20 Nov Take All Their Money: How Collaboration and Strategy Build Wealth

Build Community. Build Collaboration. Exploit Every Loophole.

The other day, I saw Fawn Weaver, the powerhouse behind Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, drop some wisdom that hit like a barrel-aged truth bomb. When asked about LeBron James and Beyoncé stepping into the whiskey and spirits space, she gave a few gracious nods and then stared down the camera with a look that meant business.

“Take all their money.”

No apologies. No disclaimers. Just the kind of energy the world needs right now. Her words weren’t just about whiskey; they were a blueprint for how we should be thinking—especially as we step into the new reality of the next few years. Weaver’s statement wasn’t about competition. It was about collaboration, strategy, and unapologetically claiming what’s yours.

Let’s break this down.

Build Community

For decades, communities that look like ours were taught to fight for scraps. We were told there was only room for one at the table. Fawn’s message is a sharp departure from that scarcity mindset. It’s about creating a network so strong and united that even industries built on exclusivity can’t ignore us.

Beyoncé and LeBron jumping into the spirits game is proof that the blueprint is evolving. No longer are we just consumers; we’re architects of markets. Collaboration doesn’t dilute your brand—it magnifies it. It sends a clear message: there’s not just room for more players; we’re making the rules now.

If you’re not building with the people around you, you’re already behind.

Build Collaboration

Fawn Weaver didn’t flinch at the thought of new competition. Why? Because she understands that a rising tide lifts all boats. Collaboration is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s the cheat code. Look at Beyoncé with SirDavis American Whiskey or LeBron with his Hennessy partnership. These aren’t vanity projects; they’re strategic moves that signal a shift.

Imagine what could happen if every Black entrepreneur embraced the same collaborative ethos. Not just in spirits but in tech, media, education, and beyond. We’d stop chasing after individual wins and start building ecosystems that feed generational wealth.

Exploit Every Loophole

Now here’s the part that might ruffle some feathers. It’s not enough to build community and collaborate. You’ve got to play the game better than the opposition. That means exploiting every legal, financial, and systemic loophole available.

Why? Because that’s how the game was built in the first place.

Look at tax codes. Look at funding opportunities. Look at industries designed to keep certain players out. If you’re not diving into the fine print, you’re leaving money on the table. It’s time to stop playing defense and start playing offense.

Weaver’s mantra, “Take all their money,” isn’t about greed—it’s about flipping the script. It’s about taking back what was systematically kept from us and leveraging it to create something bigger. Every dollar we redirect into our businesses, communities, and ventures is a dollar that shifts power dynamics.

The Mantra for the New Era

As a new administration takes over, we have a rare moment of alignment. More attention is on equity, opportunity, and diversity than ever before. If you’re waiting for permission, you’re wasting time. The system isn’t going to hand us anything—but if we move like Fawn Weaver, Beyoncé, and LeBron, we can take it.

• Build the table.
• Bring others to it.
• And then, unapologetically, take all their money.

This is the energy we need for the next decade: strategic, collaborative, and fearless. The only question left is—are you ready to play?

read this https://jrichardbyrd.com/wealth-inequality-perception-vs-reality/