Get Up and Get on It: A Black Entrepreneur's Lessons on Creating Legacy and Wealth - Hardcover

by Dana Frank (Author)

A compelling story of entrepreneurial determination

Are you ready to embark on an inspiring journey of resilience and success, especially for those often facing daunting challenges in our society? Dana Frank's debut book, Get Up & Get On It! A Black Entrepreneur's Lessons on Creating Legacy & Wealth, is a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of individuals from marginalized communities, such as People of Color and women navigating the male-dominated business world.

This captivating narrative traces its roots back to 1950 when Gerald Frank, a determined Black man, arrived in Seattle at the tender age of 18. Fleeing the violence of Detroit and the suffocating grip of Jim Crow Laws, Gerald carried nothing but dreams and drumsticks in his heart. His unwavering belief that he could carve out a better life set the stage for an incredible journey. Today, over 70 years later, the real estate empire forged by Gerald and his wife, Theresa, in Seattle's Central District continues to flourish under the guidance of the third generation of the Frank family. But theirs was not a journey paved with silver spoons.

In Get Up & Get On It!, Dana Frank paints a vivid picture of the hurdles her family faced. Dana herself confronted racial barriers as her father made unconventional business choices. When her parents' thirty-two-year marriage ended in a bitter divorce, Dana and her mother emerged as fearless business partners, facing the brink of bankruptcy left by her father. Their story is a testament to fortitude, perseverance, bravery, and unrelenting hard work. As a single mother and entrepreneur, Dana learned the power of leveraging her network, staying true to her story, and envisioning a brighter future.

Today, as the President of The TD Frank Family Properties, Dana's mission is clear: to teach how to create generational wealth by working smarter, not harder. She emphasizes a timeless truth: "Equity grows, cash erodes," and reveals how real estate investments can be a game-changer for future generations. Dana firmly believes that anyone, regardless of their birth circumstances, can rewrite the trajectory of their lives.

Get Up & Get On It: A Black Entrepreneur's Lessons on Creating Legacy & Wealth offers:

• Personal stories filled with humor and invaluable insights on reshaping your inner narrative.
• A straightforward yet potent approach to building generational wealth through the R.E.A.L. method: Research, Expand, Amplify, and Leverage connections.
• Guidance on gaining advantages, progressing, fostering empowerment, and achieving success in wealth-building through real estate.
• A treasure trove of historical photos that illuminate the family's ties to challenging real estate markets and their connections with the vibrant music scene of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, featuring Dana's uncle, Quincy Jones.
• Original social-justice poems penned by Dana Frank herself throughout the book, amplifying the narrative that People of Color can indeed "Get Up and Get On It!"

Get Up & Get On It: A Black Entrepreneur's Lessons on Creating Legacy & Wealth is a compelling story of determination that challenges conventional paths to freedom. It is essential reading not only for business influencers, entrepreneurs, executives, and philanthropists but also for anyone seeking inspiration and the keys to unlocking their full potential. Dive into Dana Frank's remarkable journey and discover how to rewrite your own story of success.

Front Jacket

Amidst familial complexities and racial tensions, Dana Frank has emerged as one of Seattle's most triumphant minority real estate investors. In Get Up and Get On It, Frank captivates readers by taking them through a life full of unique experiences and challenges.

Born to parents determined to change the narrative their birth circumstances dictated, one side of Frank's life was full of music and celebrity. Her father was an accomplished drummer who played with some of the most celebrated jazz entertainers, and her uncle is legendary music producer Quincy Jones. The other side of Frank's life was full of conflicting moments of hardship and darkness, having to live under her father's iron fist and observe him engage in unconventional (and ethically questionable) real estate endeavors while also tagging along with him in moments of activism, picketing anti-Black banks and exposing redlining.

Dana ultimately made a courageous decision to partner with her mother and break free from her father during an era when Black women faced impossible odds in pursuit of financial independence. Today, there is nothing Dana does not know about being a "Landlady."

Get Up and Get On It recounts the invaluable business lessons she has inherited and redefined, transforming them into a source of pride, helping thousands of families secure housing to create their own wealth while building a rich legacy of third-generation wealth for her children.

Back Jacket

Praise for GET UP AND GET ON IT

"My niece, Dana Frank comes from a family of entrepreneurs, who's hard work shaped a powerful destiny."
--QUINCY JONES, Music Producer

"Dana's goal in writing this unconventional business book is to amplify her voice and to help level the economic playing field."
--DAYMOND JOHN, Shark Tank

"Written in clear, engaging prose, Dana Frank weaves an inspirational tale of familial wealth generation, real estate savvy, and business advice. I couldn't put this book down."
--DOLEN PERKINS-VALDEZ, Author of Wench: A Novel

"As a former Chief of Police, I understand the importance of empowerment and financial stability in fostering safer and more resilient communities. What sets this book, Get Up and Get On It: A Black Entrepreneur's Lessons on Creating Legacy & Wealth apart is its emphasis on not accumulating wealth but also on the importance of building legacy that extends beyond monetary success."
--CARMEN BEST, Former Seattle Police Chief and Author of Black in Blue: Lessons on Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Racial Reconciliation

"As the founder of a foundation dedicated to empowering youth through mentoring and financial literacy, I recognize the urgency of equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed. Dana's book offers a roadmap for individuals from all walks of life to break free from limiting beliefs and chart a course towards prosperity. As a former NFL player, I've witnessed firsthand the financial challenges many athletes face, and Dana's book, Get Up and Get On It demonstrates principles needed to change that narrative and create generational wealth."
--K.J. WRIGHT, Former Professional Football Player, Founder of The Wright Way Foundation

Author Biography

Real estate mogul and philanthropist DANA FRANK shares the formula for creating generational wealth. Today, she is a real estate authority, helping families secure housing and embark on their wealth-creation journey. Dana manages a third-generation real estate business, Frank Enterprises, originally founded by her father in 1950 with a single-family home. Today, as the General Managing Partner of The TD Frank Family Properties, she oversees hundreds of multifamily apartments and continues to expand their real estate investments in Washington and Arizona.

While attending the University of Washington, she obtained her real estate broker's license at 19 years old. Her overarching mission centers on creating generational wealth, a belief she holds as attainable and sustainable for those ready to put in the effort and reshape the narrative. Dana's guiding principle is that "Equity grows, cash erodes." She is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by imparting wisdom on working smarter, not harder.