Black woman in directing, Tasha Smith emphasizes owning who you are, being confident in your story, and being true to yourself.
• Authenticity: She doesn't believe in code-switching and emphasizes that creativity comes from truth.

Legacy and Impact

• Empire in One Word: Tasha Smith defines her empire in one word: "legacy."
• Legacy Definition: She wants to be remembered for inspiring and motivating others, rather than for fleeting moments of fame or clickbait.
• Impact on Others: She wants her presence to be a blessing and to help others pursue their dreams.

Rapid Fire Questions

• First Million: Made through acting.
• Million-Dollar Divorce: Spent a million dollars on an annulment in Los Angeles.
• Black Spending Power: Excited about the potential for Black Americans to do more with their money.
• International Investment: Would invest in South Africa due to its rich culture and her connection to the people there.
• Favorite Books:
  • Becoming a Person of Influence by John C. Maxwell
  • Developing the Leader Within You by John C. Maxwell
  • How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell
  • The Bible (for spiritual nourishment)
• Good vs. Great Director: Honesty, authenticity, and allowing your voice to be heard.

Conclusion

Tasha Smith's interview at NASDAQ provides a multifaceted view of her journey, from overcoming adversity in Camden to achieving success as an actress and director. She emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, personal growth, resilience, and mentorship. Her insights on leadership, creative authority, and leaving a positive legacy offer valuable lessons for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs. The interview highlights her commitment to authenticity, hard work, and inspiring others to pursue their dreams.