We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ernest Moss a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ernest, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
What’s the formula mentoring academy serves the teenagers that according to social norms, are classified as undesirables. The teenagers who are getting in trouble at school and have anger issues etc. Most are in single parent households and often times are on the edge of poverty. They don’t believe in college, are not qualified to go to the military and don’t have a laborious work ethic. So what do they do? Most escape reality through digital platforms; gaming, social media etc. The parents are up in arms because they just can’t understand how to connect to their child and the teen doesn’t make it any easier because they are quick to lash out or shut down and hide in the digital world where they find peace and friendship. What most parents don’t understand is that according to a study by the CDC, the #1 issue that teens reported is that they are lonely. I know right! With all of the devices and gaming etc, they still feel lonely. Why? Because they are at school most of their day and they don’t connect with their peers and they come home to judgmental parents.
The advice that I give to all parents is to please stop comparing our upbringing to your Childs. We parents did our best to ensure that they never have to go without or struggle, yet we criticize them for not being able to struggle or survive. HELLO! We made sure that they didn’t have to go through what we did as children and we still say statements like, ‘If I had it like you do, I would do this…’ or ‘Back in my day…’ Stop doing this! Your teen sees this as bullying because you are basically stating that they are not good enough.
My curriculum is designed to assist with this matter. We value the Zoomers (GenZs) and we have the formulas that will allow them to tap into their greatness and correct some of the rebelling ways that they have adopted as a defense mechanism.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Founded with the vision to empower the next generation of leaders, “What’s the Formula Mentoring Academy LLC” began as a grassroots movement to address the growing disconnect between what teenagers were learning in traditional school settings and the skills they need to thrive in the real world of entrepreneurship. We are not anti school, yet we understand that they school system is not designed to serve all of our children and we aim to provide an alternative to those that traditionally can end up going down a rough road of reality.
We operate in the educational services industry, with a special focus on the mentoring and development of teenagers who are not interested in college or the military. Our craft is a blend of structured learning, personal growth, and skill development, tailored to prepare young minds for the complexities of adulthood. This is the greatest generation with the most upside. They literally have the world in the palm of their hands and with the proper guidance, can do anything that they desire.
Our Approach: M.I.G.O.S
Motivation: We inspire and encourage individuals to take action towards achieving their goals.
Instruction: We provide knowledge and skills needed for personal and professional growth.
Guidance: We offer advice, support, and feedback to help navigate challenges.
Ongoing
Support: We ensure continuous assistance for long-term success. We foster a supportive and inclusive community, creating a nurturing environment where individuals can thrive, learn, and grow. Our mission is rooted in the belief that mentorship is a catalyst for personal and professional development.
Our Solutions:
We understand that every teenager is unique and they face different challenges than the previous generations. Our programs are designed to help them:
Build confidence and self-esteem.
Navigate the pressures of academic and social life.
Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Explore and prepare for future careers.
Foster creativity and cultural awareness.
Manage stress and cultivate mental resilience.
What sets us apart is our commitment to a personalized approach. We believe there is no single “formula” for success, so our programs are flexible, allowing for the individuality of each teenager to guide their learning and growth. We also emphasize real-world experience, offering ample opportunities for internships and community engagement. Our coaches create individual profiles for each of our mentees and they are assigned a coach and a group of liked minded teens.
We are most proud of our robust mentorship network, a testament to the strength of community engagement. Our mentors, drawn from various walks of life, volunteer their time and wisdom, becoming role models and guiding lights for our students. We have multiple business graduates, teachers and even a Marine as coaches and mentors for these young men.
To our future clients and their families, we want you to know that at What’s the Formula Mentoring Academy LLC, you’re not just another student; you’re part of a nurturing ecosystem dedicated to helping you discover and create your own formula for success. To our followers and fans, we promise to continue innovating and expanding our reach so that every teenager has the opportunity to benefit from our programs. We guarantee success!
Have you ever had to pivot?
In the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, I was driven by finances. I learned that I don’t enjoy charging my people for my services because most of the teens that I serve come from poverty stricken families who can’t afford my services, so I created a Not For Profit company that allows me to serve all of the broken blades. I want the less fortunate and the ones that most shun and push away. I was taught to charge a high ticket for my services and my services are worthy of a high ticket cost, but it didn’t sit well with my soul. I know that my mom wouldn’t have been able to afford $3000 for a program for me when I was a teenager, so I did a pivot and created my not for profit. I will rather jump through the government hurdles and pursue grants and donations to serve my mentees.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I am an inspirational speaker and all that have heard me speak, say that they feel my authentic message and true passion to help these young lions. My live sessions, my free speeches at Saint Vincent Depaul, etc. The message and passion has the same impact on all that hear me speak, because this is REAL LIFE for me. I live my message and walk in that. I don’t lie and I am a straight shooter. My words are from the Most High and God has his hands on me, so I cannot fail.
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