Black In Business

In the early days of Affirmative Action, young blacks, like me invaded corporate America. This was the land of white men only and starting a career, in a situation when many companies were forced to hire blacks made for interesting friendships.
White I first met Ed Pollick he was 30 years old and a former linebacker. I was 26, line backer as well. Ed was out of the Army as an Aide de Camp, the general’s right hand man and was the ABA 100 salesman of the year. Big Ed was charming and full of confidence.
He had a big smile and was somewhat intimidating to a new salesman because he always spoke of all the deals he had just closed. I wanted to be good and I knew that if I ever beat Big Ed I would feel good about myself. If you are new in business, find out who the best is and try to compete to be the best.
One quarter, I felt I had my break through chance to beat Big Ed. I had 10 new business orders and Big Ed had 8 with one day left. The last day of the quarter Ed handed in 3 orders to win salesman of the quarter by one sale. I was pissed.
I covered Baltimore south and Ed covered the metro areas of New York and Philly. We use to sometime make call together. We were both 6 ft 2, and in the range between 235-270 lbs, pretty well proportioned. Ed was real smart and I remember being at Albert Einstein medical center in Philly. Ed knew his stuff and likes to match wits with the PhD’s. His demo of the VP blood analyzer would take hours. Mine would take 20 minutes but the results were the same. We got a lot of deals
Ed helped me close, North Charles Street medical center in Baltimore , by demoing the data management system on the VP.I did not know how the use it at the time. Even though it was not his sale, he gave a energetic presentation, which lead to a 100,000 dollars sale for me. We celebrated by picking up the backend of a Volkswagen beetle.
That night we became twin brothers, I took Ed to east Baltimore, to a bar, not far from John Hopkins Medical canter, but in a part of town where few whites ventured. Things reached a point where we stood back to back and assured everyone we were together as one.
One Halloween night, a few months later, Ed returned to favor, in a part of Florida, near Alabama, called the redneck Riviera. I was the only black in the joint and the white hoods had me a bit concerned but once again back to back, there was not a problem.
In closing, I will always cherish to time when I won 100 dollars in a demo contest and beat big Ed at the BWI, International hotel. The look on Ed face was better than the money.
Ed happy birthday, and thanks for the tremendous influence you were to me and others during our career. I still think I can beat you in the 40.

Congressman Jackson Jr. recently exhibited great leadership during a meeting of the Illinois delegation at the Democratic National Convention. The Congressman has written a poignant article about his actions which cause many adversaries to hug. It was an emotional time for tears and atonement. Illinois is the state which brought to the Presindential race, Barack Obama. This should be a time for joy and pride and hopefully great things for the citizens of Illinois.
From a business perspective, the advice and examples provided by Congressman Jackson offer learning models to use in business. As blacks in business we are often the target of someones hate. Be prepared for it but also learn to forgive. Here goes the Jackson post.
The Power of Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Illinois Needs a Big Hug
By Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

When one thinks about the bitter feuds in recent years - Blagojevich vs. Madigan; Madigan vs. Jones; Jackson vs. Daley or Rush or Halvorson; the Tribune/Sun-Times vs. Stroger - one can’t help but think Illinois is in need of reconciliation.

But with all of our feuding, we have much to be grateful for as Illinois has given our country, and the world, a great gift in Barack and Michelle Obama.

I’m no impractical idealist. In fact, I’m a practical realist. Therefore, I believe in forgiveness, reconciliation, and the redemptive power of loving one’s enemy.

Perhaps nothing is more difficult than loving one’s enemy. Yet, no life task may be more rewarding or transcendent.

True forgiveness is a compassion often reserved for victims, for the oppressed. Sure, anyone can forgive, but not all can be forgiven. It is one of life’s great moments when the victim of some great wrong reaches out to the victimizer first. After all, unless you’ve been terribly wronged, you may lack the desire, capacity or passion for true forgiveness, which is necessary for salvaging a relationship and a prerequisite for determining why a relationship went awry in the first place.

Some leaders in history - Alexander, Caesar, Bonaparte - created great empires. They were built on force, but eventually crumbled and burned.

Other leaders - Christ, Gandhi, King - built great empires, too. But theirs were based on love, respect, and the power of forgiveness. These empires endured.

The most powerful story of forgiveness and reconciliation is found in Scripture. Humiliated, beaten, and crucified, Jesus hung dying on the cross when he admonished: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Similar acts can occur in politics.

When Abraham Lincoln ran for president, his arch-enemy Edwin Stanton absolutely hated him. Stanton used every public stage to vilify and degrade everything Lincoln. But after taking office, Lincoln selected Stanton as his Secretary of War. “I am aware of the terrible things he has said about me,” Abe said. “But after looking over the nation, I find he is the best man for the job.”

The two became close allies during that horrific period. When Lincoln died of an assassin’s bullet, it was Stanton who called Lincoln “one of the greatest men who ever lived” and famously said: “He now belongs to the ages.”

It was Lincoln himself who once said that one way to destroy an enemy is to turn him into an ally.

Those were the thoughts racing through my mind as I spoke to Illinois Democrats in Denver last week. I had just read a sermon on forgiveness by Martin Luther King Jr. and listened to stirring and redemptive remarks from Congressman Bobby Rush.
The delegation - my audience - included virtually every prominent Democrat in Illinois. Yet as everyone knows, the Illinois delegation is a dysfunctional family seemingly incapable of finding common ground for the public good.

Just beneath our pride for Barack is deep-seated division, competition, animus and even hatred. That must stop.

After all, Hillary and Barack had fought ferociously for two years. But they came together for the good of their constituents, their party, their country. Barack even considered Hillary as a potential vice president.

Barack’s message throughout his campaign, and indeed his career, is simple: Bring all parties to the table; reconcile the differences; deliver the public what it needs and deserves.

Any successful political agenda is bigger than one person, or one party. It must be an agenda of, for and by the people.

As I spoke, I was also reminded of the day my father visited former U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey during his final days. Reverend asked Humphrey what it was that life had taught him.

Without hesitation, Humphrey responded, “Jesse, we’ve got to forgive each other, redeem each other, and move on.”

Illinois Democrats - myself included - have feuded for years. But our state can no longer afford such distractions.

My party, our party, your party, must stop fighting, and must start forgiving, redeeming and moving on.

Michael Jackson said it best: “I am starting with the man in the mirror, I am asking him to change his ways and no message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change.”

So, when you see Mr. Blagojevich, Mr. Madigan, Mr. Daley, or someone who you have wronged, or most importantly someone who has wronged you, instead of shying away or seeking retribution, look them in the eye, hug them, and say, “Let’s start again.”

(Please feel free to post. But to publish, please contact Rick Bryant at 708-798-600 to confirm.)

Paid for by Jesse Jackson Jr. for Congress

I discover in the business world, many white business leaders would say or do anything to win. The truth often times did not matter. It was always a shock to me because I was taught since I was a little boy, “Jimmy you can’t get away with what the white boys can.”
Today, all over America, white Pundits are gushing about a phenom in politics.A woman who 3 years ago was mayor of a village of 7900 people. What a great story; A cute, vintage 70’s hairstyle,part of a political group that wanted to secede from the Union, husband with DUI arrest,new baby with special needs, rumors of affairs, and a pregnant teenage daughter, this is a Republican leader for the ages.The party that preaches family values, is stressing this perhaps somewhat dysfunctional family, by having wife and mom save the day.
The Republican speeches were lies, lies, lies Can you imagine if Barack did not have a almost perfect family story. It was sicking to see this partisan party overlook all the issues this candidate has to try and keep the black man out of the white house.
Here is a good article by Mary Mitchell, on McCain’s pick for VP
If you thought the playing field was level, and you are in business, watch and see what the Republican Party, aka White working class fear monger party, gets away with. Blackinbusiness, you cannot get away with the things white business does or white politics. Keep Hope alive.
One growth experience we discovered, giving a good motivational upbeat speech is indeed a good thing.Up until last night, you would have thought being able to communicate well was unbecoming. In closing, this really makes me wonder about the judgment of McCain, to select a VP running mate with so much drama and inexperience in her life. How do you like our potential heart beat away from being President. I do not get it!