Black In Business

Much has been said about Rev. Jackson’s unfortunate comments about Senator and Presidential candidate Obama.Rev. Jackson’s comment caused him to say he was sorry. Many of the black community agree with Jackson saying, you got that right Rev. you are sorry!
Cam you imagine the embarassement, you are whispering about someone so no one unintended will hear. Shortly there after, you learn, the whole world heard you vulgar comments. You have to admit, that part is funny!
Rev. Jackson is an icon, a hero and a legend. He has worked tirelessly on behalf of civil rights for 5 decades.He has fought all comers for the benefit of black people. He was with Dr. King when King was shot.He was the face of boycott of corporate giants, to force inclusion of black America in many big jobs. Rev. Jackson brought us all pride as he ran for President. Without Jackson, the Obama run would have not met the same acceptance.
Yes, I support Rev. Jackson and it is a shame and a disgrace, that so many blacks want to turn our backs on the Rev.This stinks of disloyalty and we owe Jackson a debt of gratitude for his 5 decade run for the betterment of black America.
Having said that, Rev.did screw up, and the criticism of his comments are warranted. His son Congressman Jackson and namesake, handle this situation with a stern yet classy rebuttal on behalf of his candidate and choice for President, Senator Obama.
Senator Obama accepted the apology.Black America, it is fine to be critical of Jackson but it is dangerous for us to allow his becoming irreverent. Remember all that he done for us.

The early days of Affirmative Action was marked by resentment and Quotas. For some , it also meant unqualified. We now have witness many diverse stars of politics and business.
This morning’s news about the cover for the New Yorker brought back memories of a business meeting I attended for Abbott Laboratories.
Our meetings were festive and exciting, this one had a country fair theme. I entered the ballroom of the hotel where the first night’s “Ice Breaker,” was taking place.
Much to my dismay and shock, a confederate flag was part of the decoration. The meeting was held in a southern state. I went to find the VP in charge of this meeting for Abbott. I was in my first management job with the company.I was not the only black at the meeting but as the first black sales manager in my division,I felt it my duty to speak up.
I was prepared for a confrontation but the VP of US Sales, a job I would hold later in my career, understood my dismay and the flag was removed.
Back to the New Yorker, I bet when the discussion for the satire cover to depict the Obamas as terrorists, there were no blacks in the meeting. I further think, there were no woman. I would hope a woman would have protested a potential first lady shown with an AK47 over her shoulder. I would hope a African American would have protested our first family of Black America, being viewed as potential killers.
I think it was a bunch of white men all of whom felt this cover was right and funny. What are your thoughts?

I used to have a job title of Senior Recruitment Manager for Abbott Diagnostics Division. It was a position I enjoyed and it consisted mainly of doing interviews. After a while the same old questions, asked the same old way, provided the same old programmed responses.
I would still ask the same old questions, things like, what did you like about your previous job, why are you looking, what are your weaknesses? For variety I would throw in things like; do you find that you always have to win? Why or why not? What do you do when people bitch, bitch bitch? I am looking for a superstar not just another salesperson, what about you make you a star? Give me some examples!
If the interview went well at the end I would ask the candidates to, “Tell me a story, about anything you would like.”
I wanted a story to see, how quickly they thought on their feet, how spontaneous they were, were they of interest, did they have energy and enthusiasm. I heard some great stories and some duds.
I have a candidate going on a final interview tomorrow with a strong biotech company as a candidate for their vacant position of director of global sales and marketing. She was asked to provide a committee a presentation about herself as a part of the interview process. The presentation is to end with examples of 3 things she wants to do in life prior to her last day of life.
Think about it, you want this great job, it is an interview and you are asked to think about your mortality and aspects of your legacy that you still need to fulfill. And you cannot say one of the things is to get the job.
How would you answer?

My friend and fellow blogger of Ben Means Business, Ben Jones points out why most corporate web sites are useless. I came across Ben view from Post Ranger’s post on the same topic. This post was kind enough to include blackinbusiness as a blog that means business. Thanks Shawn.
So, it is with some trepidation that I share my firms new and improved web site. Global Recruiters of Oak Park’s web site, explains the value we can bring candidates and employers. It has been updated to reflect upon the changing environment of job searches and hiring challenges.
I hope to get some feedback on my site and to be contacted regarding a potential opening in the business of diagnostics, life science, or device.I hope to receive some resumes from some outstanding candidates. Yesterday, I received my first resume from the new web site, and she will interview for a position of Director of Sales and Marketing for a growth medical firm.
I will look for ways to complement my firms web site via postings in blackinbusiness. So go visit and let me know your thoughts for grnoakpark.com!

Tim Russert died on Friday. I love politics and business so I am familiar with Russert’s work. I have lived in Buffalo, New York and remain a fan of the Buffalo Bills. The media reaction of Mr. Russert death was one of profound love. It appeared to be deserved and Russert was a man of enormous talent. The lesson for all of us business leaders is; you can demand great expectations of your people, and when treated with love and respect combined with being a player coach, you people will morn your death. They will also love you when you are alive.
I remember when the great, Walter Cronkite was criticized when he choked upped announcing the death of John Kennedy. The past few days I was made uncomfortable by a giant of our times Tom Brokaw choking up talking about his friend Tim Russert. Times have changed but I do not suggest business leaders cry easily. I noticed other journalist crying and even though they were women, I found it distasteful.
Back to Russert, He loved his Dad, his son, his wife, his job, his country, and NBC Family. America is so much easier when you are white but I do think Russert is genuine.
I can tell you this, having grown up in upstate New York, Lived in Buffalo, managed a teams of locals, including a great guy, Tom Reen from South Buffalo, Tim Russert is not unique. It is the city of good neighbors.
Russert pissed me off during the primaries when he made Minister Farrakhan an issue during a debate. I was surprised and it was not one of Tim’s finer moments. Russert did have Farrakhan on his show, MEET THE PRESS one Sunday, the word is, it was the one Sunday Russert got his butt kicked.
I remember one afternoon when I was getting my shoes shinned in St. Louis and Russert sat in the seat next to me. There was lively conversation going on and everyone was black except Russert. The topic was politics, I knew who Tim was, but for some reason the gregarious man that loves people was mum and did not engage us. Once again, I was surprised. Having said that, I will miss him on meet the press, but I do wonder about his views regarding Black people.

TIGER WOODS IS A BAD MAN!
I loved the fact that Tiger won, I love his competitive sprit, his joy of winning and his excellent domination of his sport. The NBC announcers were cheerleaders of Rocco and minimally mentioned that Tiger was competing on one leg. Can you imagine if Jack Nicklaus was competing how often we would have heard the word courage. Having said that, I wonder, what Tigers feelings are about Black people. Keep Hope Alive