Black In Business

Is it me or is Charles Barkley right to vote for the Black Guy? I agree with Charles!
Football fans, Is it me or if Lovie hadn’t sat Grossman, it would have become a Lovie Issue and not a Quarterback Issue?
Moral majority, Are we giving white quarterback, Tom Brady a break for knocking up 2women within weeks of each other while still being unmarried, Is it me or is there a double standard.?
Is it me or should son of a Bush be impeached?
Is it me or is racism an acceptable part of American culture?
Is it me or could Native Americans tell us something about what can happen to your country if you do not get tough on immigration ?
Is it me or does blogging have the ability to change the world?
Is it me or does our, USA, Foreign policy suck?
Is it me or has Reverend Al Sharpton becoming one of the most eloquent leaders in American society?
Is it me or is Randy Moss back?
Is it me or are the Cowboys better off without Parcels?
Is it me or are you worried about the housing market?
Is it me or are we worst off today than we were 7 years ago?
Is it me or is Iraq worst off with out Saddam?
Is it me or did we murder Saddam?
Is it me or is the white kid in Jena who got his ass kicked a punk standing in the shadow of his mother?
Is it me or will Barrack get less primary votes than Rev Jackson in 1988?
Is it me or does the Cubs and Brewers both suck?
Is it me or should people leave Britney alone?
Is it me or did you expect Republican leaders to debate on a black college campus?
Is it me or does OJ love whitewomen?
I know I jumped around a bit but these are a few things on my mind. Let me know your thoughts!

What a week it has been, Admit it, we all are standing a little taller over the remarkable coming together of black America over a terrorist judicial system in Jena Louisiana Just think black bloggers and black radio put OJ on the back pages of the news. Most white folks did not want to read about Jena, they wanted to learn all about their former hero OJ. Think about it, a Youngman like Michael Bell still in jail for winning a fight. The punk ass news reporters spoke on the horror of a white youth being knocked out. That is what happens in a fight, I have knocked out plenty of people in my youth, some in fights and some in sports. What a sham, but congratulations to black America for refusing to stand idly by.
I was just in Charm city, Baltimore, Maryland. There is a lot of good stuff happening and some urban decay. B-More has 100,000 junkies, plenty of murders and a high school drop out rate of 60plus % of young black males. It is still charm city, with a beautiful Inner Harbor and it is positioned to be a city on the rise.
We stayed at the lovely, InterContinental, Harbor Court Hotel, in downtown Baltimore. The hotel is located across the street from the jewel of urban renewal, Harbor Place and the Baltimore Aquarium. We had a corner suite and at night the view was so spectacular it took your breath away.
Speaking of spectacular beauty, my better half, whom I met in Baltimore, when she was 23 is now 50. We have had some great parties in our Cook County home,{Like our 70’s party that lasted until the police came at 3am} but for this milestone my wife wanted to head home.
As you know, Baltimore has a thriving film community with shows like, Homicide, The Wire, The Corner, that’s right, police shows and drugs. It is still a charm city. For business people there is a lot of opportunity for affordable properties. I noticed a lot of boarded up row homes. We stayed at the base of historic Federal Hill. 30 years ago the city sold row homes for 1 dollar in return for a promise of investing a minimum of 50,000 dollars to repair the homes. The program worked and the area is one of a nice community, with bars and restaurants, within walking distance to the stadiums and the Inner Harbor I brought 2 pair of shoes from Dan Brothers on Charles street, a must visit for shoe lovers.
We had the party at the Eubie Blake museum on Howard Street in antique row. We tore the roof off the sucker, almost everybody danced, including myself almost every body drank, including some that normally don’t and some that shouldn’t have so much but a great time was had by all. My wife saw friends she hadn’t seen in decades and was showered with love and affection. Thanks go to the family for engineering a memorable event.
This is a business blog but a brother got to have fun and this was fun. If it sounds like I love Baltimore, I do. We have a lot of good memories and I urge all black in business readers to pay a visit to charm city.

This is a business blog and many of the issues that are social issues are relevant because of the negative impact on our youth. My friends at Young Black Professionals were among the first to bring attention to the Shaquanda Cotton and many black bloggers including my man, Rev Jim Legington insured prayer was held asking for God’s help. Since then, I have joined a coalition of black bloggers Afro Spear that is ensuring that rights of black citizens have a watch dog and a loud voice. I have had to good fortune to meet some inspiring and successful black bloggers, successful in life and success as an internet voice, many whom commitment to black causes is only out done by their eloquence of voice and passion for what is right.
There are many leaders of the Afro Spear and I will only highlight 5 today but it is important for us all to know what we are capable of. I see the communication that these guys put into AfroSpear in terms of emails. They do this, plus blog often, win awards, rank high and in some cases have families and day jobs. The 5 I am giving thanks today for their leadership are; Esq. Holland, blackperspective, Bronze Trinity, Black women in Europe and my man Villager. Their work and commitment has been awe-inspiring.
I was checking out my black suit for tomorrow’s “dress in black protest”, for the Jena 6. There are bus loads of people going to Jena, Louisiana to exhibit support for the black children being abused by terrorists using the judicial system as their weapons. Felony charges have been dropped and this protest has had an impact. This momentum started via blogs, not Operation Push, or Rev. Sharpton, or the white owned news media. The Jena 6 protest marks the arrival of the black blogging community as a major force in America. Think about it, how often have we as black people been able to truly make a difference. Sure there have been moments but now we have the technology to build communities of similar thinkers on principle and unite to make things happen.
This is not just my thoughts, Mr. Howard Witt, senior correspondent, for the Chicago Tribune, had this headline today; “ BLOGGERS INSPIRE NEW CIVIL RIGHTS WAVE, Jena 6 protest nurtured on Web. This is a major newspaper giving credit to black blogs for the interest nationwide of the Jena 6.Tomorrow, stand tall, be proud, and dress in black to support the Jena 6. Keep Hope Alive.

My friend Robyn has a compelling post on business dress today. I have blogged on this topic a few times as well. I remember dressing up for church, wakes, funerals, plays, travel and going out to eat. I have seen pictures of Ballgames from an earlier time when the fans were dressed upped. In today’s world, all of the events I mentioned, I have witnessed people dressed like they are going to cut the grass. Robyn’s post points out how you dress can impact your paycheck. I invite business people to visit this post and let me know your thoughts. Thanks Robyn!

Colin Sullivan is a remarkable man. He is Irish, a former Jock, and a macho Wall Street manager. Colin has been kind enough to reach out and encourage my blog topics to include information about opportunities on Wall Street. Colin made a comment on one of my recent post. Colin was a heavy hitter on the street, Wall street that is until a life that now includes chronic pain. Often times this man is in too much pain to even visit on the phone yet he still exhibits the heart and soul of a champion. He loved the competition that drove him to Wall Street success. He believes more people need to have the opportunity to do great things in life. In that regard Colin provides some poignant suggestions regarding what to say in an interview. Keep in mind this is from a former hiring manager for potential 7 figure jobs. Check it out!

1. Colin M. Sullivan Says:
September 16th, 2007 at 6:05 pm e
Hi. I’ve stopped by to read Jim’s wonderful blog many times since we first met. Although I’ve never shaken the man’s hand, I feel that I know him well; his observations always seem to hit the bullseye of the subject on which he turns his attention. I’s like to offer a twist, however on this entry.
Start with this idea firmly anchored in your mind: I AM GREAT. I AM HERE FOR A REASON. THAT RESON IS TO (fill-in with your own words what the job’s outcome should be). I’VE CHOSEN (fill-in the company’s name ) TO BUILD MY CAREER ON THE FOUNDATION OF MY EXPERIENCE (fill-in with a personal story that specifically highlights the character of the corporation and skills required of the job. Tell him/her a true story about your life ) I’VE LIVED MY LIFE, AS BEST I COULD BASED ON THAT ONE SMALL STORY I’VE JUST TOLD YOU. [Look him/her in the eye; stare ] MANY PEOPLE MAY ASK YOU FOR A JOB. MANY PEOPLE HAVE A WEEK’S WORTH OF INTERVIEWS, AND YOUR FIRM FALLS INTO THAT SCHEDULE. NOT ME. THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE I WANT TO BE ( now you need 3 pieces of info, all easily got from the internet; 1. a recent quote from the CEO that you admire-use his name, the context, and the date on which he said it; 2. a quote from anyone who does the job your trying to get; 3. I like this product]…BECAUSE (points one, two and three from above.) PAY, BENEFITS, VACATIONDAYS DON’T MATTER TO ME–IT’S NOT WHERE I’D BE TOMORROW THAT CONCERNS ME. IT’S WHERE I’LL BE THAT I’M MOST INTERESTED IN. OH, I’M BLACK, DOES THAT MATTER?
Could you really get away with that? You bet! I hired people for years on Wall St.
The interview is about confidence demonstrated by your manner, which is polite and FIRM. It’s also about work ethic; you did your homework on the company and could spout it from memory. It’s about the boss looking at you and wishing(!!??) he/she had the guts to do what you just did. Most Exec’s care very deeply how you would represent the firm. The style I show gives them a first-hand testiment to that. Content, your homework, and style win jobs. Interviews are DISQUALIFIERS. Conversations about how a product made bt the firm are one of many simple ways to earn jobs. People overhearing this converasation at the company will talk about you when you’ve gone. More than once, my employees stuck their heads in my door to say, “I hope you hired that guy/gal.” BLUE CHIP hires are hard to find; Jim will tell you. Good luck! Colin Sullivan, http://jackbauerdeclassified.typepad.com/chronic_pain_lifestyle/ or colinsu@msn.com