Dr. George C. Fraser has made it his life’s mission to lead and influence the black business community. He has been deemed a “networking guru” for his great work in teaching the power of networking and using influential relationships to build a career.
Keith “MR. D-MARS” Davis, Sr. experienced the teaching and mentoring of Dr. Fraser first hand. From attending the annual PNC to becoming a personal mentee of Dr. Fraser, MR. D-MARS has built his business on using the power of “relationship capital” to change and better himself and the community around him. He discusses this road to success in his debut book “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest,” which includes a foreword written by Dr. Fraser himself.
Dr. Fraser and MR. D-MARS answered some questions about their relationship, the power of networking and attending PNC and how to use the tools you have through “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest.”
How did you two get connected?
- D-MARS: “I remember when I was trying to figure everything out, I just knew I could be more successful if I knew more people than anybody. I liked to meet people, but I didn’t understand the concept of relationship capital and the business of networking until I meet Dr. Fraser. I heard him speak and then began researching him and reading his books. Everything I was trying to do and everything I was thinking of, he put it in perspective for me, so I could understand the value of networking and building relationships and how it could really help grow a business.”
How did the two of you establish a personal mentorship?
MR: D-MARS: “I was telling him how impactful his speech was, and he gave me his contact information. He encouraged me to keep doing research. I started going to his annual conferences and following him and reading his books, talking on the phone, getting advice…He really opened my eyes to a lot of things. He just had a lot of resources and data at his disposal that I was able to soak up.”
Dr. Fraser: “I liked Keith from the moment I met him nearly 15 years ago. He was a bit rough around the edges, but he had steel encrusted determination, overflowing creativity, street smarts and good old fashion mother wit.”
What kind of impact did Dr. Fraser have on your career?
- D-MARS: “He had a huge impact on my career because I learned from him the true business of networking. And it really helped me grow, and the impact of that allowed me to teach other people effective networking. From the first time I attended his conference, he had a great impact on me, and I was able to share that with the people I worked with.”
What should people expect to experience and gain from the PNC 2019?
Dr. Fraser: “A transformative, training and coaching experience regarding business development, wealth creation, personal development and access to the most powerful and “woke” networking of Black professionals, business owners and community leaders from around the globe.”
Why should the community be in attendance at this year’s event?
Dr. Fraser: “We will be giving birth to a new Nation – FraserNation: Citizens of Generational Wealth. We will have our own Preamble, Declaration of Interdependence, Constitution and Flag…it will be historic…happening for the first time anywhere in Houston.”
MR: D-MARS: “You need to really listen. Collect the data. It helped changed my life. That is why it was an honor for him to write the foreword in my book. He had a different perspective on how to move the community forward, and if you know me, you know I am all about the community. He gave me the right tools and mechanisms that I still use to this day to help the community.”
What sets this networking conference apart from others?
Dr. Fraser: “I am the Guru of Networking in Black America, 32 years’ experience and training our people, they will learn from the best! PNC was selected by Forbes Magazine as “One of the Top 5 Conferences Not To Be Missed in America.” No other Black conference has ever been honored with that distinction. In 32 years, there has been over $1.2 billion in new business growth for the attendees, $1.5 billion black dollars recycled back into the community, 2,900+ new Black owned businesses started, creating over 3,000 new jobs, 4,900 hours of coaching and mentor sessions/hours, 50,000 attendees trained, etc.”
In what aspects do you hope to grow and improve this conference in years to come?
Dr. Fraser: “To teach our people to think like a nation and not a plantation.” Only then will we maximize our full human potential.
Speaking of maximizing, how did Dr. Fraser have an influence on “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest?”
- D-MARS: “I think some of the things I learned from him helped shape who I am. I now understand how important it is to get into different rooms and different circles and how to use relationships to better yourself and in turn, better the community. That is what I have always wanted to do, make my community better by helping businesses and people in the community. By learning some of his strategies, I was able to write this book.”
What did it mean to you to be involved with “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest?”
Dr. Fraser: “To be asked to write a Forward for an important book is an honor by any measure. To do it for Keith “D-MARS” Davis, Sr., a mentee of mine for many years, is not only humbling, but gives me great pride and a sense of real purpose regarding the moral and spiritual goals of my own life. Not only has Keith listened and internalized the guidance and lessons, he has passed on the knowledge to others, which in turn affected many other lives. His groundbreaking 20-year-old communication business, which pivots and requires masterful networking and relationship building skills, has not only succeeded at the highest levels, but has showcased Black excellence in greater Houston as it has never been done before. His new book “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest” is not only a blueprint for success, not also generously shares the lessons he has learned. His path to greatness is clear and I’m ecstatic and fulfilled to be but a small part of that.”
To learn how to harness the true power of networking and maximize the skills in your own treasure chest, be sure to get your copy of MR. D-MARS’ book “Maximizing Your Own Treasure Chest,” available now, and attend Dr. Fraser’s 2019 Power Networking Conference at the Hilton Americas in Downtown Houston, Texas, June 26-29.
