Today we’d like to introduce you to Latasha Smith.
Latasha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a senior in high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in helping people. So while participating in a summer job program, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a facility for the mentally challenged and physically handicapped. That experience opened my eyes to the world of healthcare and the care of nursing. Except the nurses in that facility seemed less than caring and that angered me.
Those adult residents needed their care and support because they couldn’t do it for themselves. So I made a decision there and then to become a nurse, and not just a nurse, a better nurse than they had been. I went back to school and made it my mission to proclaim. I was going to be a nurse. In fact, I remember writing it on our senior wall under what we thought we would be in five years, without hesitation or fear. Now getting the degree wasn’t so easy, starting with my grades and a less than support and enthusiastic college advisor. I was told flat out. There is NO WAY you will ever have a chance to be accepted into the nursing program. She went as far as to tell me I had no chance of competing with the top students at my college because they were exemplary and they couldn’t get in, so I basically had no chance in hell. I slumped out of her office with my head down feeling completely defeated.
My then husband was waiting in the car to drive me home and very anxious for me to report some promising news, and all I could do was ball my eyes out with my face in my hands. And he said to me, “do you want to be a nurse or not?” “So go back in there and figure out what you need to do to become a nurse!” So I went back into the counselor’s office scared out of my mind, thinking she will chew me out if I return, but instead, she was busy with another student, so her male colleague called my name instead. He brought me, addressed me like a valued human being, and asked how he could help me. In my shaky voice, tearful hearted tone, I stuttered telling him that I wanted to be in the nursing program, but I was told I didn’t have what I took to be accepted. He took one look at me and said, let’s take a look to see what we can do about that.
And it a few strokes of his key, he took down every barrier that she had placed on my student account, move around my schedule and told me that if I want to become a nurse, then that’s what it shall be. I cried so hard I couldn’t stop my eyes or ears from running. He gave me his signed permission to take to the registrar’s office to enroll in my first wave of classes. I asked if I could come back and see him again and thank him for what he had done for me. He cheerfully told me not to worry about to go get registered because he was retiring and that day was his last day. He ushered me along and called the next student off his list. I looked back in amazement and what he had done. Then I boogied over to the registrar’s office and got my classes!
Fast forward, I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years and have never regretted a day. I had angels that day, and every day forward. I have received multiple accolades, earned the respect of my professional colleagues, patients, administrators and hospital staff. I have made it my mission to treat everyone like they matter and sacrifice what I could for the love of the profession. Nursing is my passion.
Business has been my interest, so when I wanted to pursue more, I decided to return to school to get my bachelor’s degree and then my master’s degree. I choose real estate because I’ve generally had an interest, understood how it works, and naturally gravitated towards being in charge plus I had good negotiating skills. As a way to utilize my degree, I invested in our company as co-owner of Prime Money Group, LLC with my business partner. We invest in real estate properties, fix and flips, buy and hold, and provide funding to real estate investors to do the same. This business has been both rewarding and full of challenges. Our successes and failures come in waves, but we stay the course. All of this help make us stronger and make us better in business and our partnership.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Absolutely not! My biggest struggles were self-doubt, feeling like I wasn’t good enough. At the age of 14, I became a mother. I was, in a word, a “statistic”.
Going through abuse as a child all the way up to age 11, led me through depression, promiscuity and feelings where I lacked self-worth. I never loved myself, nor did I love anyone around me. This caused me to self-isolate and stayed in a state of anger, rage and resentment. It took a long time for me to start loving myself.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Prime Money Group – what should we know?
We invest in real estate properties, fix and flips, buy and hold, and provide funding to real estate investors who have deals and want to do the same. This business has been both rewarding and full of challenges. We educate our clients, teach them about the business and how they can grow their business by using other people’s money (private investors). My business partner has over 20 years in the real estate and mortgage lending side of the business. With my degree in business and finance, we were able to come together to make it work.
So many people want to break with a common goal, to make money and acquire some sort of financial freedom. Many of them have little to no knowledge of how the business besides what they read or maybe get from paying to attend a workshop/seminar. We offer this education as a part of our service to the investor. Present us a deal/scenario with what you are looking to accomplish, along with our short checklist of items required to approved for a loan. We will then evaluate the deal and structure the deal to assure it makes sense for the market you are attempting to invest in. As long as the numbers make sense and you present (based on documentation) as a solid investor we can move forward with working your deal. Once you become our client we serve as your mentor, liaison, professional broker and resource. Our goal is to service the client from conception-to-close. We charge no upfront fees. We are paid when your deal closes.
Our successes and failures have come in waves, but we’ve stayed the course. All of this help make us stronger and make us better in our business and business partnership.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Anthony Johnson – co-owner/mentor. All around everything!
My 3 beautiful children Tiffany, Anthony and Jordan for making me a better person and giving me purpose. My mother, Pauline, for being my first teacher, a woman of God and my rock and my sister Jakola, a woman of faith, and for loving me through all my imperfections.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.privatemoneymen.com
- Phone: 800-475-1781
- Email: info@privatemoneymen.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primemoneygroup/
- Twitter: @privatemoneymen
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/latasha.smith.94 / https://www.instagram.com/southerngirlgigi/
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