We were lucky to catch up with Jarieka Potts recently and have shared our conversation below.

JARIEKA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

The first risk I took was betting on myself. I started when I was 10 years old and I wanted to make some money for myself. I started in lawn maintenance with equipment from the house. Having only a lawnmower, I borrowed, an electric weed eater, electric hedge trimmer, electric blower, and drop cord from my God Father. With all of those items including a gas can, either in my hand or Tetrised on the push lawnmower I was pushing around the neighborhood to see who yards needed cut. I lived in a codasack, my first yard/client was my next door neighbor. From one, grew to four within a few days of consistently going out. I gave my number to my clients so that they could contact me if I was needed in between or scheduling of every 2 weeks. My God Father janitorial service, M&M Janitorial service was my part time job that I also do as well going with him helping to do light duties, pull trash, and sweep. Between working for myself and seeing how he ran his business I was hooked to not work for anyone and make my own money. When I reached the age of 24, my God Uncle helped me open my first legit business J&C Services LLC which was for janitorial and custodial services as well as landscaping.

JARIEKA, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

To know me is to learn you can do anything you put your mind to. Coming from a background that would be said the least, challenging to make it out of and become the serial entrepreneur I am today. The way I stepped into marketing and sales came from the prevailing of being a black man. When you’re back the first impression is all you have before you’re belittled with stereotypes. Starting well dressed, well groomed, well mannered, and well spoken, was just the basics growing up to prove that you are not an animal and deserve more than scrapes. Having a Father, God Father, and other great staple men, I learned from many angles like in the book, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, how to conduct business from the pulpit to towing cars. Over the years I’ve acquired many trades to add to my many God given talents, such as Culinary Advisor, Founder, Event Host, Marketing Specialist over a team with sub promoters and assistants, Massage Therapist, Bartender, Barista, Drummer, Political Campaign Field Manager for Hillary Clinton and Dan McCready, Gas Technician, and the list goes on. Being a natural problem solver, with clients, I bring the assurance of not just the understanding but the knowledge from experiencing and studied in each field I’ve represented. I’m most proud of seeing my hard work and devotion, using my talents take me from being a club promoter for the number one night life venue’s in Charlotte, NC to one of the Founders of a music video awards show. Doing so catapulted me into my current role of being the Director, Producer, and Host of a 106 & Park show. Currently at Dab Nation Top 10 Countdown we’re at the 8th episode, which will air on September 4th on Instagram at Dab Nation Top 10 Countdown Instagram page. The show includes, top 10 music video countdown from artist local and nationally, which may I add and proud of, that it’s completely fan generated for which videos make it to the top 10 countdown. Live interviews of socialites, and community leaders, live performances from the top 3 artist from the countdown, and a freestyle battle or cypher. When it comes to the main thing I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about my brand, my work, and me is that I welcome all. I’ve landed that a closed hand can never be filled.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is being busy means you’re being productive. The backstory comes from being from a time where if you weren’t busy or looking like it you weren’t handling your business. Through leaning “The Power of NOW”, a lot of things we do and generate in our minds has nothing to do with the Now. Proving you are someone from high school, college, sports team, church organization, relationships, and so on is not your Now. Learning how to be present in Today is a practice that has focused my attention to going forward and being persistent. No one is saying that a house and buggy isn’t a form a transportation but is it relevant to 2024?

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

This story has a lot of lessons in it and hopefully you see what help me to grow better in the pivot if it. Carolina Music Video Awards is a music video awards show I was a Founder of from the ground up. A event coordinator from Florida, by way of Atlanta came to Charlotte, NC not knowing many artist and people that was needed to pull off an awards show. Seeing that I was a top club promoter with over 5 clubs under my belt at the time I was promoting for that were doing great drew attention from many different business leaders. This lady and her vision stood out to me for the passion she had for the artist and the lane of not being like no one else. Yes we always had award shows in Charlotte but not one generated to magnify the craft for music and the illustration of it. From designing the logo, getting artist to submit their music videos, venue shopping, show itinerary, I put my creative juices to work. Our first show we had at a movie theater, in the largest movie viewing room they had. We sold out! Incorporated a fashion show and it was beautiful. After that we had over 90 artist and videos and with the show being once a month artist was now buzzing waiting to have more ways to showcase their music videos. Hence the 106 & Park show was birthed. When it came to our 3rd show, my business partner had found love with one of the artist and with that lifestyle comes a level of drama. The well of the show my business partner car gets stolen and she’s leveled with emotions and wants to cancel the show. I express that this is exactly why you have a business partner not to pat your feelings but to make sure that business gets handled. In the emotion of the situation she felt I should have canceled the shoe a tended to her feelings. We had a full show with artist and their fans anticipating it. I said, “the show must go on”. And it did, an amazing show that was successful and everyone was happy that I powered through and did. From that we saw the future for the show from different angles and we agreed to part ways with her getting the award show and I getting the 106 & Park show. There was never love lost, just business is business. Pivoting to doing it in my own has been challenging but here we are doing show number 8 and I’m thankful how that life situation didn’t take the joy of what was created.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @704Smellz
• Facebook: Rieko Potts
• Linkedin: Jarieka Potts
• Twitter: 704Smellz
• Youtube: DabNationTop10countdown
• Other: (704) 666-1710
  [email protected]