Tunnel Vision
M. Todd Manuel
FWIS Contributing Writer
Richard Phillips is not your typical Fort Wayne area resident; he is much more. Like all of us he has a purpose, a family, and a community that he loves dearly. However, what makes Richard different is his relentless pursuit of success, eagerness to serve his community and to share the wisdom he has learned over the years.
Richard is the founder and leader of Tunnel Vision Promotions, a snack vending machine business, a real estate investment company and a website development company that helps small businesses like his own. Tunnel Vision Promotions was the marketing team that brought Fort Wayne one of the most invigorating entertainment shows in our city’s history. With mostly all local comedians, the entertainers collaboratively sold out one of Fort Wayne’s most respected and historic venues: the Fort Wayne Embassy theatre.
As Phillips reflects on this recent success, he reminisces about one of his first entertainment events that brought Soulja Boy to town over a decade ago. “At the time, no one knew who this kid was, and people even laughed at his name, like ‘who is this Soldier Boy.’ Now that Soulja Boy is a national artist, now we all know who he is.” Phillips explains how some of the relationships that he still has began out of that event. He is still in entertainment circles that would not have been possible, without his very first show. Still today he networks with some of the most notable managers in the music industry. Some of these managers have continued to work with Souja Boy, while others have moved on to even bigger artists.
On top of these successes in the entertainment promotions industry, Richard’s book is giving knowledge to anyone who values relationships and great communication. His work entitled, “Understanding Your Man: Answer to Many Questions That Women Have,” helps each gender learn about the other’s perspective. Phillips writes about how men must consider the perspectives of their female partners, and vice versa, in order to have great communication. The book teaches the reader about many new and old approaches to managing a successful relationship, from Phillips’s viewpoint.
Managing relationships is something that everyone has some level of insight on. We all have someone that we would like to share better communication with. As a father, a husband, and businessman Phillips believes that his guiding forces to creating effective relationships have been his upbringing and his overall attitude. His experiences growing up and past dealings in the community as a businessman have taught him a better way of existing: by becoming the best version of ourselves.
“Just never give up,” Richard Phillips responded to the question of what he wanted readers to know. The attitude that you can do anything is what Richard wants our community to take from his current life’s work and book. Richard wants everyone to believe in their ability to become successful by keeping a positive attitude and never giving up on their goals.
To spread this attitude and positivity, Richard’s newest business ventures are in philanthropy. That is, Richard is proudly in the business of inspiring minds by introducing others to new ideas. By helping others, Phillips acknowledges the complexities of everyday life. It is for this cause that Richard is the key sponsor of annual Turkey and Bookbag giveaways on the Southeast side of town. Every year, Tunnel Vision Promotions gives free school supplies and free Turkeys to hundreds of families in our community. The YMCA, the American Legion Post 148, and Tunnel Vision Promotions are among some of the organizations that help support these efforts. The goal is to make life a little easier for struggling families and single parents here in Fort Wayne. The pandemic has created a need for these and similar events for families that have fallen into poverty due to pandemic-related challenges.
Phillips says, “Giving back is good for me and the community.” His inspiration comes from his family, his wife, and his late grandmother—Mrs. Mary Phillips-Babb. Mrs. Mary was well known in the East-Summit neighborhood, off of Lewis Street. She was a model of how to be a great person and how to encourage others to do positive things. She also had the best flower garden in the neighborhood.
If his grandmother were alive today she would certainly be proud of her grandson. He is a testament to not giving up. The seeds of growth that Mrs. Mary planted in him as a child have grown into a plan for self-development and positivity for his family and for our community. Maintaining great family values, providing business solutions, and giving back is the formula that he has mastered. Balancing work and family requires precise measurements that he is eager to share.
Richard wants to do even more in the future. “I am looking forward to sharing more of what I have learned over the years with the youth of our community. I hope to go into schools to inspire children to become whatever they want to be,” said Phillips. Our community is in the best position to grow into whatever the next generation determines it will be. Two of Phillips' children are recent college graduates, both of which are now business owners, and have faced adversity in their journeys toward success. Mr. Phillips explains that “It is time that we begin building a new generation.” Giving back to his family, the community, and by fostering many positive ventures, Richard Phillips is doing his part. As we closed our conversation, Richard shared that Tunnel Vision Eyewear is coming soon and he’s promoting DreamGirls coming to Arts United Center in June.