Black In Business

This is a great time of the business year. You have either blown away your numbers and are chilling a bit, or you are sweating out the last few days of sales for the year hoping to hit the numbers. The third category is where you long gave up on having a successful year, and hope for 2007 to start so you can start over. All 3 cases give us hope; hope our good fortune continues, hope we hit the number for 2006 and in the final example, hope for the year to end early so you can start fresh next. As Dr. King said, “with out hope we have nothing,’ As Rev. Jackson says, keep hope alive,” This is the time of year where everyone should have hope.

How do we take hope and turn it  into business? I went into to a situation where the team had given up hope because of poor sales. I was a new leader in a new organization, and no one felt it could be done easy. It was done and done easy, not because of me, but because the team took some basic steps, and established a sense of urgency, along with accountbility.Oh, I forgot to mention I was  Black in business. The first black manager of managers in this division of a fortune 500 company history.I knew failure was not an option for me, if I failed there would be no more opportunity for black managers for a long time.

How did this team go from being a team of underachievers, to records sales from the first month of our time together and through the next 3 years. Because together we discoved how to keep hope alive. I was promoted in late October to take over effective Jan 1.My first goal was to meet with all 80 people face to face by the start of a new year.

This team was made up of 7 districts around the United States. I wanted to meet with all 80 members of the team and introduce myself, let them know my vision, how it contributed to the corporate vision, my history, and why I felt we would win. It was critical for these guys to believe in me, as their boss. That is very important, but the most important aspect for me, was to look each and every person in the eye and share something important.I wanted to let the team know, to miss achieving their goals was not acceptable and would not be tolerated. It was equality important for them to know I believed in them and would help them in any way I could.

Their role in this meeting was to present their action business plan to their direct manager and to me. This meeting was helded in business clothes and the presentations were done using a projector. The presenter stood in front of the room. It was very serious and very formal. It also worked. There will be more post on this topic, action business plans and how to use them as a road map for success in upcomming post. Keep hope alive

All over the world, the actions of sport stars has been cause for concern. The big news in Chicago this fall has been Da Bears. The fans want a world championship, nothing less. It has been 20 years since the 85 Bears. I have only lived in this area for 12 years but i am begining to understand the love affair between this city and da Bears. Iron Mike Ditka, once said something to the effect, the Bulls can win 10 championships, it is nothing like when da bears win. Da Coach is right.

“Tank Under Fire!” the headline screamed from the Chicago Suntimes. The entire sports media is up in arms, sports radio stations have been on this topic all day. BEARS DEFENSIVE TACKLE HANK JOHNSON HIT WITH 6 MISDEMEANOR FIREARMCHARGES. The cops stormed his home, his 2 young children were removed from the home. Tank’s buddy was charged with a felony pot charge. Big deal, as OJ would say, Tank did not kill anybody.

The fans on sports radio that are so upset, I wonder how many are at games drunk, exposing themselves, using foul mouths. The sports fans and media demand Tank be punished, I wonder how many would say that if the team loses with out Tank.

The cops did a 5 week investigation, bases on complaints from tank’s neighbors, about loud dogs. I think this is a case of redneck Gurnee, ILL  neighbors, jealous of a large 25 year old rich black man living with what appears to be a white girlfriend and biracial kids.

Mistakes were made but in this case the overaction to as simple as black and white. Let Tank play.

http://www.chicagobears.com/

I came accross a post by David McQueen  regarding a study about schools in the UK. It was pointed Afro- Caribbean boys experience difficulity with institutionalized racism and as a result are expelled from school at a high rate. This blog is timely because I had planned to blog about this same subject in the US.

In the states we have more blacks finishing college, earning law, business and medical degrees, owning businesses and moving up the economic ladder, than at any time in history.Yet troulbling Issues give cause for concern. These issues dipict a different future for young at risk black males:

Only 41% of low income African American males grauate from high school.

69% of African American fourth graders cannot read at grade level compared to 29% of their white counterparts.

One in three African men between the ages of 20 and 29 are in jail, prision or on parole.

Between the ages of 10 and 14, African American boys slightly outnumber African american girls. But within just a few short years, the population of African American boys declines at a staggering and sobering rate.

ComEd the giant energy company in Chicago is stepping forward to help the United Way and concerned citizens via a 2 for 1 match of inititative contributions of 1000 dollars or more. This program has targeted  Chicago neighborhoods to help at risk African American males ages 10-16 make a healthy and successful transition from childhood to young adulthood.

The goal are as follows; youth understand the value of staying in school and are on track to gradulation, youth develope a positive understanding od employment expectations, opportunties and possibilities, youth understand and assume healthy family and social roles that help them become postive, productive young adults.

Congratulations to ComEd and the United Way and taking a lead to help fix a problem. To find out more, contact CJ Jones, United Way Director of Outreach and Diversity at 312-906-2302

Living in Chicago, I have met Senator Obama on a few occasions. As recent as 4 years ago, I was on a field trip with my son’s eighth grade class to the Illinois State House. At the time Obama was a state Senator and was considered a effective state Senator. There was no crowd, no excitment, just me the Senator and a few special needs kids. The Senator was very gracious and made us all feel special. There was also no debate as to his race, he was and is a tall thin, light skinned black man. In fact his announcement last night of being on da Bears bandwagon, would not have caused any interest and his visit to New Hampshire would have been not news worthy. What a difference a speech makes. Is the esteemed Senator the Colin Powell of this election season or does he have a chance. He is a good copy and I hope that translates into votes, clearly, what we have now is not working. As for his race, go to address on the link below. The debate is on!

http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/169195,CST-NWS-mblog12.article

As blacks in business we need to consider ourselves as citizens of the world. This is a global economy and one in which we should think big. Many of the biggest names in African American history, in an effort to excape oppression in the US,lived in Europe and developed a tradition and love affair with the city of Paris.

I have friends that are working in other countries and recieving experiences that hopefully will help their careers. I know of black families, who’s children have seen the world along with them. Gone are the days when black travel meant Grey Hound Bus only. I have had the good fortune to manage global business for sales and marketing for 2 different companies.

Students should consider, international internships,corporate employees, should consider, international assignments. Business owners should consider global business growth opportunties.Families should consider international investments and vacations.

Yesterday, I recieved a great comment from Julia Browne regarding Josephine Baker. Please look for comments under Role Models. Julia’s comment exhibited an energy and passion that was a hallmark of Ms Baker’s career. I visited Ms. Browne’s web site and liked it so much I want to have you see it as well. It describes Black America’s impact on Paris. My wife and I spent a week in Paris 18 months ago but did not know of this tour, started by Ms Browne in 1994. Please see the link below.

http://www.walkingthespirit.com/