Black In Business

Black in Business readers, I was wrong about New Hampshire and Barack winning. Let’s be real, 3 weeks ago, if someone said Barack would win Iowa and finish a strong second in New Hampshire, we would have been pumped and proud. We are still proud but a couple of days back we were giddy with euphoria over the prospect of a black President.
We had skipped over the primaries, convention and general election. This is a long and difficult road filled with ups, downs and surprises.
Are there lessons for business people, you bet! You can never take success for granted. You set goals, make a plan and analyze scenarios of what if. We have discussed all aspects of the previous sentence in this blog. Yet there are still times when we are stunned by the unexpected. Barack and his followers, including me were stunned yesterday.
We fell into the same trap Hilary did in Iowa. We underestimated the competition. We did this in the face of a keen sense that you can never underestimate the Clintons. Free advice for Barack, do not allow anyone to refer to your opponent as the Clintons. Make sure, it is well understood you are campaigning versus, the Junior Senator from New York, and not the former President. In business many times, we have to interpret our competitor’s message for our customers and the Obama campaign must do the same.
I spoke to my 2 brothers about the nomination process. My younger brother, married to a white woman with 2 young children is for Barack. I would think biracial families would lean that way. My older brother, married with adult children, says he has a tough decision because, he likes Clinton. He is undecided. I have not spoken to my older sister, who still lives in New York but I am sure she likes both candidates. As do I, but I will repeat what I said in 84 and 88, If I can vote for a Blackman for President, that knows he is black,(sorry Clarence Thomas) I will always support the black canidate. I never thought I would see the day.
This will be an exciting election year and America wins if we learn more about each other and bring more voters to the process. It has to be great for black business people to have a brother on the news each night that is intelligent, influential of good appearance and is not expected the hit the winning basket! Maybe his positive manner will help turn the tide of negative stereotypes that follow us all around as we compete for business. Keep Hope Alive. What are you and your family thinking, Bill or Hillary? Good for black business? How So?