The Morning Formation Podcast
Hosted by KP Phillips—a U.S. Army combat veteran, former law enforcement officer, and seasoned instructor in tactics, firearms, and combatives—The Formation Podcast is built on the core pillars of Survivability, Situational Awareness, and the mindset to Adapt & Overcome.
Drawing from over two decades of real-world experience in combat zones and high-risk environments, KP leads authentic conversations with warriors, protectors, and everyday individuals who’ve faced adversity head-on. This podcast is more than content—it's a movement for those who understand that the fight begins before the event.
Through storytelling, lived experience, and expert insight, The Formation Podcast equips its listeners with the mindset, tools, and awareness to remain vigilant and prepared—whether on the battlefield, in the streets, or in everyday life.
The Morning Formation Podcast
Embracing Entrepreneurship: Sumi's Journey from the Army to Business Success
Entrepreneurs face many challenges, and Sumi's journey illustrates this beautifully. Sumi emphasizes the perseverance needed to transition from military life into the competitive world of business, helping listeners understand the importance of community, adaptability, and self-belief.
• Importance of embracing the entrepreneurial journey
• Overcoming challenges and failures
• How military skills translate to civilian entrepreneurship
• The role of family support and community
• Cultural understanding in business practices
• Educational and professional benefits of multiculturalism
• Managing the balance of family and business life
• Long-term goals and vision for Phoenix Global
• Fostering a mindset of growth and resilience
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Episode Powered By Act Now Education
Warriors fall in. It's time for formation. I'm very fortunate today to have a guest who is here for the second time, and earlier in the year I guess two years ago maybe we had a conversation with Sumi and she was talking about her background being in the United States Army and then transitioning out of the Army, going to Customs and Border Protection, and then ultimately found a job Army going to Customs and Border Protection and then ultimately found a job utilizing Act. Now Education's services Just recently followed up with Sumi and she had decided to start her own business, becoming a very bold, very courageous entrepreneur, and we briefly spoke about what she was doing and I was absolutely amazed with everything and I thought that it's really important for me to share with the rest of the Morning Formation community on where Sumi is right now, because you know she's the type of person.
Speaker 1:She immigrated from East Africa when she was 11 years old. She speaks four languages, very impressive, professional. So today, sumi, I got you on board because I want you to tell everyone what you're into, what you're doing right now with your business and why you decided to step into entrepreneurship overall.
Speaker 2:Thank you, kp. So right now I'm doing product sourcing for T-shirts and hoodies for small companies who want to put their logos on them for branded apparels, and I'm getting those products from Egypt right now and I'm branching out to Bangladesh and my minimum is usually 50 t-shirts per design and normally the overseas companies their minimum is like 600 to to $1,000. But small companies like me they can't really, they don't have that many employees or they don't have that kind of finance to afford like to spend like thousands of dollars on t-shirts. You know, so I'm, you know, my business is just going on two years now and I'm trying to help myself and other small businesses also get up in the rise by helping them get affordable T-shirts with their logo on them so they could go out and sell those T-shirts or hoodies and make money from them and establish their small business as well. And recently, my clients I love my clients because they keep giving me new ideas they were like well, I am a moving company and I want to have like boxes with my logo on them and I want to have the wrapping sheets and the blankets, but I want them like at a cheaper rate than I could find in the United States which is found cheaper in Egypt, which I have family and connections which we're working on getting for them from Egypt to the United States. So the fact that I'm able to source globally to help small businesses here in the United States compete with bigger companies is something I take pride in.
Speaker 2:And I got into entrepreneurship because of my kid. I have a five-year-old. He's going to be six soon. He's diagnosed with autism. He was diagnosed when he was two years old, two and a half, and I used to take him to a lot of appointments and just so many activities. And it's really hard to keep a full-time job when you're taking a child to appointment like four or five times a day, like a week, and it's just when it comes to picking between your child and you know and your job. I chose, I chose my child and I was fortunate enough to do it because I was a military member and a veteran and had benefits.
Speaker 1:And I was able to leave.
Speaker 2:You know my positions and choose.
Speaker 1:You know being a business owner and take care of it it's hard to transition out of the military and find like an ideal job. Um, what has inspired you to go from the safety of government work into entrepreneurship? Because in entrepreneurship you take a huge risk and no one's telling you. It's not like the military, where they tell you what time to show up for formation, what to wear, when to pivot. So as an entrepreneur you have to tell yourself when to pivot, when to when to do this, when to do that. Yeah, uh, can you talk about how you overcame? Because you were enlisted in the military right and you were a culinary arts or cook.
Speaker 2:Culinary specialist yes, Culinary specialist right.
Speaker 1:So, with that being said, how do you go from being a lower enlisted soldier to being an entrepreneur where, basically, you're having to pivot on your own, to being an entrepreneur where, basically, like you're having to pivot on your own.
Speaker 2:So my background did help. So my family, like my dad, when I was a kid he had his own store, like back in Saudi, saudi Arabia, and he had his own store and then when he was in the United States, like he had like this international store that he used to sell like clothing and stuff. So I have that background and I come from an international community. So the languages is like you're born, like you're automatically speaking two languages you know, and we're Muslims, so the Arabic is added to it and then it's just kind of like Arabic Tigrinya Tigrinya is our original language, then Arabic together and then you watch a lot of foreign shows, which I used to do, and then I learned Turkish and then English when I came to America. So just kind of like the languages. So me being an international person and learning languages, being a culinary specialist did not limit me or being an enlisted did not limit who I was. So when I was leaving or transitioning, I wasn't just like, oh my God, I'm just an enlisted, did not limit who I was. So when I was leaving or transitioning, I wasn't just like, oh my God, I'm just an enlisted. What am I gonna do Like no, I was doing other things and I had other skills and talents that I was honing that when I got out to be able to use. And I have this thing where, since I was a kid, where I don't like to give a certain power or position to an authority or to anybody, where they're my only source of survival, like I have to have like multiple ways, like I have to be able to survive without depending on one entity. So that drives me to move forward.
Speaker 2:And then with entrepreneurship, like the first year was really tough because I wasn't doing this brand, like this promotional products or this apparel. At the beginning I was doing consulting, I was going to, I was ready to export vehicles out of the country. Everything was set up. I arranged the people who are going to sell the cars here, the wholesalers in the United States, and then I traveled to Dubai and Saudi Arabia by myself and arranged the buyers over there and I removed the middleman, the auction folks, because that was their issue, and I was like, don't worry, I'll remove that fee for you. And I arranged the freight forwarders, the like, just everything.
Speaker 2:And I was so prepared on a high level, something that I prepared for, you know, years before I even started my business. And then it's just a fell through, you know, and I spent so much money, so much time and at this time my son was my sister, because I was first year of my business. I was like, okay, I'm doing this for my kid. So I was like I need to jump start my business. I was like I need this time. So my sister was generous enough to like take care of my kid. Well, you know, for that entire year, last year and while I was taking care of my business, so that business deal fell through.
Speaker 2:So for a few, for about a couple months, where I was just like why did I even get into entrepreneurship? I was just like I should just give up you know, I don't even want to do this anymore Like why did I even get into it? And then, in moments like this, there's this article, there's this book the Struggle is when Greatness Comes From which, I think the author by Ben Horowitz. There's even an excerpt that he talks about, like you know, he talks about how entrepreneurship is really difficult and it sucks and it's just a terrible thing, but at the end it's like greatness. You know, the struggle is where greatness comes from. So I kept rereading that and it's just I was reminded why I'm doing it. This is something bigger than myself. Is to help myself, my community, my kid, a small business owner. So just kind of like remembering that I'm doing this for something bigger than myself.
Speaker 2:And then the fact that my kid was overseas was I was like okay, cause then I was like, oh my God, the sunken cost fallacy. I was like okay, because then I was like oh my God, the sunken cost fallacy. I was like I sacrificed this whole year with my son. Granted, I was visiting him back and forth multiple times throughout the year, but I was like I sacrificed so much my retirement, you know, my military retirement, everything for this business. So it was just kind of like you know what am I doing, I froze a little bit, and but just, it was just kind of like you know what am I doing? I froze a little bit and but just, it was just kind of like I had to step back, which is which was needed, and I needed that two months to step back and just be like, okay, what am I doing? What can I do? This is not working. And then I'm part of Vistage and this is a network for like executive and CEO groups that they advise you. And I was talking to them about it and they were like, when you are dealing with this vehicle situation and this deal fell apart.
Speaker 2:It could be for various reasons, whether it could be sexism, because I was in the Middle East, or it could be of race, it could be of various reasons. You know that it doesn't concern me, because I did the best I could. If people want to be, if they want to treat me, you know differently, that's on them. You know. They were like why would you want to be part of that space? Why would you want to be in a space where you don't, you're not wanted? Why don't you go to spaces where you are wanted? So it was just kind of like letting go of that bad energy and just it was like I was like all right, so just having that community. They were like you need to let that go of that bad energy so you can move forward, so you could see what's in front of you. And when I did that, then my customers were like oh, I want product, oh, I want this, oh, I want this at an affordable rate because I can't afford it in the United States. So if you can get it for me from the other country, that would definitely help me, you know, build my business.
Speaker 2:And then I started realizing my son was improving with his autism because the food in Egypt is a lot better than here in the United States and he was getting a lot more community over there. He's like playing with kids outside all day, playing soccer and just so many, so much engagement. He used to have like a feeding disorder where he was like very picky with eating food and now he eats everything and he's a lot more social, a lot more verbal. He speaks Arabic now and he writes and reads in Arabic. He's a very, very smart kid and it's just in one year. I saw like a lot of difference in him. I saw a lot of difference in me. I even grew up as a person a lot, and it's just why I changed my perspective. I was able to adapt.
Speaker 2:And I was like, okay, the money's gone, but money will always come back. You know, my health is here, that's what's more important. My son is healthy. So I was like, okay. So I was just like my word for this year is abundance. Each year I have a word. So this year is abundance because I was worried. I was like, oh, money is gone, my son is gone, this, this, this. But this year is like abundance and I'm like in the state of like money will come to me, clients will come to me, my son is here. I finally brought him back at the end of last year, december 31st, and it's so good to have him back, just like in my corner and every like the world is all mine now and it's just money is coming, clients are coming.
Speaker 2:And now I'm even thinking like, when I have that clarity, I was like, why don't? I was like, instead of paying all the shipping costs to bring these products here to the United States, I was like, why don't I buy the machine itself, the? It's like it's called DTF. It's this heat printing machine where you get the shirt and you put it under like in the design, you press it and that's where you get the logo. So I was like OK, it's like $2,400.
Speaker 2:And then the shirts I was like I have connection in Bangladesh, I have connection in Egypt, I have connection in Dubai. I can just get them at a lower rate, probably like a few dollars, and then ship them via Ocean, have them here and then make them for my client. That way I don't have to pay a lot of shipping fees and I could have my own like brick and mortar. And that's something I was like, okay, I could do, you know, towards the end of this year. So it was just kind of like, when I'm like living in a state of abundance, so many ideas are flowing through my head, I have to be like calm down, one step at a time. It's like once you, if you are adaptable, ideas will flow and things will come your way. You know, money will come, ideas will come, people will come. You're positive and adaptable. I think that's adaptability is like very important, because I, like I said, I lost a lot of money last year and I had to be like OK, a lot of people would give up.
Speaker 1:I mean to be honest with you. You were under the safety of a government job where you could have just taken your rank. You weren't limited by where you were at, like your MOS or anything. None of that stuff limited you and a lot of it had to do with your background, where you grew up, and your worldly experiences. You were able to see beyond the end of your neighborhood and actually see into the entire world. And I wanted to highlight that about you because I think many times in the military, our rank or our MOS can limit us to what we think we can and can't do once we leave the military.
Speaker 1:And that's what I find most amazing about you is you're basically limitless. You're literally shipping things from halfway across the world and you've got all these connections and whatnot, um, and I not. On top of that, you're a woman working in the Middle East. Like that is not easy to do. Like I imagine you get a lot of hang up calls and and you know delete on your emails and stuff like that that you try to send. Um, that that's very challenging and you know all these ideas that you have.
Speaker 1:The toughest part is taking action. Everybody's got ideas, but you actually step out, take action, make it happen. And that's what's most impressive Can you talk about? You talked a little bit about it already, but talk about some of the trials and tribulations, the dead ends, the mistakes, the fall down. Pick yourself back up again. What was your worst moment, you think, when you thought you know what, I could just quit and go find an hourly job or a salary job somewhere and you had to dig deep to figure out, like, how do I get out of this, how do I make this right?
Speaker 2:that's a great question. So first the the government. I was tenured as well, so it was really hard to fire me, unless I really, really messed up right, so it was just kind of.
Speaker 2:I was just like are you crazy? I'm like, yes, you have to be crazy to be an entrepreneur. A little bit, um, and the part, the trial and tribulation, where you're like I'll just go get another job. That's every day, every day. I'm just like you know what, why don't you? Just, you know you need to go apply for a job and because, like, what are you doing? Are you crazy? You know, I think it's just like when, for example, like I, because not everything is going to work out the way I want it to work.
Speaker 2:Like I mentioned, the biggest one was when I lost, like you know, like thousands and thousands of dollars in my the Middle East endeavor and when they were just kind of like, oh, you know, because you're a woman, or when they told me, yeah, this is what happened. They were like when I was in the Middle East and I was struggling with all this and I came back and I had a coach here who was like part of the small business, I was just like, oh, they're telling me this, this, this. And he was like, well, what you can do is you can have your brother be the face of your company in the Middle East or your nephew, and have him represent you. I was like, first, that's fraud and second, this is a woman-owned business company. No, this is the worst idea I've ever heard. And it was just kind of like.
Speaker 2:And then when I came here, they're like oh, you're race. And I was just like I'm like my identity was questioned. So I was just like I'm the problem, my religion Because now that I'm wearing the hijab again, it's like my faith, my race and me being a woman is like being an issue, whether it's in the States or in the Middle East, mostly in the Middle East, being a woman like. When I was in Saudi Arabia, I made an appointment and I went and I was introduced to these individuals by really high level people, like by companies that have been in the business for 100 years old, and they they were like yeah, let's meet up.
Speaker 2:And they just ghosted me Because they thought I literally flew across the country just so I could meet them and have this meeting, and they ghosted me and I was just like my heart sank. I was like, ok, and then it's just kind of like, all right, I was like, forget this. And then, when I'm in the States, I was just like then, when I was like, when I shifted to this apparel part and I go like, for example, one of them is like my broker license. I applied for my broker's license. I passed it in October 2023, I believe it took a year to get my license and that cut me from doing any business as a broker, because originally I was going to be a customs broker, but without license I couldn't do anything. So in the meantime I was like I'm going to do consulting. In the meantime, I was like I'm going to do branded t-shirts and then I get my license. They're like, well, you can't really do business unless you have your permit, so that's probably going to be like another year. So then I have to shift again and I'll be like, all right, then I have to charge my what do you call it, this branded apparel thing and keep getting clients because I need to make money and because I took the exam I was preparing because that exam is really really difficult Only like 5% pass rate 5 to 15% pass rate and I was studying for it. And I still have neck pain a year and some change later because I was like studying for it and I still like go to physical therapy. So it was just more of like whatever, like a task I take.
Speaker 2:It's like I take the military saying where, like like you have to want it as much as you want to breathe, and when I try to translate that to civilian people that I work with, they look at me like something is wrong with me because they I would be like okay, um, you want to. Yeah, like you want to lose weight. I'm like okay, because I lost about 40 pounds since between 2022 till 2025 now, and I was like, but I was like I want it as much as I want to breathe. So I was like if I don't exercise or go on calorie deficit, like this means death, so literally like I, that's how I look at it. Or if I like this business doesn't go right, this is what it means, and it's just it doesn't translate well in the civilian life because they're just like no, you're too like, you're too much or you're too this, and I'm like that's fine. Then I stop just apologizing for being myself and I'm like that's OK.
Speaker 2:Like being militaries, like we're like the hardcore individual, like the one percent, we have this skill that we do not see, the 1% we have this skill that we do not see, like we undermine it, that the civilian people rarely have, that the military gives us. Like the military doesn't just give us trauma, it gives us a lot of skills and it's just. It's like I feel like veterans and soldiers do not recognize that Like being so disciplined and I'm a very, very disciplined individual, you know and it's just kind of like I learned that from the military. Being fearless, I learned from the military and it's kind of like even like I'm going to the east by myself and it's scary.
Speaker 2:But the first time I faced my fears was with the military, because when I was was joining, I was like, hey, what if I die? I'm just like, well, the Lord fits in, whatever, you know. So if I could face death, then I could face anything. So I think it's all in our head and if we can change, for like we literally fought for our country, we're very brave individuals who can translate that into this world, like in the civilian world, like we can handle anything. Civilians have nothing. World like we could literally handle anything would like civilians have nothing. Like we have nothing on us. We're like super humans in the civilian world. Like think of it that way where our skills translate in this is just it's kind of like you're. You're a lot better than a lot of civilians. I think it's time to recognize that.
Speaker 1:As a veteran, and you're skilled and you're trained, I mean I thousand percent agree with you on that. I thousand percent agree with you on that matter of fact. I had a conversation with someone the other day and we were discussing something and they were trying to tell me how it was. And I'm like I was deployed there, like, why are you telling like I was in the military my boots are still dirty, but you're a civilian, you've never been to the Middle East, you never served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Why are you telling me what it looks and smells like? It's crazy how you come back here and you talk to civilians and they act like you're the crazy one. But in reality I think they're crazy because we have a world view. When I went to basic training, for example, I think they're crazy because we have a world view. When I went to basic training, for example, I got an opportunity to meet as a battle buddy during basic training a guy from Vermont, a guy from Louisiana.
Speaker 1:All these different people you have to work with and you get stressed out and put under time and tension and you have to figure it out. You have to work together. A lot of people don't get that experience and even once you get stationed at your permanent duty station, you have to overcome a lot of things that most people don't have to deal with, and you have to figure it out for yourself. The only thing is is I think a lot of veterans struggle with doing what you've kind of mastered, which was taking action and being fearless and then also pivoting when you know it's right and no one else is telling you when to pivot or when to make a decision, whereas, like in the military, I think, a lot of times you're told when to pivot, when to do things.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, To answer your question about the take an action part. There's two parts to this one. Oh, yes, To answer your question about the take an action part, there's parts to this one. First, it's innate because, like in my bones since I was a kid, I don't like people telling me what to do, which is like ironic, considering the organizations I went to the army, the government, you know but, like I, I genuinely do not like people telling me what to do, Cause I'm just like I come from a culture. I love my culture.
Speaker 2:And at the same time it's not, you know, um, at the same time it's not, it's very male centered. The United States gave me a voice that I felt very, you know, independent, like you know I have. You know I could say this I could live this way. I have a chance to live this life, to get this education, to get this job. And I look at it from this point of view, where, in my country, we don't have this opportunity that the United States gives us and we shouldn't take that for granted, you know. So it's just kind of like, whatever opportunity I get, I'll grab it and go. So that's one of the reasons where I'm like you know, I take action and I don't like people telling me what to do. So I go ahead and do it and the other thing is like the other thing. The other reason why I take action is, and why I feel like other members have a hard time, you know, doing or taking action without somebody telling them what to do.
Speaker 2:It is easier when somebody tells you what to do, because if you mess up, it's somebody's fault. It's also taking responsibility and accountability. So now I'm all on my own If even if my employees in Egypt mess up, it's my fault, like I have to take responsibility. I have to go to the client and be like oh yes, I messed up and sometimes it has to come out of my own pocket. There were samples where I'm like I messed up, so I'll have to come out of my own pocket and get you new samples. I'm sorry. And you know, saying I'm sorry doesn't make you small, it just makes you a bigger person and people appreciate that. So accountability if you're willing to take accountability, then you're willing to take action. That's one of those Because before I used to be like I want people to tell me what to do.
Speaker 2:But then it was just kind of like no, because I want to blame it on them, like well, if you hadn't told me what to do, I wouldn't have done this. But now it's just like there's no one I could blame. I have to take all accountability and it sucks because I don't like critical feedback. But I will take it and implement it. I never liked it because it hurts. So I tell my bosses I'm like give me a feedback sandwich, tell me something positive, tell me the negative sandwich, the negative feedback and then the positive, and then just let me feel better and then that way I could take it. But it's just, I always take it and implement it.
Speaker 1:But if you, want to take action.
Speaker 2:You have to be willing to take accountability Back. Sandwich.
Speaker 1:I'm feeling I'm stealing that one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, feedback sandwich. It's very it, it's so helpful. You're just like you feel good. You're like ouch, and then they're like you feel good again. It's like you get ice cream at the end and after you get like a shot or something, you feel better. You're like, oh, thank goodness, you know, that's how.
Speaker 1:I look you sound like a boss, the total, and I I love that about you overall, Like you. Just you don't. You don't make excuses. There's a thousand things against you. One of the things you mentioned was, you know, working in the middle East and being a woman yourself, and um. The one thing I want to ask you, though, is is there's a lot of other companies out there doing what you're doing. They're going to be shipping, exporting, importing. How do you plan to differentiate your business in such a competitive market? And then also, too, I wanted to ask you about the most recent thing, which are the tariffs. What are your thoughts on that, and how do you think that will affect the market that you're going to be getting into?
Speaker 2:Thank you. So the the first one, the first thing that differentiates me from my competitors like, I care about my you know my um clients. I'm with them face to face. I'm not just a phone number on a website, um, I'm out there networking, talking to them and, and, like I said, usually their complaints is, if something's messed up, they usually don't have anybody they can go to. Or they're like oh, you have to pay me because you already got the sample. It's more like oh, we messed up.
Speaker 2:We take accountability, we care about your products. Our products are quality and we just care about you as a human being and we want to make sure this is more than money to us. We want to make sure that you thrive as a human being, as a business owner. We want to make sure that you succeed as a business owner. We want you to do good, we want to uplift the community. So it's not just about money, it's more than that for us. We want to remove the barrier, the middleman, for you and all these companies. Most of them care about profit and we care about you as an individual and your company.
Speaker 2:And then the tariff. So right now, China there was already 25% tariff on China for products coming from China. And now he just added additional 10%, and people and companies were already nearshoring, which means they were rerouting their products. They were going to Mexico and Canada, mostly Mexico. What they would do is they would put the parts together and try to label them made in Mexico which was fraud, by the way and try to bring it into the United States so that they don't pay duty. But the United States is catching up on it, which they're not allowed to do, and so people are staying away from China little by little, because the tariffs does hurt them.
Speaker 2:And then President Trump said that he will do tariff on Canada and Mexico. But then they retaliated. They were like we'll do the same thing to you. So he paused because he was going to charge them 25%. And then he paused on that for 30 days until they come into an agreement. And now he said we're going to match whatever you do. So if you charge us duty, we're going to charge you duty, which I think is fair. If you're charging us duty, I think you should be charged duty. But at the end of the day, what the people should know, because President Trump is saying America first and we want America to be first. But the tariffs is always the burden of the consumer, not the companies. Because as a company, if I bring those products, my customers are paying the tariffs. I'm paying for the tariffs and then I'm going to upcharge them Because at the end of the day the burden is always on the consumer. So the consumer is getting hurt. Their bills are higher. So tariff does not help the you know regular American people. It hurts them.
Speaker 1:So does that concern?
Speaker 2:you Does that concern you?
Speaker 1:Does that concern you with like what you're doing, or does it level the playing field for everybody?
Speaker 2:So right now, because my stuff comes from, my items come from Egypt, it's not of concern as of right now. As of right now, it's just regular duty for certain cotton products. But if, unless it's pen to paper and he actually puts out a policy, then I'll be concerned. Because when I was working with Customs and Border Protection, I was working under Trump President Trump's administration and he tweeted a lot of things and not everything was policy. And when people called or were concerned about the you know the tweets, we let them know, them know, hey, until it's policy, don't worry about it. So that's the same advice that I'm following. And then I update my clients. I'm like, okay, this is the update, this is what's going on. And then I just adapt. I'm like, okay, if you're charging canada this much or you're charging china, don't worry, I'm just gonna go to another country that you're not charging and then I'm gonna get it from there right it's always that you know simpler to do yeah
Speaker 1:it's always another option, it's fine and I really, I really think that's the difference, um, that your company offers versus the other companies is, for one, you have, uh, sumi's tenacity to never quit, right, and then also, too, like your willingness to just adapt and just simply go, okay, we'll just ship out of here, we'll ship out of there, um, and all the connections that you have, and, at the end of the day, you, you're multi-language, right? So how has that helped you with your global background overall, with being able to adapt and being able to laterally move from here to there when it comes to the business decisions that you make?
Speaker 2:tremendously, because I don't think this, uh, merchandise apparel thing would be happening if I didn't speak arabic. Because how would I communicate with the egyptian people? Uh, how would I speak with the, like the, my employees in egypt? I can't speak to them in any other language. I can't tell to them in any other language. I can't tell them like there was not. They don't their English, the people English is limited, not like there are people who speak English there, but not the people that I'm working with. If I didn't have Arabic, I wouldn't be making money right now and I would be stuck with me complaining about. I was like, oh my God, the car situation doesn't work, I don't have money, let me get a full-time job. There would be no apparel business and, yeah, I would probably be stuck waiting for my permit, which I am, but I have other options. I would be a lot more stressed and more angry and more just annoyed at everything, and I don't think I would have good energy what about like understanding culture too?
Speaker 1:that's, that's huge right yes.
Speaker 2:So egypt, I love egypt, it's my fate. Like from the middle east that's my favorite place I've been. I think, like from the places I've been in the Middle East, like they next to Dubai, they're really good. The way the women are treated, like you feel some type of way like if somebody's like harassing you on the street, like you say something, the police sees them, they throw them in jail. Like they're very like like leave this woman alone, let them be. They're very, very, very respectful and it's very and the culture, understanding the culture, the food, and when people, when you know their language and their culture, you respect them, they respect you.
Speaker 2:It's a very different treatment. Same thing with Turkey. Same thing Like I've been to Turkey multiple times because I speak their language. It's just kind of like this treatment so much different. I get so much more respect, so much more favor. It's just you're treated differently and you experience the world in a different perspective, as you're missing out on the world if you're not experiencing different cultures, and it definitely. It helps my business in every possible way, because you're seeing the people and you never know who's going to help you and when people feel seen and respected, then they're like I want to work with you. I think that also what makes us different is we. We see people like we see you. We're here for you.
Speaker 1:You know we understand you you check so many boxes, um, and that's really important, I think, because, at end of the day, you're not the type of professional that makes any excuses at all. You constantly pivot, and that's so impressive. I keep underlining that about you. At the end of the day, you're a role model. What is your long-term vision for Phoenix Global overall, like, what is your long-term vision? What do you hope to sustain, accomplish in the next five to ten years?
Speaker 2:in the next. So let's start with the 10 years. In the next 10 years, I want a shipping line, that big shipping line. The boat, yeah, I want to own that, god willing. So I want to be able to control. My goal is to control end to end supply chain. So I already have people overseas, I already have people here. If I control the boat, and then I'll eventually get my freight forwarding license and then I'll be able to be a freight forwarder, I'll be able to ship. I'd like just be a DHL, but Phoenix Global, but bigger than them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so just kind of be have a monopoly in a way of the shipping, but just in a different way, and just kind of disrupt the current market. That's my goal.
Speaker 1:And-.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's the 10-year plan.
Speaker 1:So what's your and?
Speaker 2:the five-year is probably to become a millionaire. Yes, that's the plan.
Speaker 1:I think overall, with your ability to just move left, and right and forth, I mean that that's certainly within reach. Um, who do you model yourself after, or is there anyone out there that you look at as like that's? That's who I strive to hopefully become or emulate? Um, is there somebody that you look to as like? This is who I, this is who I want to become.
Speaker 2:Honestly, the future is to me Because the reason I say that is because I learned. I'm a very efficient individual and I learn very, very fast. So if I emulate someone, I'll surpass them Because I am granted that talent because of the Lord. And so if I emulate them, then I'll just limit myself because I'm a limitless individual, as you say. I could just look up to myself and that feature, Simeon, the vision, and that's who I look up to and where I see myself and that's who I just keep going towards.
Speaker 1:Where do you get that? From who inspired you?
Speaker 2:Who inspired me for?
Speaker 1:As a child growing up, who gave you that? Is that just something that you think you were born with, or is it something that, like your father, your mother, maybe a sibling, that kind of you feel like, might have gave you that overall push?
Speaker 2:overall, like push the lack of um. If you you watched my phoenix global shipping video, brand video that was like get to know the ceo. That's the lack of. I was feeling powerless, like as a young age, you know, I remember like at age 11, and I was praying and I was like praying for financial freedom. I wanted to be free and I wanted to be independent, I wanted to be in control of my own life. I just felt everybody was taking control of my own life, of my life. Everybody was just pointing me to a direction and it was just kind of like it was just always. I felt like I was under somebody's thumb and I just felt I felt stuck and frozen, like in place, and I and I am meant to be free. And just the desire to be free is what drives me to do all of this.
Speaker 1:I think that's, I think that's just so inherent, man, I think that you were born with it. I mean, at the end of the day, um, some people have someone who inspires them to be a certain way and sometimes, I think people are just sometimes born to be ceos just like yourself. Um, what message do you want folks to walk away from this interview with today about sumi and global global, or Phoenix Global? Sorry.
Speaker 2:One message would be. One of the things that I go by all the time is sustenance comes from the creator, not humans. So whether you believe in the universe or God or higher being, it's always believing that your sustenance will come from that bigger being and not your boss. Because if you believe your boss is responsible for your paycheck, or your manager is responsible for the job that you have, or the military is responsible for you being fired, or just human beings in general, then you will always be somebody's slave, like you always be somebody's, under somebody. You will never be free.
Speaker 2:But if the moment you say you know what, like if this is meant for me, if this is written for me, it will always be for me. So I'm going to act according to my ethics, to my rules, to my boundaries and to my standards. Like the world will open up for you, you will honor yourself and people will. There's like a certain glow and people will respect you more for it and you'll get more. So just don't give your power away to human beings. Is what? Just remembering that sustenance comes from the creator, not human beings? That's like number one, like just remember, like people are not, like people are just people, just people. They're not. They're not that all they'll put people on pedestals. You know, and just because you are valuable, just because you exist, like your career, your rank doesn't make you, you know, lower or higher. That you're just just because you exist and you're a good human, that makes you valuable valuable.
Speaker 1:You know, the one thing, you know, the one thing I've always thought about, too, was, um. I feel like people who have sacrificed for me, who have given me opportunity, who've given me a chance, who've gone to bat for me. I've always felt like I wanted to live up to making it worth their while, and I owed it to them to make something of myself, and I didn't want anything to be done in vain. So, if I ever had a leader that was able to go to bat for me, put their rank on the line for me, I wanted their risk to not be done in vain, and it was important for me to accomplish more.
Speaker 1:And I think a lot of people don't think about that, like, whether it's your mother, your father, your grandma, grandpa, whoever it is in your life that literally like when your family decided to move to the United States, there's a huge risk there. They did that for a better life in the, in the united states, right, and? But at the end of the day, they could have just stayed in east africa and it would have been easier, right, but then they took this huge risk. So, sue me, the fact that you are making their sacrifice worth, um, their time, effort, energy, blood sweat and blood sweat and tears. That's huge. That is huge, and I think that's really important for people out there to think about, um, because there's always people in our lives that go out of their way to make things better for us, and we should not take that for granted.
Speaker 1:So I highly respect you and I highly appreciate you for the person that you are, the professional that you are. I love talking to you because you're so inspirational to me overall. So thank you for this opportunity to talk to you today. I just wanted to give you an opportunity. Was there anything that I didn't mention or talk about during this podcast that you want to talk about in addition to talking about substance?
Speaker 2:No, thank you so much. This was great and it's just I just wanted to say, like the military community is just like I said. I just I just wanted to highlight like super humans. And when I say, when I go into the civilian world and I compare our skills and, like I said, like when you're doing great things, you know someone that I was working with Right and like I'm, because we move fast, because we're in that pace and they might feel threatened by it and try to be like come down or slow down and kind of pull you back or slow down and kind of pull you back, but don't let that stop you.
Speaker 2:You are meant to be fast, you're meant to be superhuman and just recognize your skill. Don't undermine it and just use that to your advantage. You have that and not a lot of people do. You're amazing. You have so many skills. You're beyond your rank. Just this little thing the discipline, the military is awesome. You got this military so many skills. You're beyond your rank. Like just this little thing is the discipline. Like the military is awesome.
Speaker 1:So you got this military community I love it, I love, I love the community overall and, uh, and I love what you said about like your rank doesn't identify your capabilities, even outside of the military overall and yeah, no, it it's absolutely amazing Overall. I would say that anyone out there, make sure you link up with Sumi. I'll make sure that I have your LinkedIn profile down there, because I know you're active on LinkedIn. I'll make sure that I have your Instagram on there as well, and any other information you want to provide. It'll be in the show notes of the podcast that you're listening to right now, or if you're watching this on YouTube, make sure you scroll down to the description. At the bottom. You can find the information to connect with Sumi and just, it's been awesome following you. It's been awesome.
Speaker 1:Like everything from the Act Now Education Days to transitioning out of the military, to where we are right now. I'm super proud of you, Thank you.
Speaker 2:Act now education days to transitioning out of the military to where you're at right now. I'm super proud of you. Thank you. Act now I still use them. I reached out. I was like I want to get my pmp and they're really great about that, so I do appreciate act now. I'll get in touch with them. They have so many certifications. Jay sutter, he's, he's, he's pretty great for the day is day.
Speaker 1:day is insanely crazy. He is crazy man, the man he does. He has a true passion, true passion for the military community and I'm fortunate.
Speaker 2:Such inspiration yeah.
Speaker 1:No doubt. Well, sumi, thank you so much for the opportunity today. I hope we can talk again, and for everyone else out there, as always, I want you to stay tuned, stay focused and stay motivated. Warriors fall out.