Why Your Biggest Gambles Must Always Be On Yourself (with Kandi Burruss)

25:03And so I'm just going to check, check and check. Well, that's not how all women operate. Yeah, no, I've always been like that. And actually, my husband, he's the one that's gay. Can you read over that? Because I know you're going to make sure it's right. Or even with some of the business people, except for my lawyer, they'll send stuff to me. And I'm like, yeah, you know, that's not correct. You need to fix that. Or, you know, the wording on this is, and I'm very anal. Even though I wasn't a woman who, I never went to school for this, but I'm definitely like, yeah, that's incorrect. And you, you know, why do you have, and I'm so petty.

25:42I'm like, why you got an extra comma here? That's not right. No, you're not. No, you're not. If it's a contract or something That's just attention to detail Yeah like on my tweets I'm going to talk crazy And any What do I say? Bionics I'm doing all that But when it comes to this contract What? That's not right Ticked and tied Yeah no Ticked and tied What do you think? And I sign all my checks I don't have anybody 100 ,000 % Yeah I remember watching Oprah When I was younger And she was killing stuff Do you remember? Yes that's why I did it too I was a power of attorney What? Like never I'm signing every check Every check Exactly.

26:16Yes, thank you. That's the one thing that drives me crazy about being in a group versus doing things on my own. Oh, because there needs to be consensus in the group. Yeah. Well, in the group, you know, I'm trying to be a team player. So I'm, you know, letting them make decisions or kind of go. I'm trying to go with the flow as a grown woman. Don't really feel like your personality having known you for 35 minutes. I've been doing so much better in this stage of my life because when I was younger, they would be like, you know, you know, oh, she's got to be the bitch. No, but I'm going to make sure it's right.

26:55They can play with us. How did you get that mindset? Like, do you just think? My mother. My mother is very, well, they see it on TV. You know, my mama don't play. My mama does not play. We know. But, you know. She is not playing at all. As a young person, she always used to be like, don't put all your eggs in one basket and all this stuff. And because I had started my career at a young age and started making money, not a lot at first with the group, but making money, though, at a young age, it was always this concern of I did not want to be the one hit wonder or the artist that is old. And they were like, they had all this money or whatever when they was a kid.

27:35And now they, you know, old and broke. I did not want to be that person. Coming from a place of fear of being broke or like. Fear of being broke. I had a fear of being. Do you still have a fear of being broke? Still. Well, I feel like I've set myself up at this point in life that I'm definitely going to be comfortable from this day for my family. My inner household is going to be comfortable no matter what. because of the way the things that I put in place. How good does it feel to say that? Doesn't that feel so liberating to you to say like, my inner family will be comfortable no matter what because of you?

28:17Oh, it feels great. But I feel like there were times where people don't have the expectations from their females. Does that make sense? Yes. Where they feel like, oh, well, I had a son. He'd be doing this and doing that. I'm like, well, I'm a daughter and I'm doing a whole lot. You know what I mean? But I just feel like at the end of the day, as a woman and, you know, you get everybody is always want to make a comparison about relationships, obviously, you know, oh, who is making the most money and all this other kind of stuff. You know, I love my husband. You know, my husband is very, he's, he pushes me and he's, his mind is like very, he's an extremely great businessman and extremely creative mind, you know?

29:08Obviously I've been financially successful for a very long time. So, you know, of course I'm, you know, I've made more and that's okay. People have a lot of, have a major problem with it. They have a lot of opinions about that. A lot of opinions. A lot of opinions about that. But it works for us. So when I say this, I'm not taking anything away from the things that my husband is doing. Well, we can't all sit here and talk about female empowerment and then get mad when a woman earns more than her partner. The two things are not congruent. They don't work. Yes. Do you remember the first time you made real money and how that felt?

29:43So as a teenager, it was just my goal to see$100 ,000 in my bank account. We all love those numbers. I love it. Yeah, you know, we have a number. $100 ,000. I had saved. I didn't buy nothing. Everybody else in my group was buying cars. Really? Is that what you did? You saved? You didn't buy nothing? Yes. Oh, see, I'm such a squanderbird. I was still driving my mama's old car. No. Yes. Really? I'm that girl. I firmly believe. See, the thing is, what I was telling you about being afraid of being broke. I read a lot of financial books as a teenager. You did? Yes. So they say, in order to be a millionaire, stay a millionaire, that you have to live below your means.

30:24Yes, you do. Okay. They are right. I was living below my means and I saved until I saw the$100 ,000. And I was like, okay, I guess I can get a car and I'm going to build up my credit. So I didn't want to pay it off at once. I put so much down and I made my payments. Yes. I used to, not anymore. I feel like I was better with money then. But I used to back then before everybody was like doing it on their apps and stuff. I used to balance my checkbook to the penny as a teenager. Yes, I understand that. I have always been so, even to this day, I tell everyone, it's like, I know the cost of a pint of milk.

31:04I know the cost of bread. I know what everything is. And I know how much is going in and how much is going out. And that will never leave me because that's just how I was raised. Yes. And that's one of the reasons that - Well, I don't know. And that's why I say I'm not as good with money now because now I spend a lot of money. But it's because - Yeah, but you have more money. Yeah, I got more money. And I know I have, like, you know you have your nest egg that you don't touch? Hopefully. Oh, no. You're not touching? No. Do you consider yourself now as someone then who is good with money? Like, if you, like, I'm just trying to understand, because I think when you come from not very much and you make a lot of money, like, your relationship changes to money all the way along.

31:45Like, do you still feel, like, I know you still have the fear, but you've obviously grown around like how you think about money. Yeah. You're more relaxed with like how you spend it now. I'm very much relaxed how I'm spending it right now. And I was just saying, I need to dig on, pull the reins because I've been spending too much lately. But I spent, when my spending is not buying frivolous things like buying a new car or buying a house, well, not unless it's an investment property. Like I don't just buy that type of stuff. I invest in more things for my business. But right now my daughter is about to do her career.

32:19I'm investing in her and setting her up properly or a group. I'm working with a girl group now. So spending money on them to help them develop, you know. But it's like speculate to accumulate. You're actually investing in things in your career, in your child, in your businesses. Yeah. Yeah. But I spend a lot. What is your relationship like with your kids and money? What do you mean you gamble? I'm a gambler. I gamble on my ideas. so I'll take a big gamble if I want to see something work you know what I mean I gamble at the casino too but only if I'm on vacation yeah I love that I really love that about you alright so first of all you get to the point where you win this Grammy Award which is so unbelievable and coming like from your background all the work that you've put in that was like obviously a massive achievement and then you end up on the real Housewives of Atlanta and I just need to understand like that jump in your life.

33:15That was crazy. Okay, so basically, you know, I had got comfortable with being behind the scenes. Then Tiny hit me up. She had this bright idea of this talk show she was trying to do that she wanted to put together. She's creative too, but she loves to lean in on me for stuff like execution or whatever. Make it happen. Yeah, she's one of those. So, Candy, I was thinking about this idea. Dad, I want you to come. You know, so she had this great idea doing this show. So it was me, her. It was Toya, which is Toya Johnson now. She's our friend. And then another young lady named Joy. Four of us, they had already started on the talk show they were trying to do.

34:00And they had already was working with James DuPose, who's a big producer. Anyway, in the midst of doing that, it was somebody had an interest in the show that we were putting together. And my friend, Derek J., who's a hairstylist, and he had appeared on Housewives with the first season. He had come to me. He was like, girl, so they looking for new Housewives for season two. He was like, I think you should be on the show. And I was like, oh, no, I'm busy. I'm doing something. Had you seen the show? I watched the first season. I thought it was funny, but I didn't see myself on it. So I was like, yeah, I'm doing something.

34:33And so then he was like, well, I'm going to tell them to call you anyway because they need somebody with their own money. And I said, that's what he said. Those are his exact words. And I was like, yeah, yeah, whatever. So literally, like maybe a week or a couple of weeks after, the people that were working, that were signing the show, well, actually, I can say it now. It was BET. BET was going to do the show, but they decided to just use Tiny and Toya. Right. And so myself and the young lady I said was a part of it. They no longer wanted us to be a part of it. And so I was just like, I was disappointed, but I was just like, all right, it's cool.

35:11And is that just like the normal ebbs and flows of being in entertainment? You didn't take that personally. I didn't take it personally. You were like, it's not for me. You know, they're still my friends. I wanted Tiny to still win. And she was the one who introduced it to me anyway. Fair enough. So I was just like, okay, well, that's fine. But the thing about it, the reason why I brought her up is because she made me open-minded and excited about the idea of possibly doing something on TV. And then a week after they told me they didn't want to use me, the people from Housewives called me and asked me, could they interview me for the show?

35:44And I was like, all right. So you're kind of open at this point. I was open. See, if it wasn't for doing the other thing, I wouldn't have been open to it. Yes, I get that. But when they called me, I was like, OK, cool. You know, take a meeting. I'll take the meeting or whatever. And I thought it was just going to be something I did for fun for a year. I had no clue That that was going to turn into something Like me being on a show for 14 seasons And all the other spinoffs that came from it I was Who knew that my life was about to change at the time But I guess you just have to be open You have to be open I mean Housewives has come with So many unbelievable benefits I think for you But for everyone who's gone through that show But there's like the highs of it And there's like the low The scrutiny that the Housewives get is kind of unimaginable, right?

36:34Like we, I feel like I know all the housewives. I tell everyone housewives is my guilty pleasure. I've watched Beverly Hills, Atlanta, and New York, probably every episode. It's like, I love it. And I watched it from early days, like early NeNeU days. I was obsessed. But what have the downsides been versus the upsides? Like, do you look at it like that and go, it's bought you so much. Yeah. It has brought a lot. So what I will say, the benefit of Housewives is and Bravo overall, it's a fan base that comes with it that is like no other. Yes. You know. Loyal. Loyal. We've been watching that like our whole lives.

37:15Bravo fans are like no other fans. You know what I mean? And so the support that you get from the show. Now, when they don't like you, the hate can be brutal. they're going to tell you too. Yeah, that could be brutal. They think they have a right to tell you too. Yeah. See, the thing is, that was crazy. Like, I thought because I had been in a music group and we had already been in the public eye, I didn't think it was really going to change my life like that. But I did not realize that it just gave a whole second wind to everything I've been doing. Like, it took it to the next level, I guess. Like, it surpasses music.

37:55You know what? and I'm going to say this and people may or may not agree. I feel like reality fans are way more supportive and feel more connected to you than music and TV fans. I mean, now you can go somewhere. or a reality TV star, but I could understand that because you feel more of a sense of, I don't want to say ownership. That's the wrong word, but the familiarity, it feels really real. Like I feel like I know you and I don't know you. Like I feel that. Yeah, but you know my family. I feel like I know your mom. I feel like I know your daughter. I feel like I know something about your relationship.

38:28Like that's the real thing. The people I work with. Yes, we feel that. Yeah. So it's a different connection. So with that, a lot of great things have happened. And on top of it, I met my husband doing the show. Now, did I have a couple of things that went left on that show? One or two. But did it outweigh the good stuff? Like when you look back with the hindsight, because now you've left the show after like so many years, you look back and you feel like net positive or like I could have said that. Net positive. I would say anytime net positive. And the reason why I say that is because, like I said, I met my husband on that show.

39:02And the support of the fans that I gained while doing that show, I cannot complain. You cannot complain. I cannot. Did you ever feel like, because obviously you were there for so long, you see so many housewives come and go. And I mean, like across the franchise as well. Longest running straight 14 seasons. I mean, I love that for you. She said, hands up. That would be me. That would be me. Because everybody else, and most people haven't made it to number, but even if they do say they come to that number now, they never do the straight. They all, the rest of them took a break. Well, you were a fan favorite, and I feel like so much of that was your vulnerability, right?

39:37Because you went all in. Like, we knew the good, the bad, the ugly, all the things that were happening. Did you ever feel like a sense of like, I can't leave this. Like, it's too good. Like, almost like that golden handcuff kind of feeling. Yeah, it was definitely a hard decision to make. The reason being is because, you know, when you do something for that long, it's like becomes a part of you and what you are used to. So it's like it's life changing to say, you know what? I'm not going to do it anymore. You know, so that was the hard decision. Plus the money was good. I'm not going to lie. It's that.

40:16Yeah. That guarantee check. Yeah. It's a difference. I know I'm still going to make money, but it's like it's a difference. You know, all I got to do is show up to the set and I'm, you know what I mean? One thousand. And that it's additive to so much of the rest of your business stuff because there's a guaranteed amount of coverage. There's a guaranteed amount of visibility. Like it's built in, right? It comes with the territory. What is it like watching from the sidelines now? It's like I don't. Do I have a fear of missing out? No. No? No FOMO for you? No FOMO for me. And the funny thing is, Cynthia told me that I probably would feel it once the show started.

40:50And I don't. And I think really the reason probably why is because I've been doing so much with Othello. And yeah, so I don't feel like I missed a thing. Like while they were filming last summer, I was on tour with Escape and SWV and we had our big, we was killing it. So I had a great time.

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43:13did you set up a bunch of things knowing you were coming out of the show you're like I've got to keep my relevancy I've got to keep myself busy yes for sure so coming when I had made the decision to leave I already knew that Othello was going to be happening I already knew that the well that's the conversations about the tour was already happening as well so I knew that I was going to have that. You're booked and busy. Well, I already knew I was going to be doing something. Yes. But so, yeah. Because it's really difficult to leave if you don't have something going on, right? I mean, let's be fair.

43:46Would you have left in a quiet time and like maybe, I mean, again, because all that time on that show, you could have been like, I'm going to take a year off. Never. I wouldn't have never did it. Even if I didn't have those things, I would have already been putting things in place. like certain things, even when there's nothing going on, I'm going to make something. Like me and my husband, we've shot two movies in the past few months that we're going to release soon. So it's going to be the thing about I always tell people I'm always working on my next move while I'm in my current move. Oh, but that's a big deal.

44:25That is a very big deal. And I feel Like it's one of the key attributes of an entrepreneur. Like you're always cooking. It's a bit like, you know, I just feel like that is the number one thing that you have to do. You always have to keep moving and keep creating and keep figuring out like what's next, what's next. So I remember when I said that I felt like my group, we kind of took for granted the success, right? So in the beginning, we had our songs was to the point where you couldn't turn on urban radio without it being on one station. And sometimes we'd be like, oh, change the station. Right.

44:58But when our group had split up and it was, you know, I started writing songs for people, but it was like a period of time where the songs weren't out yet. It was like the in-between time where I just I didn't know where my career was going to be. I know what was going to happen for me. And I was really kind of like stressed because I get stressed if I don't know what's going to happen next. Right. And I remember the songs wasn't playing on the radio as much. It wasn't like to the point where, you know, oh, every time I turn on the radio, they're playing an escape record anymore. And so I started feeling like, okay, panicking.

45:33And I said, if I ever get my career back to where it once was, I'm never going to take it for granted again. And have you never? Never. You never, I never be, I never sit there and like, I don't believe my own hype. Because I know for a fact, like when I see people, they have, you know, they popping right now. They think that moment is going to last forever. And it does not. It never does. By next year, people are going to be sitting there looking and like, okay, well. Especially now in today's culture, because things move too much. Do you feel like you crave the limelight or do you crave the creativity?

46:13Or is it a mixture of both somehow? I crave the accomplishments. I'm an accomplishment person. How do you stack up your accomplishments? Like what to you feels like, I mean, obviously a fellow, right? It's like when you get an award and you're standing on a stage with something. But how do you measure your accomplishments these days? I just like to be able to say, okay, I was the first to do this. So I'm going in history. That's why I want to have the EGOT so bad. I love that you say that out loud. That's a big thing to send yourself up for. You speak things into existence. You speak them. Just I have been saying that for years.

46:51Let me tell you, years. And I know people probably looked at me like, yeah, OK, whatever. But that year when we did a piano lesson, I had I was nominated for an Emmy and a Tony at the same time. And that's when I knew it's real, even though I didn't get it that year. I was like, it's real because it's all about the work you put in and what you put your energy to. And if you can see the thought, you can make it happen. I'm telling you. So it was like for everybody who doubted that that was possible for me, it became very possible in that moment. And I'm going to keep chasing it until I get it. But what I line up.

47:27OK, so I was the first black woman to get songwriter of the year for ASCAP, which that is one of my tops. Having a Grammy for a song of the year. that's a major thing to be the first woman to win Mad Singer. I love that one. I love that one too. You know, to be the longest running housewife, no matter how you put it, there's a lot of them that may come and go. It's going to be a long time to say they did 14 years straight with no breaks. You know what I mean? No one. I mean, no one. And I do look at that as an achievement because, I mean, I look at you and I think you are, you've become known and someone who's synonymous for collecting their checks, right?

48:10Because while you've been doing Housewives, it's not like you've just been doing Housewives. You have the restaurant business. You have a range of sex toys. You've got the theater. You've got all the things that have been going on in the background. So it's like you never essentially rested. Like you never just did Housewives. You were always building. You're a real entrepreneur. How hard is that thing? Too hard. I mean, it's stressful. Especially so many. That restaurant business is a doozy. It's a doozy. It's a doozy. I have to tell you, my dream, like in my heart, I see myself like, I'm a cook, I'm a chef.

48:49I love it. And every now and again, I'll say to my husband, I'm like, I should open a restaurant. And he's like, no, you don't. No, you absolutely don't. It is so stressful. Don't do it. It is. It's a hard business as well. It's extremely hard because it's not about if you are good at what you do. It's about the entire infrastructure and team. And it's a lot of turnover. Is that the hardest business that you've been a part of, the restaurant business? I would give it number one, for sure. For sure. Has it been worth it, Candy? I feel like when your voice goes like that. I mean, everything is not about the money.

49:25Yes, we've definitely not. We've done great numbers, but it was a great while we were doing it like full steam ahead because, yeah, I mean, it gave us a place where the fans could come. And then it's also, you know, more of a connection that way. Yes. When you have a place where your fans could come and they can actually see you there. Yes. You know, that's fun. And then, you know, the TV show that came from it and all of those things. And then my family was a part of it. And it gave us something fun and cool to do. And that must be so lovely when you can involve them in your success. Yeah. Yeah.

50:00And hard too, because working with family ain't easy. Yeah. But I think after the pandemic happened, it's just the restaurant business became super hard. Yeah. Yeah. And for so many people, not just for you. I want to talk to you about money because I read that you are self-funding a lot of your businesses. How do you find that? And I guess my question is, given who you are and probably your ability to go out and raise money if you needed to, you've chosen to self-fund a lot of what you've done. It's not that. I feel like because I, and I have to just say, because I did not go to school for this, I don't know that way.

50:43I only know that, okay, I got an idea. I got some money. Let me figure it out and make it happen. No one's ever come to you and been like, let me, let me do this thing with you. I have a hard thing. I have a trust issue too. I know. Yeah. And I'm just going to be honest. I wouldn't even know how to set that up, you know? And so that's why when a lot of people ask me questions, I feel like I am learning as I'm doing. I'm definitely a person learning on the job, you know? So it's like, yes, I've been able to accomplish a lot in a lot of different areas, but it's mainly by trial and error. It's not because I knew what I was doing when I did it.

51:21You know what I'm saying? Did you make a bunch of mistakes? Of course, of course. and for sure I have. But I think the thing about me, just because I make a mistake or something goes wrong or, you know, sometimes the people, first time they lose a little bit of money, they're ready to quit. Nah, I mean, I'm like, okay, well, that's what it needs to do. So let's fix it. Even when it's your own money, you've been like, okay, I can go back to the drawing board. I got to make it back. I got to make that back. I'm a gambler. You really are a gambler. That's what we do. We gamble on the idea. I didn't work like that.

51:56Okay, let's go back. Roll the dice again. Let's go. You know what I mean? And don't get me wrong. I feel, and I say this from the heart, in any business, because I don't know the normal way to do things or to do it by the book, I feel like it works for me better a lot of times because people sometimes make too many rules to get to the point. I just know, okay, I'm here at A. I want to be at B. You're going to figure it out. I'm going to figure it out. You're from the school and figure it out. Yeah, I'm going to get to B. But if you went to school for it, you're like, okay, we got to do this and we got to do that.

52:33It's going to take another year before we set up this and then. No, me, I'm like, okay, bye. That's the same thing with bedroom candy. So I wanted to have a sex toy. Where did that come from? What do you mean? You just wanted to have sex toys. Why don't you just to make the toys. Well, I was doing Candy Coat at Nights at the time, which was like an online talk show. I guess it was a podcast before podcasts. I love it. I love it. And we talked about sex and relationships all the time. So we had built a following for it. And I was like, oh, it'd be cool to get our own products or something to go with this.

53:08One of my friends at the time, she was like, you should have a sex toy. I was like, that's a good idea. Don't ask me why because at the time that wasn't popular. It wasn't, it was kind of taboo, especially in the black community because everybody is always hush-hush and everything about sex. Now everybody's more outspoken about it. But at that time, it was kind of like, what are you doing? You know? And I'm like, I want a sex toy. Did you get backlash from your community? No, actually, I think it's all about how you introduce ideas. Yeah. So I think the problem was back then it was always the porn star on the box or you had to go to some like scary sex shop to get a toy.

53:52Okay. No, my whole point in it is based on facts. Facts are a majority of women never accomplish an orgasm from penetration. So therefore, get a little help. We need to learn our bodies and all of that. And it's all about sex and education. And that was the one thing that we never allowed to happen within our community. We had nobody who was just the normal woman who was a mom, me. I was a single mom. I'm a business woman. And this is what it is. And I'm telling you, this is the truth. Whereas a lot of women, they wanted to have a toy or they had a toy where they were scared to talk to people about it.

54:29I never had a problem talking about sex to anybody. So it just made people who, you know, kind of followed me, followed my journey. They felt more comfortable being part of the conversation. How did that business work out? Excellent. It did. Yes. I'm so glad for you. that's crazy. Cause I've read about it. It's been over a decade now. We're like 12 years in. And it's a bit like a QVC model, right? Like people, is it that type of thing? So after having our tours for you, oh, so what I was saying was I decided anything I did on the show, if I talk about it, it has to be done and be able to see by the world by the end of the season.

55:05Meaning that happens, it has to happen. You're very strategic. It has to be developed. And I need to have a product in my hand for you to see. Where did that, where did that decision come from? How did you learn that? my first year on the show I felt like this show is cool but the money ain't matching this popularity and I was like the money gotta match so I was and I'm a dependable I'm a Taurus dependable if I say I'm gonna do something it's done I cannot stand seeing people on TV talking about what they want to do and you never see it happen and I was like if I do that you're never gonna see me say something and it don't come together that's just who I am as a person and I don't wanna be looked at as flaky.

55:46So if I say I'm going to do it, it's going to get done. And it's going to come out by the end of the season. Exactly. Which means you're working overtime while filming, while you got all this other kind of stuff to make sure you got something that's quality, that's, you know, looks good, makes product and is ready to be seen. And not just out by the time the show airs. I mean, by the time we finish filming. Wow. So it has to be within 60 months. So that you can actually use, yes. So it's like, so you can use the leverage of the show to get the sales. Were all the housewives doing that back then?

56:15Because I feel like it's become much more commonplace. You set the actual benchmark for that being more of a thing. I mean, I guess, I guess. I mean, in the housewives, not, no. Yeah. I mean, yeah. I mean, I know Bethany, she had her product as well, her drink. She did very well with that. I don't know what her process was because I'm not going to lie. I didn't watch the show at the time, so I didn't know what her process was. But for me, that's just how I work. And that's anything. That was with the product, you know, so you saw the Bedroom Candy, the toy, the actual toy. And we had a Candy Kisses, which is still one of our popular items to this day.

56:53We had it available and out. It was no, not it was came out by the time the show aired, but it was available for you to see at the party at the end of the season. Amazing. That year. So and then following that year, it wasn't about the show, it was just about the business. and I wanted to do the multi-level marketing for Bedroom Candy to help more female entrepreneurs. And now we don't even just have women. We have, you know, non-binary female male. It doesn't matter. They're all a part. I feel like we're like a clique now. More than that, like a fraternity. That's a real business for you 10 years later.

57:28Yeah, over 10 years, but yeah. You must be really proud because I think there's one thing when you start a business and it does well and it impacts you and your family. But I think when you are giving people jobs and you're able to give people jobs like in their own, like that feels good. No, but that was something that I that was a goal of mine back at a long time ago. Actually, back when I did the Candy Factory. So there had to be like only three, four seasons in three seasons on TV, I guess. And when I did Candy Factory, it was a separate show, the first show I did. But I had my dream that year before the show even came about.

58:02I wanted to employ at least 100 people. That was my goal. Because I always want to, like, I want to be a person that I use my opportunity to help make more opportunities. And I remember after we finished wrapping Candy Factory and all the people that was working on us, everybody came together for a picture. And I sat there and I was like, this is what I pray for. It's happening. So each year I make it a little bit bigger and bigger and bigger.

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1:00:25Are you a big goal setter? Yes. Are you like physically you writing them down or are you like praying and dreaming? Like, how do you do that? How do you, how do you decide like, this is what I want next? Well, right now I go through these modes of, of doubt and, you know, like, where do I want to be right now? What do I want to do? And what's my next move? You know, I started feeling all uneasy about it in that moment. I was like, you know, I want to do this. And then all of a sudden, because my brain tells me that that's what I want to do. I start doing it and it just comes together somehow. Don't ask me how, but it just, it just does.

1:01:03Because you're a force of nature. I mean, like clearly it comes together because like you go and you put it together. It sounds like, like no one's handing you these opportunities. You are using your own money. You're bringing together your own connections. You're leveraging your, like everything that you've built through the housewives and everything, like the legacy that's going to follow you after that. But it's like, you're making that stuff happen. Yeah. But here's the other thing. I don't want people to think everything works because I do have moments. Please talk to me about that because I love to talk about failure.

1:01:33I had so many things didn't work out, but that's not what we post about on social media, but it's hard, right? It's like you have a lot of things that inevitably just like flop. They don't work out. Yeah. Well, I mean, I'll talk about like, even with my restaurant right now, the old lady gang has done phenomenal for years but the blade steak and seafood did not you know what i mean so the restaurant itself it never really it didn't it didn't really make any money it was just kind of there being a headache yeah you know what i'm saying there's so many businesses are i mean that's part of it right like you're always i remember someone saying to me you know, running businesses, it's like you'll only ever be as happy as your most unhappy child.

1:02:20And it's the same with businesses. Like you'll always have like one that's given you problems and that's just the life of an entrepreneur. Yeah. And then even with, because everything has been such a headache on the restaurant side, we decided to just narrow down a lady gang to one location. Was that hard for you? Is it hard when you have to close something or take a step back? How do you handle that? It's very much hard for me because, you know, I'm an accomplishments person. Like, that's my thing. So if I feel like I could not figure it out, I feel like everything can be figured out. I'm all about solutions.

1:02:53Anything can be fixed. But if I can't figure something out, it drives me insane. Totally. I totally get that. Insane. So it's not that we couldn't figure it out. just between, just, you know, once you get like bad press on a situation, you know, it's hard to come out of that and then you want to fix things and so it's like our best way of fixing it, we're going to focus on the one and then figure out where do we want to go from there. Well, that's the added thing, right? You have the scrutiny, which can be like a massive value add, but it can also, when things don't go right, it can really shine a light in places you don't necessarily need it or want it.

1:03:34Yeah, but it is what it is. Yeah, it is what it is. I don't stress myself. I want to ask you about your mistakes. Like, do you, I just want to understand more like the lessons that you've learned, because again, I think that we don't talk about our mistakes. We don't talk about failure very much, but it is such a huge part of running businesses, of being an entrepreneur. What have you learned that you really think about and take to heart as you go into like, as you're going into this next chapter, what are you thinking about like the last 15, 20 years of your career that you'll take forward? I'm trying to narrow my focus going as I feel like I am all over the place.

1:04:12And as my kids are getting older and they want to do things, I want to narrow my focus. Like it's cool to have a lot of businesses, but at the same time, it's, you know, yeah, it's good money. But for me, things are not about the money right now. So I want to narrow more to the things that I love to do. So I want to do more music again. I want to start writing more songs and I want to do more film and TV projects that are produced by me and my husband. I want to do more creative stuff. Yeah, I'm going to try to make more time for that and just narrow my focus. Yeah, I honestly think that's such amazing advice because to have priorities, like I feel like is the kind of key thing that makes you successful in business when you can be really narrow and you can go really deep on a few things that actually really benefits you in such a big way and I think it's interesting because especially listen the more successful you get the more choices you have so it's hard to be narrow because you have a lot of opportunity in front of you but again if you said it's not about the check and you're such a creative that wants to do quality work I understand that like narrowing it in makes it almost more interesting for you no Yeah.

1:05:26I mean, I feel like I don't really have a point to prove about me being able to do a business because all the businesses that I did, did do were they lasted over a decade. Incredible. I would say that I don't feel like I have a point to prove to people about those things. What I have a point to prove to myself is getting this ego. Because I really want to focus more. Put it out there. Put it out there. She said it. On the creative things. Yeah, and on the things that are going to get you towards that path. You know, whether it's music, TV, stage, whatever. Those are the things that I really want to hone in on, you know, take to the next level.

1:06:10And you will, no doubt. I only have one more housewives question because I'm obsessed. Okay. If you had to go into business with one of the housewives, or actually, let's do it like this. If you had to back a business by one of the housewives, who would it be?

1:06:26Who are you trying to be funny? It's a good question. I feel like your face is the answer, but I don't know. Child, I'll do it. Okay, okay, okay. Let me say this. She sounds like me on the breakfast of last week. Let me say this. Let me say this. Do I get to control everything? See, I think that's the problem. It's a partnership. Go on, you get to control it. You get to control it. Because we already know you're a controlled person. Part of the problem is they don't be knowing what they're doing or they they don't they don't have the gambler spirit. There's that. They don't want to put up no money.

1:07:04A lot of them don't want to use their own money. Well, that's just a big that's a big red flag for me. Anyone who's not willing to put a little bit of their own in, I'm like, well, why? And even if it's been people who probably want to invest money in them, they don't want to give up any control. So you got to understand, you can't take the people money and the people have nothing to say. So if I was to be a part of anybody's businesses, they would have to let me kind of take the reign. You're the CEO. No, it's just I just want to be able to let me guide the show. Let me help you. Let us get money.

1:07:44Let me help you. It's a housewife as a staff member. Is that what you're looking for? No, it's not that I Not that they can't make the money I'm not trying to take any money Out they pocket No But just let me make the decisions Okay, okay I think she didn't That's all I'm saying I think she said none of them I didn't say none of them You know what? This is a funny thing All the three words in your mouth Even though Even though me and Sharae Fell out bad In that last season I always felt like She by Sharae Is the brand of The whole housewife The biggest brand That never really made it to its full potential.

1:08:20Okay, so it's a She by Sheree relaunch. Well, I don't know about now. I mean, back then. You mean right now to this day? No, I wouldn't do it. No, no. Okay, we'll move on. We're moving on. No, I thought you meant like while I was on the show. So talking of reality TV stars, your lovely daughter Riley is about to go on to a new show. Can you tell me a bit about it? Oh, Riley is going to be on the next Gen NYC. So cute. Yeah, so I'm so excited for her because, you know, now, you know, I got her a publicist and a stylist and she's doing her thing. You know what I mean? I love you. Are you a bit of a momager?

1:09:00Is this happening? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm trying not to be too harsh, but, you know, I'm paying for everything. So, look, this is what needs to be done. You can have a little opinion. I see, I have a vision of where I want to see my daughter go. Yes. And yeah, I need everybody to be on this vision. Let's get her where she needs to be. So given everything, your honestly extraordinary career as a creative, as a businesswoman, as an entrepreneur, you started out in Atlanta. I was really surprised when I was doing my research. Really? Yes, because I was looking When I do research I usually go I'm looking for like The New York Times For Variety For Hollywood Reporter And I was like Well You're so accomplished You won so many awards You did so many things Like where was that article?

1:09:52I thought it was like A little bit surprising Because you have So many accolades And I feel like Maybe the best Is just yet to come for you Like maybe like The end of Housewives Is the beginning Of everything Like I don't know Honestly I think it is And the reason why I say that is as wonderful as a platform Housewives is, people discriminate against Housewives. There's a little stigma attached. The business community discriminates against real Housewives, talent, or whatever. Across the board, you believe. Yeah. Like certain shows, you don't see Housewives come on as guests. certain magazines, you never see them highlight what Housewives are doing.

1:10:38I mean, it's factual because I looked. Yeah. So I think, and even in TV and film, it was one time before I did The Chi, I had got a role on a really, let me say this, the director, the producers and casting wanted me for this role. and my agent was like, oh, you know, you got the role and whatever, because that's norm, but it's another process. It has to be approved by the network. So he was like, yeah, you got it. I was like, okay. I was excited. I told my friends and next thing I found out that I didn't get it. And I was like, what happened? And they were like, the network didn't want to look like they were stunt casting.

1:11:21So they didn't want to. It wasn't about if I had the talent to do the role. It was just because people knew me from Housewives. And, you know, I don't want to say what show it was or what ended up being a big show. And I was so sad about it and I cried. It was like so messed up. But I tell you that to say it was a gift and a curse being on the show. So there are so many things that I want to accomplish. And I feel like the door opens a little bit more now that I'm not on the show, which is crazy. Yeah. And thankfully, you've got this incredible platform, an unbelievable fan base, and you've been building outside the show since day one.

1:12:03So no doubt you've got all the best things to come. Thank you. No doubt. I want to take you to a very quick, quick fire round. The rapid fire round. OK. Candy, what is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? It's bad, but I pick up my phone and look at Instagram. At least you're honest, girl. Don't answer the same answer To the next question What's the last thing you do Before you go to bed? If I pick up the phone And look at Instagram It's terrible I'm terrible That is not helping you Get restful sleep I know It's terrible That's not it And what are you currently Aspiring Well that's The last night I was getting it in Okay Okay Using your products Or no Just au naturel Just au naturel Okay good for you girl Yes What are you currently Aspiring for In your business life?

1:12:50Oh Well, what I was saying to just kind of gain more focus on the things that fulfill me. Yes. Great answer. And what are you aspiring for in your personal? To find the balance, to make sure I'm giving my kids the time and, you know, all the love that they need. Do you believe in work-life balance, Candy? I haven't found it yet. Thank you very much, dear. But I'm trying. Correct answer. you feel the same? Oh girl I mean I've got a long I don't know if I should mention work-life balance anymore You got guilt I have no guilt I just get a lot of I just get a lot of commentary on my feelings about work-life balance because I don't think that it exists Oh okay And I think it's very hard to find it and I think if we just stopped trying to find it we'd probably end up with more of it because I don't think it's there I think that you do whatever you're doing to the best of your ability in the moment you're doing it If I'm with my kids I'm with my kids.

1:13:48If I ain't and I'm doing something over there, I'm doing the thing over there. But I'm not going to be made to feel guilty about it the whole time. I love it. I don't understand. I love it. It's like I'm just trying to live. A bit about me there. Tell me, darling, a book that changed your life. Oh, The Millionaire Next Door. Oh, it's a good one. It's a very good one. Okay. What is something that you valued when you were starting out your career that you don't anymore? Ooh. something that I valued that I don't anymore? That's a good question. There must have been something that you really cared about that you're like, that is not a thing anymore.

1:14:34Did you care about pleasing people? Did you care about what other people thought of you? Were you bothered about what your mom was doing? Like, I don't know. It was something. Okay, okay. Okay. My mom. The mom. is my mom. My mom, it used to like, she'd be upset with me. It would totally ruin my day and I could not like, like think for the rest of the day. Yes. Like it would make me, we know that. It would be like crushing to me. But now, I'm like, she'll be all right. It took a long time for me to get there though. That's training. That's real growth. That's hard It took a long time It's because you are raised To care about What your mom thinks Like you're constantly Seeking your mother's approval And then one day You're like No Yeah But don't get me wrong I love my mom dearly That's why I want her to see this We know And think that I'm not saying that I don't love you dearly No no no I'm just saying that Now I don't get crushed When she's It's not day ruining No You think about it For a few minutes And then you're moving on Yeah I'm like she's gonna be alright That's the real There we go But I've never been one Been one to care about What other people think about me That's a gift And I'm okay With Man dislikes You have a thick skin I have a very And on Housewives You don't have You can't help But having a thick Thick, thick, thick skin Because you wouldn't be Dead on the floor If you cared What all those people think Yes No but I laugh To this day Me and my friend Carmen We laugh about this all the time In middle school, don't ask me why.

1:16:18I do not know what I did to these girls. These girls, there was a couple of girls, lames. They had the I Hate Candy Burrows Club.

1:16:32That bitches. How dare they? Did you know at the time? Uh-uh. Because they didn't have the nerve to tell me. They basically, I'll never forget this. I was in the gym locker room and it was the girls. It was like, you know, they would talk about their clubs, IHKB. And I was like, oh, that's cute. Y 'all got a little club. What's that? And they made up a whole nother name to tell me that it meant like some heart, some break. I don't know. You didn't know? You know, so they leave out the locker room. And so the other girl that I knew was like laughing and she's like, you know what that really means, right?

1:17:12And I was like, what? She was like, IHKB, the I Hate Candy Burrits club. But you didn't laugh like that. Don't tell me you laughed like that. I did. Oh, I would have crumbled. What? I was like, they are so lame. Like, come on. I thought it was like funny, to be honest with you, because I was like, what? That's so corny. Like, you couldn't even say that. You got the nerve to make the club, but you didn't have the nerve to tell me. Like, OK. Those people, those people ain't telling you. Right. So every time my name ends up in a blog of some hating asshole, got something to say about me. Me and my friend, Carmen, laughed.

1:17:56He said, oh, they're going to I Hate Candy Burst Club. A group of lives. I said, see, I didn't know what it was. See, God was training me. I know now. For what I had to come. Like, I'm used to it. This is it. You were just in preparation. That was an appropriation. All the hate that was to come. Yes. Let me tell you, Candy, this is the, we love Candy Burrows Club. Like, let me tell you, over here at Aspire, we've ever agreed, we love you. I'm so grateful to you and I genuinely mean it. I'm so grateful for your time and I'm really happy to meet you, but also that, you know, some people like, it's such a disappointment.

1:18:32You are the least disappointing woman in the world. This was a pleasure. Thank you. It's a really great meeting you as well. Me too.

1:18:43If you're loving this podcast, be sure to click follow on your favorite listening platform. While you're there, give us a review and a five-star rating and share an episode you loved with a friend. We'll be so grateful. A Spy with Emma Greed is presented by Odyssey. I'm your host, Emma Greed. Our executive producers are Corrine Gilead-Fisher, Derek Brown, and me. Our executive producers from Odyssey are Maddie Sprung-Kaiser, Leah Reece-Dennis, Asha Saluja, and Jenna Weiss-Berman. Our producer is Kristin Torres. Sound design and engineering by Bill Schultz. Angela Peluso is our booker. Original music by Charles Black.

1:19:19Video production by Evan Cox, Kurt Courtney, Andrew Steele, Carlos Delgado, and Arnie Agassi. Social media by Olivia Homan. Special thanks go to Brittany Smith, Sydney Ford, my teams at Jonesworks and WNE, Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Hilary Schuff, Eric Donnelly, Kate Hutchinson-Rose, Tim Meekle, Sean Cherry, and Lauren Vieira. If you have questions for me, you can DM me at Aspire with Emma Greed. Greed is spelled G-R-E-D-E. That's Aspire, A-S-P-I-R-E, with Emma Greed. Or you can submit a question to me on my website, emmagreed.me. In football, value isn't just about making flashy plays. It's about consistency, durability, showing up.

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