Brandon Douglas is no stranger to hustle and innovation. He says he knew he would be his own boss someday and while serving in the Navy. Not only did he purify jet propulsion on a nuclear aircraft carrier, he also became a preferred barber among his peers. This set the stage for his current business located in NorthTown Mall, Bummy Boss Clips and Beauty Supply. His first acquaintance with Spokane was when he won a news production contest in college. Media production is another area of interest for Douglas.
“I went to college at Olympic which isn’t too far from here. It’s in Bremerton, Washington,” Douglas said. “So, when I was in the service, when I got out, the first class that I took was media production.”
While living in California, he enrolled at San Joaquin Delta College in Northern California, earned his associate’s degree and then transferred out to California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Douglas says that cutting hair was just something that he did on the side. He learned, however, that the demand for his skill was significant.
“That was when I knew for sure that I was going to do it officially at some point in my life,” he said.
Being exposed to the profession as a child in his mom’s beauty shop, Douglas remembers being prophesied over by his godmother that he would be in this profession.
“I was exposed to all that (at an) early age, but I don’t remember cutting hair until I was about 8, practicing on myself and my cousins and my brother,” Douglas said.
He jokes that everyone wanted to be a guinea pig. Early exposure to entrepreneurship created a vision for Douglas. We talked about how this correlates to understanding ownership and wealth in the Black community. Cultivation, he says, is the key.
“Cultivation theory includes the set-up, if not the components of having a piece of information or propaganda, continuously run by you to the point to where you’re digesting it easily,” he said. “So, you’re exposed to it, so much that it becomes a normality.”
He explains that creating a vison requires going beyond your normal reach and learning how to become comfortable being uncomfortable. This is how you learn; this is how you grow.
“So, that’s one way that we can move ourselves out of stagnation,” Douglas said.
Faith is a huge proponent in Douglas’ perspective on success. He further rationalizes, “I would say the importance of entrepreneurship and generational wealth is totally dependent upon our virtues and what we believe at heart to be most valuable. So, with me, it definitely starts with my belief in Jesus Christ and all the other fundamentals that support that and how He goes about things.”
He goes on to share what an abundant life looks like, focusing on values first. The values that are passed down become foundational in how we approach opportunity. Accumulated wealth, Douglas said, comes with modeled examples.
“Whatever wealth is accumulated for my bloodline ends up trickling down,” he said.
This is where understanding that accumulation of wealth starts with a family mindset.
“Then it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Douglas said. “So before we talk about somebody else’s kids, what have we done for our own kids? What have we done for ourselves? And let’s look a few ladders up and see what mom, grandpa, great granddad did for us.”
We discussed the difference between entering directly into the workforce versus going to college first.
“When it comes to the two, obviously (there are) pros and cons,” Douglas said.
There can be more benefits in entrepreneurship, if you are successful.
“But when you do go to college, one of the great things about it is the networking because you’re dealing with like-minded individuals who may not be on the same path as you, but one of the most meaningful things for me was being able to connect with those who had the same goals and aspirations as myself,” he said.
Part of business is being in spaces where you can contribute, learn, and connect, he reflected.
“The entrepreneur route (is) like grassroots, feast or famine from the jump,” he said. “And if you don’t have any financial backing, then that’s going to cost you as well.”
If saving money to build your business, he suggested to start now.
Douglas remembers being a kid with aspirations. His advice to the younger generation trying to find their way?
“Be passionate about whatever you’re into but it’s not going to always be a one size fits all,” he said. “Get off the TikTok and see what makes you tick.”
Exposure to new things, intrinsic values that guide personal decisionmaking, a strong family unit to reinforce the mindset of abundance that extends beyond material wealth, and faith – these components are what Douglas identifies as a recipe for generational wealth.