Overcoming the Odds: Motivational journey from rural America to corporate success and owning multiple Jersey Mike’s Franchises.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Justin M. Lee. Purpose of the Interview To showcase Dr. Lee’s journey from a young real estate agent to a multi-industry entrepreneur. To inspire listeners with strategies for wealth-building through real estate, construction, and logistics. To encourage financial literacy, ownership, and collaboration within underserved communities. To issue a call to action for minorities to explore opportunities like Amazon DSP and real estate investment. Key Takeaways Early Career & Education Started young in real estate, embraced discomfort in rooms dominated by older professionals. Leveraged millennial tech skills (social media marketing) to help veteran brokers grow. Earned a doctorate degree and became a licensed real estate broker. Social Media as a Business Tool Built a strong presence on TikTok (90K followers) and other platforms. Helped older real estate firms thrive by creating digital visibility. Emphasized that “business must look as good online as in person.” Financial Literacy & Homeownership African-American communities often lack foundational financial knowledge. Key barriers: misunderstanding credit, fear of debt, and lack of exposure to ownership benefits. Advocates teaching the difference between good debt (real estate) and bad debt (consumer credit). Real Estate Process Initial onboarding: credit score, income, tax filing. Connect clients with lenders, secure pre-approval, then negotiate and close within 30–45 days. Uses property tours as motivation even for those not yet approved. Pooling Resources for Wealth Industry dominated by white men and foreign investors who use syndication. Dr. Lee created a private family fund with fraternity brothers and friends. Acquired 150+ apartment units and commercial properties by pooling resources and forming LLCs. Amazon DSP Opportunity Owns an Amazon Delivery Service Partner business (42 trucks, 200 employees). Offers minorities a chance to apply for DSP with $10K grant. Taught him true CEO skills: HR, payroll, compliance, and scaling operations. Construction Business Entered construction after experiencing exploitation in fix-and-flip projects. Learned the business side (permits, change orders) and got licensed. Built major projects like a 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant in Atlanta. Advocates for Black representation in construction, an industry dominated by whites and Hispanics. Personal Background Raised in New Orleans during Katrina by a single mother and grandparents. Mother invested FEMA checks into real estate, teaching him property management and renovation skills early. Believes knowledge is power and emphasizes planning and consistency. Notable Quotes On embracing discomfort:“I learned to embrace the uncomfort and make it one of my biggest strengths.” On social media:“You have to make your business look the same way online as in person.” On financial literacy:“Real estate is always going to be good debt. Bad debt is the Macy’s card.” On collaboration:“Pooling resources shows how far we can go and how fast we can go—but together.” On planning:“If you don’t plan, you plan to fail. All you have to do is stick to the plan.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jan 22min

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Laura Finney. A seasoned financial literacy educator and coach. Laura shares her deeply personal journey into financial education, sparked by a lack of preparedness in her own life and a family experience that resulted in the loss of generational wealth. Through candid storytelling and practical advice, she empowers listeners to take control of their financial futures with strategic planning, budgeting, and mindset shifts. 🧭 Key Themes Financial Empowerment: Building financial literacy to live life on your own terms. Generational Wealth: The importance of estate planning and legacy preservation. Budgeting & Cash Flow: Identifying spending leaks and creating emergency funds. Mindset Over Age: Rejecting age as a limitation to financial or personal growth. Community Impact: Educating underserved communities and promoting financial independence. 🗂️ Episode Outline Introduction by Rushion McDonald Purpose of the show and encouragement to learn from others’ success stories. Meet Laura Finney Financial coach and educator with a mission to empower through financial literacy. Turning Point at 50 Laura’s wake-up call after her 50th birthday and the realization of financial unpreparedness. Family Legacy Lost A powerful story of losing family land due to lack of a will, now replaced by an Amazon facility. Common Financial Mistakes Taking advice without personalized planning. Misunderstanding retirement and financial independence. Advice for 30s and 40s Pay yourself first. Avoid inaccessible savings vehicles. Start planning early. Budgeting Tips Cut back on dining out, personal care, and entertainment. Build emergency funds—even starting with $1/day. Financial Misconceptions Living for today vs. planning for tomorrow. The myth of “having time” to save later. How Laura Works with Clients Initial consultation → personalized interview → strategic financial roadmap. Closing Thoughts Encouragement to take control of your financial future and live life on your terms. 💬 Notable Quotes “Nobody’s really retiring. We’re not great-grandma on the porch with lemonade anymore.” “Don’t let age define how you live your life.” “Everything starts with a budget.” “You can’t chase money. You have to plan for it.” “If you can save a dollar a day, you can build an emergency fund.” 👤 About the Guest: Laura Finney Laura Finney is a financial literacy educator with over eight years of experience in the financial services industry. She specializes in delivering personalized financial literacy programs, workshops, and one-on-one consultations. Her mission is to help individuals and families achieve financial stability and long-term success through education, strategic planning, and empowerment. 📞 Contact Laura Finney Website: LauraFinneyEnterprises.net #BEST #STRAW #SHMSSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jan 24min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Wednesday, January 7th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "Can I Paint Your Wife Naked?" | Ask The CLO | Entertainment News | J Rap's 1st Poem Of 2026 | Revenge Fire | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Sweat Hog" | Strawberry Letter - "New Year, New Body" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Shirley Cooking Lessons | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Tuesday, January 6th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "Christmas Light Expiration" | Ask The CLO | Entertainment News | Pastor Jamal Bryant’s Wife’s Dress | Vision Boards | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Can I Paint Your Wife Naked?" | Strawberry Letter - "He Got A New Zip Code For Christmas" Pt. 1-2 | Junior's Sports Talk | Social Media Advice | Meg The Stallion Popeye's | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Monday, January 5th, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "Bad Potluck" | Ask The CLO | That Ain't Your Business | Would You Rather | Right Or Wrong | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Christmas Light Expiration" | Strawberry Letter - "Her Special Healing Soup" Pt. 1-2 | What Is Your Lying "Tell" | Social Media Advice | STI's Up Among Seniors | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Friday, January 2nd, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "CPS" | Ask The CLO | Ready For Company To Leave | Would You Rather | Comedy Roulette - A Relative Got So Drunk On New Year's Eve... | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Bad Potluck" | Strawberry Letter - "What's So Darn Funny?" Pt. 1-2 | Frisky Fitness | Social Media Advice | Top Soup Survey | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Thursday, January 1st, 2026: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "K Dogg" | Ask The CLO | Tell-All Biography | Would You Rather | Question For Unc| Nephew Tommy's Prank - "CPS" | Strawberry Letter - "How Did He Know Where To Put It?" Pt. 1-2 | Negative Thoughts | Social Media Advice Pt.1 | Social Media Advice Pt.2 | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 Jan 1h 32min

The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Wednesday, December 31st, 2025: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "Wax That Ass" | Ask The CLO | Truth Be Told: Unattractive Family Members | Would You Rather | Comedy Roulette: Things You Say To Yourself When You're Mad | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "K Dogg" | Strawberry Letter - "He Said, She Said" Pt. 1-2 | Things you've NEVER Seen | Dating A Sick Man | Steve Harvey's Voicemail | Would You Rather | Steve Harvey's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 Des 20251h 32min