Black In Business

I stopped by my Man the Villager today, what a hot new design. This brother has graphic going on. He has a nice post regarding the protest in Jena, La on 9-20-07. We expect 50,000 people to make to Jena. This is to protest using the judicial system as a terrorist organization against young black students. Remember the District Attorney bragged he could ruin lives with a stroke of his pen. If this was a movie it would be citied for being unbelievable in this day and age. It is not a movie but is the reality of the south today. It is more discreet in the north but our rights are being challenged all over.
This is a businessblog, but I feel strongly our business leaders of the future are at risk because of legal abuse and government terrorist action. The black blogging community is helping to keep these issues front and center. The media focus today is on a hotel room break in Los Vegas. Please visit Villager today for more insight to what you and I can do to participate in this protest.

I went to a celebration for Chicago 7th Ward Alderman Sandi Jackson. Alderman Jackson was escorted by her husband; Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. This dynamic duo has become a political family Chicago can be proud of. This was a first class fund raiser, held at the eclectic and popular Carnivale in the trendy west loop area of Chicago. It was a great time and provided me hope for the future of strong political leadership in Chicago.
Congressman Jackson considered a challenge to Mayor Daily but decided he could more in a Democratic controlled congress. The Congressman silky smooth and bursting with pride provided a warm and emotional introduction of his better half. Jesse at the end serenaded his bride with a lovely version of Stevie Wonder’s Happy Birthday. And guess what, he has a nice voice.
Now on to the Alderman; we have a political star in Sandi. She enthralled the large professional mix of business leaders and prominent politicians with her comments that offered a glimpse of her to do list. The Alderman used the metaphor of tourist taking water taxis from Navy Pier to the Southside, as an example of strong Southside development benefits. This Alderman cares and is very good with people. In my eyes we have another star in Chicago politics and in the Jackson family.
I did not take notes but Sandi’s closing remarks included something like this; “I am just a mom, who happens to be an Attorney, who happen to have worked for 2 Senators and 2 Governors and happened to work for President Clinton, but of all her jobs she loves the Chicago Aldermanic position the most.” She will fight for better opportunity for Southside youth and see economic development as part of a solution for many urban problems.
I can see it now, 2016,second term mayor Jackson welcomes the world to Chicago for the summer Olympics, along with her Senator husband. Will it happen, time will tell but the potential is here.

http://leadershipepidemic.blogspot.com/2007/09/does-most-leadership-suck-challenge.html Say What?
That’s right; we all suck at leadership according to John W Mckenna. I have been asked to accept the challenge of confirming John’s opinion. Even if I agreed with John, I prefer the Starbucker method of rambling from a glass half full. I will refer to some of my persona that has allowed my leadership to be a strength in the pass. I hope we have some debate on this topic. Keep Hope Alive!
What a simple sentence, Keep Hope Alive!! That is what leadership means to me, with out hope you have nothing. Your position becomes a job, a paycheck, with no fulfillment.
Here are some steps of great leadership.
1 Determines the vision of your company. You must have a mission a purpose a reason to drive performance! This has to be more than a 3 day retreat at a country club, with 2 days of golf and a half day putting together a mission statement that nobody reads. It should take the dull mission statement that is framed and hanging in the office and break it down into action terms. I call it a strategic intent statement. Do you remember this one?
“We will send a man to the moon and return him home safety by the end of the decade!” This was a rallying cry of a nation during the 60’s that helped launch a space program. It was easy to remember, measurable and had a timeframe. The objective was clear, send a man to the moon, timeframe was clear, by the end of the decade, the part about return him home safely, was very important to the astronaut and his family.
2 Ensure all of your people understand the purpose and why it is good for the company but more important how they benefit. Make sure they get benefits that are important for them, not just you or the company.
Manifest on them how their job contributes to the big picture; make your team feel important. Celebrate the small victories, make work a fun time
3 Make sure your team has all they need in order to contribute successfully to the big picture goal. Fight like hell to help your people feel the thrill of victory.
4 Do not be a boss, be a help, make your team a team and you are a team member.
5 get to know your people and lead them all differently according to their. Relax get to know them as people and let them know you.
6Communicate and update how things are going, this is easy when things are going gangbuster, but you must be willing to communicate failure as well.
7 Seek their advice; challenge your team members to find solutions not problems.
8 Help your people grow, coach, reward performance, help them become ready for promotion, provide constant feedback
9 Admit your short comings, be a human being not a perfect being
10 The difference, inspire the people and lead through helping them get benefits from work, the team will perform. If you only manage results and track metrics, your team may do well bur will not care if you are a success or not. A true leader is one the people want to help become a success.
So John, In closing, I do not suck as a leader and by following these steps you will not either. Let me know what I left out. Keep Hope Alive!

Have you ever thought, I can’t be a business success because I am black? We all have to wonder what the landscape would be like if racism was not part of our culture. Have you ever been told, you can do it, you can be great? I am here to tell you just that. If by chance there is no one to tell you, you can be great, tell your self. This morning I came across a story on Tom Burrell, the founder of the largest Advertising firm owned by an African American.
Mr. Burrell is a tall slim man with an easy smile. He is black. He is also legality blind. Please visit the link below for this inspiring story.
Success In Blindness

I am pumped! I have an opportunity to share my favorite blogs with you. I was tagged by Edagowa, author of Black Tennis Pro’s. let’s start with her amazing blog filled with great information regarding the black tennis world. Go Venus!! You owe this young lady a visit, is it me or did the media write more about Serena’s loss than Venus’s win the other day. You get the full scoop from the Black Tennis Pro’s blog. Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m proud! Here goes my list of 5. Since I author a business blog, my interest is devoted to those whom mission included business intellect.
Villager, I remember in the middle of Jan when Villager first appeared, I knew right away he had a lot to offer. Check the brother out!
Ellen Weber, great and brainy insight
Robyn McMaster, ditto Ellen
Field Negro, An Attorney and great mind combined with black pride in a compelling explosion of thought
That’s what I’m talking about, young black business owner; Theo is the man with a plan
Doug Karr, something for everyone
Chris Baggott, one of my former salesmen, and now an inspiration
Liz Strauss, A great and compassionate blog,
Mike Sandsome, a blog coach, he reaches out
Black Women In Europe, fascinating and filled with great information, we are global
Bennin, Africa ready for Business, I need to visit more often, the brother is bad
These 5, smile, are only a few of the ones I love I could go on all day, wait, I did not mention, Paula , LDW or Esq. Holland but then that would be more than 5.
Go visit, come back and let me know from your comment how you like the 5 I mentioned.
Tag now they are all it. It is simple, list out your 5 favorite blogs