Black In Business

A buzz word from the 60’s that still is a hot topic today. I saw Barrack Obama on “Meet the Press,” this morning. He mentioned much of our political debate today is a hang over from the 60’s.Examples;big government vs small,sexual revolution or family values, quotas vs affirmative action. Why are we stuck in the pass and what does this have to do with blacks in business?

I had the good fortune to hear a speech from a VP of HR for a major big city newspaper. He was a accomplished black professional with confidence and style. Here we are 40 years after a program designed to “keep hope Alive,” and help us blacks, long victimized by discrimination, live the American dream. Yet many have lost hope, have we failed or succeeded from the days, when my miner father use to tell me, the White-man, will let you work in his store but he will not let you be the cashier or count the money. As we all know now, we can now be the cashier. Of course there are cameras all around and security focused strategies to help keep us honest.

Back to the speech, there was a section called, the history of HR. 40 years ago, HR was personnel and it became a safe heven for black faces,affirmative action at work;work in the store, but do not touch the money. The personnel dept. lacked clout,respect and did the distasteful work. Employees were sent to personnel if their bosses were unhappy. Few blacks came into sales, marketing,  where God forbit, we might come into contact with customers, or finance where we might count the money. The personnel blacks were often subservient and non threating. They were not respect for their talent and were often viewed as Uncle Tom’s by other blacks in their work force.

Fast forward, the dept. is now HR and they sit aat the table of power. The jobs, once reserved for passive blacks, VP of HR, Director of HR, Dversity manager, HR Generalist, now includes whites and a more business savy black.

HR is part of the inner circle and they sit at the table, where business is discussed. They are there when  plans are made for growth and some even have opinions. They have an opportunity through organizational development to become major players in theri companies. The HR VP giving this speech, has an MBA from a  top 10 business school. I predict over a short period of time HR will become whiter and whiter. What do you think, does it matter, how can our youth be better prepared for the future trend? What about some of the old school Black’s that started as personnel, will that adapt and develope the couarage and skills to participate in and not just sit at the seat of power, while waiting to pass the baton to more and more whites.

Here is a word that was not used much until affirmative action came into play for corporate America. Diversity replaced quotas, a word we do not much hear any more. Is diversity a good thing? Do we embrace it? Most white males think diversity means some one else. They are not diverse. Through inclusion, we have learned that diversity, means more than race or gender. Some people are tall, short, liberal, conservative, hip, square, you get the point.

Saying all of that to say this, for blacks in business, diversity is both a opportunity to exhibit our greatness and a reason for doubt from the dominant race. We only get hired, promoted and tolerated because we are black. A black woman is a 2 for.

Great win by DaDa Bears on Monday night. I stopped a tavern to talk about some football. A white male engineer ask me about my executive recruiting business. For some reason and as he put it, not wanting to offend me, he explained, blacks in corporate America have an advantage over whites especially black women. He explained how during recent years, when he was employed by one of Chicago area top employers, he saw blacks not nearly as talented as him get further along. We discussed this topic but, I am bias and never has felt my blackness was a competitive advantage over white men. I told this worldly and intelligent white male, I could line up Blacks that would feel differently. So I want your feedback on this topic, programs like affirmative action are meant to overcome discrimination and provide an opportunity for more blacks in business. Yet, some high achieving whites feel , it represents, reverse discrimination. What is your opinion, lets debate this.

Dennis Kimbrow has a book called “What Makes the Great, Great? The book may now be out of print but is a facinating topic. One night I was watching ESPN discuss the greatest running back in pro football history. The show discussed Gale Sayers, Jim Taylor, OJ Simpson, Walter Payton and Eric Dickerson. This was prior to some other stars that could enter the conversation today. The last man discussed was refered to as “The Great” Jim Brown.

This was heavy stuff, because all the men discussed had remarkable careers but only one was called great. In the business world, it has been discovered that a mere adjective, Greatone, would take performance to new heights. I tried this with a sales team. Anyone doing over 1 million dollars in new business capital equipment sales would be refered to as great. As in “The Great Jamal Doe.” I was amazed at what an honor this was for the sales team.

We had our people write business plans each year, to discuss how they were to hit their goals. Normally the team would write their goals to be 100% of their goals. After the carrot of being referred to as great was presented, the business plans were written to be “Great.” The outcome was every one was shooting for 200% of goal and as a result we enjoyed record breaking sales, along with having a great time.

The point, the team sold more because they wanted to be great. It is all about the attitude and our hope is to provide stories about people, just like you and I that have the attitude to be great. We want to let everyone know greatness is possible and you are capable. We all can win in business with hard work desire and a competitive sprit.

How many of us have been told by well meaning family members,”study hard so you can get a good job.” Or, “Go to college so you can get a good job!” I wonder how many of us heard? “study hard so you can start your own business.” Or, “Go to college so you can start your own business.”

I spoke with my barber, early one morning, he opens at 6am. Do we think of our barber as a businessman? Do they sell,service,market,account,pay taxes, plan to grow, reinvest? You are darn right they do! Some of our most long termed and successful Blackbusiness people are right under our noses and in the neighborhood,yet often are over looked as successful business leaders.

My barber drives a TownCar and a Navigator, owns a home,paid for his daughter’s college education, at a private college, and employs 9 young black barbers. I have seen the positive influnce he has provided these young men. They have all worked hard, some have been with the shop for over 10 years. All of the barber shop employees drive nice cars, most have brought homes and are fixing them up. The barber shop supports 10 families, that are all headed by a black business man.

I spoke to my guy at 6am, a competitive advantage over the shops that open at 9 or 10 am. He usually has a crowd of working men, first thing in the morning. My barber, whom I will refer to as Mr. P, grew up in Mississippi and heard all of the family encouragement to get a good job. Mr. P got a good job and became a service manager that was well compensated. Mr. P  had the forsight to know “the man,”  could take his job away anytime because it was a job not a business.

It was not a situation he was confortable with, Mr. P knew he could do more. Mr.P discussed his business with his family. He was told,”you have a good job, you are making good money, why take the risk.

Mr.P even found resistance at the bank. He wanted to open a laundry matt, and was perpared to invest 300,000 dollars in equipment,which the bank approved. Mr. P also wanted to buy a building to house his laundry. This is where the bank drew the line. The bank wanted Mr.P to house his  his laundry in the building of  white  bank customer and rent his space.Mr. P felt renting a space will still give him a white boss, the landlord. He felt the landlord could fire him anytime by not renewing the lease. The rent could increase yearly and he would not of equity as a renter.

Mr. P rejected the deal and went to barber school, brought a building and now has a business thatsupports 10 black families. I am proud of Mr. P and will comment he has worked hard and set high expecations for himself. He is an excellent manager and treats his customers and employees with respect. His shop is a fun business experience. Let’s us know your comments and provide some insight of what you would like to see on this blog

Welcome to Black In Business!