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Latest Activity

Veronique Topping added 2 discussionson Saturday
Veronique Topping added 3 eventson Saturday
P Andrews added 5 blog postson Wednesday
Veronique Topping updated their profileJune 13
Eula added an eventJune 6
Harlem BNI Networking Breakfast at Harlem Office Building
June 6, 2009 at 7am to September 1, 2009 at 8am
Harlem Business Networking International (BNI) Cordially invites you to be our guest at our next networking breakfast onTuesday, June 9, 2009 at 7:00 am. Come out and meet the members of Harlem BNIwho do business and pass referrals before most peo...
Kisha Mack, Marlen Adams and Trish Adeoti, PMP joined Black Owned NY Social Network - Empower Your Business!May 15
Eula left a comment for Andrew BingMay 13
R. Lee Gordon added a discussionMay 12
We’ve taken our eyes off the prize. Our gifts. Our babies. Our children. Our future. For too long. Far too long. Far too lost. Far too many, too far gone. Today, the things that matter most to our youth shouldn’t. And the ones who should m...
For business owners in New York City including the 5 boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island.
Our Stories Productions, LLC updated their profile photoMay 6
Veronique Topping and Trish Adeoti, PMP are now friendsMarch 25
Trish Adeoti, PMP updated their profileMarch 25

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MLM BLACK WOMAN

5 Easy Tips For Building a Strong Downline

Your direct sales downline: You've got one or are beginning to build one! This is one of the best parts of being a direct sales consultant, - the fact that you can share your passion for your business with others, help them to earn a little extra money and get paid for helping grow your company as well.

Now that you are a leader of a team, you'll need to build a strong relationship with team members to not only help them stay strong in their business, but to help your business grow stronger as well. A solid relationship will be one that's mutually helpful and everyone benefits.

But you may be wondering how to insure that team members feel included while still maintaining some type of balance with the rest of your life. Here are 5 easy tips for maintaining a great relationship with your team downline members:

1. Start off STRONG. When a new recruit first signs up, it's vitally important that you communicate often with her. One helpful ideas is to develop a series of emails to send to new member that talks them through those first confusing, scary, exciting days.

They will feel connected to the company and to you. You should communicate with your new recruit each day she is waiting for her kit. This is very easy to do with an autoresponder system, but can also be done by just copying and pasting into an email message every morning.

2. GIVE 15. Set aside fifteen minutes of each workday for team phone calls. Use those minutes to call one to five members of your group for a quick "just checking in" call. Leave a message if you get voicemail. The idea is to let them know that you're thinking of them and giving them a chance to hear your voice. This is a great time to ask how they're doing with their life as well and get beyond your company to show you care about them. They don't want to get the feeling you only care because you are making money off of them.

3. Get online! Develop a simple team website. It keeps communication open and strong with your group. You can have weekly topic discussions, contests, upload important files and just have fun with the whole group. The website is an easy interface and will allow them to "break the ice".

4. Hold meetings. This is another great way to foster unity and strong relationships within your group. If you have downline members that are out your area, have a quarterly conference call with everyone just to touch base. There are many free teleconference services via the internet that make it very easy to do. And if you can, have a face-to-face meeting once in a while as well. Some group leaders have meetings monthly or quarterly. Others do a once a year get together with everyone.

5. Send Ecards. They are FREE (great!), but also convenient and fun. Use an Internet calendar function to keep track of birthdays. Once a month go through the upcoming month and set up the ecard deliveries for the birthdays, anniversary dates for the next month or more. You can set these up to deliver up to a year in advance! Everyone like to get an ecard!

The bottom line to getting a strong downline team is to communicate in every way that you can. You will find that your direct sales team members will stay with your company much longer when you've fostered a strong relationship by keeping in touch! Much success!

Karen Moehr

_________________________________

About the Author

Karen Moehr is owner of Moehr & Associates, a specialized marketing company serving the direct sales industry. Ms. Moehr is also author of several books including, Direct Seller Guide: Get Booked Solid! and Top Sellers Tell...Top Direct Sales Pros Tell How They Achieved Big Success! www.isellmoretoday.com

3 Steps To Attract Abundance To Your Business This Year!

Many Black women in Direct Sales are attracted to this profession because it offers freedom. Freedom to be your own boss, freedom to work flexible hours, freedom to grow to your full potential and freedom to earn a great income with no limitations. FREEDOM! Doesn't it sound so sweet?! It's important to know the freedom and abundance that comes along with it will not just fall in your lap...you must take some necessary steps to attract it. Along with the obvious work like....servicing your existing customers, looking for new customers, prospecting for new business partners, attending meetings, trainings, etc...there are 3 steps you must do...first and foremost. These 3 steps will allow you to automatically attract positive abundance into your business and into your..life!

1. DESIRE: Be absolutely clear and specific about what you want, know why you want it, and how much you want it.

You first need to know what you really desire. Think carefully about what you really want, so that when you picture it, you will be able to create a clear image in your mind so it can manifest. Part of desire is intention. True desire is there when you have 100% of your energy engaged in what you desire. Think about what kind of business you want. How many customers do you want? How many business partners do you want to sponsor this year? What sales volume do you want in your organization each month? Now...ask yourself, what is driving you?
How much passion do you have for it?

Clarify what you want, understand why you want it, figure out what blocks are in the way of getting it, and create a plan to help you overcome any of those blocks.

2. BELIEF: Believe you can attain it, own it, and that you deserve it.

You can never have something if you believe you are not capable of having it or don't deserve it. It is not effective enough to merely desire a successful direct sales business, you must believe you can embody and experience it. If you believe you don't deserve something, challenge that belief. Where did the belief come from? How real is it?

3. ACCEPT: Believe and live as if you already have that which you desire.

BE IT!!! Use affirmations that inspire you. Once you accept that you have already received what you created in your mind, the process is complete! Just put yourself on autopilot and be in the moment as the NEW YOU!!

We are all created to experience prosperity and abundance. Desire, Belief and Accept...this will attract all the abundance and FREEDOM you have been waiting for!!

Here's my favorite inspirational affirmation, I say it daily:

Whatever you vividly imagine,ardently desire,sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon....must inevitably come to pass. -Paul J. Meyer

To your life...empowered!

Are you all marketing and no sales?

I read an excellent blog post the other day from a wonderful direct sales coach, her name is Caterina Rando.  Please allow me to share some of Caterina's wisdom and experience. I believe in giving credit to my peers that are "doing their thing" and making it happen! In this post Caterina reminded direct sellers to take a look at their business and be sure to balance marketing and selling. The truth is...you must do both. But, there is a such thing as doing too much of just one thing...so pay close attention.

So ask yourself...Are you all marketing and no sales? 

Please enjoy the excellent and brief article from Caterina. It's awesome!

British


Are you more sales or marketing? By Caterina Rando

If you are like most direct sellers, you love to do your shows or parties, you love to go out networking and you enjoy doing tradeshows or fairs where you can show people your opportunity or talk to them about your fabulous products.

 

I want to make sure that you recognize that there is a huge difference between sales and marketing and to have a successful and sustainable direct selling business, you want to have a balance of both.

 

Marketing activities are those things that you do to get the word out, create exposure, or introduce your product or service to people. Sending out an email newsletter, sending out postcards about a special offer, doing a broadcast email about your hostess special are all marketing activities.

 

When you follow up with a phone call and ask someone if they saw this month’s special you sent out and would they like to take advantage of this great offer- now that is selling. When you ask someone at an event if they have heard about your company-that is marketing, if you ask them if they would like to hear more about what your company can do for them and you sit down with them to have an opportunity conversation now that is selling.

 

Selling is asking for the booking, the order, or the sign up sheet. Marketing are all those activities you do to find people to sell to. Make sure you understand the distinction. Marketing activities are a lot easier and sometimes a lot more fun like when you go out networking and meet so many fabulous women. Selling, however, can sometimes make us feel uncomfortable we risk rejection. While not very likely, it is possible someone could laugh at us, or scream at us, what is more likely is that they say yes or no and you get the result you want or you don’t.

 

I encourage you to evaluate if you are doing more sales or more marketing these days and I want to you to check in with yourself and ask you if you are mostly marketing. While marketing is great and sometimes you can get bookings and sales from just sending out emails you can significantly increase your sales if you start picking up the phone and asking for the business. Up your sales activities this week and let me know how it goes.

2009 is YOUR year to shine! Happy New Year!

The best part about the end of one year and the beginning of another...the chance to start out fresh and new!  I know that you may have had a challenging year, a triumphant year, a year that inspired you to go for your dreams. Whatever the case, just remember beautiful woman of color.....2009 is your year to SHINE!!

In the words of Paul J. Meyer, remember.."Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe and enthusiastically act upon, must inevitably come to pass".

Please accept my humble thank you and sincere appreciation for allowing me to share in your journey. My hopes are that in some small way, MLMBlackwoman and our social network, I Love MLMBW have made a difference in the way you build your business and live your life.

I wish you a prosperous, happy, blessed, healthy and outstanding 2009!!! Make it happen..it's yours. Our journey together continues, I'm your partner, champion and cheerleader...for life!

To your life...empowered.

British Hill
Creator, MLMBlackwoman.com and I Love MLMBlackwoman.com

Be sure to leave all your baggage at home this year!

I would like to share with you an excellent holiday reminder by Linda Boertjens, writer of a "Splash of Inspiration" and CEO of Visualize Your Dreams. I love Linda's "words of wisdoms" on how to visualize your goals and make them happen. This latest message is perfect for all the readers of MLMBlackwoman.com, especially during this holiday season. Please enjoy!

Wishing you a blessed holiday and prosperous 2009! Oh, and one more thing....

Be sure to Leave your baggage at home!! (Read Linda's message below...it will all make sense)

British

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Only three days to go before Christmas! I realize that not all of you will be celebrating Christmas as it may not be part of your religion, so If you don't I suggest to instead apply the thought in this email to whatever situation that may be appropriate.

First of all: if you have been rushing around to get everything done before Christmas and feel a bit stressed, take a deeeeep breath right now :)...... Feels good, right?

One piece of advice before you head over to family and friends to get together for your Christmas celebrations, is to get clear on any "baggage" you may be taking with you. You see, you may already be judging certain people beforehand ("I am sure she will do X again this year which I always find so annoying...") or you may feel insecure about what to wear because others always dress up so well. You may be worried that people won't like your gifts or that you will be meeting up with that particular person again who you never seem to get along with. Our past experiences and feelings unfortunately always come with us on these occasions which can make it challenging at times to just enjoy and appreciate the moment and enjoy yourself.


So my suggestion is:

Leave your baggage at home this year!

(as much as possible...)


Have a good think for yourself what your baggage may be. What are your negative expectations for Christmas about people, situations etc. that may interfere with having a truly peaceful, relaxed and fun time. You may have to forgive certain people for things that happened in the past. Try to let it go, for your own peace of mind. Remind yourself of the amazing love you feel for your family by sitting down and thinking of the wonderful times you have had together. You could also do a brief gratitude exercise, acknowledging the fact that you will be able to get together with the people you love and care about enjoying a nice meal and conversation. Do whatever you need to do to get into a positive, loving mindset and go to your Christmas celebrations in that head space. Leave your baggage at home as much as possible and be truly present to the joys of Christmas and the privilege of spending time with all the people present. Try to come into the door with the expectation that this will be your BEST Christmas EVER. This is what you will be vibrating and therefore changes are: you will create an amazing celebration.


Merry Christmas everyone!
Linda Boertjens
Visualize your way to success click here

Small Business Marketing

The Truth About Marketing With Sales Letters

Over the past 16+ years I've written so many hundreds and hundreds of articles online I've forgetten about many of them. There have been just way too many to keep track of. Even some of the more recent articles get lost in the shuffle. Well, when checking my server logs for traffic statistics I noticed a [...]

Free Business Growth Video

Hi. I've been sharing sort of an 'insider' business growth video with a select group of people. Today I removed membership protection and am making the video available to the public. The video explains how to double or triple sales every 6-12 months without spending more on ads. It's no hollywood production by any means. And because [...]

"Launder" Money Into Business Bank Accounts Legally…

You probably won't believe this. But it's true.If you own an established business of any kind, there is a way you can legally double, triple, and even quadruple the amount of money you deposit without taking on a single penny of debt, without selling off receivables, and without spending a penny more on advertising.How have [...]

How To Expand And Grow A Business

If you could achieve anything you wanted from your company right now, what would it be? Increase the frequency, volume, and profit of each purchase from existing clients? Attract more high-quality leads? Dramatically boost referrals? Immediately stop competitors from 'stealing food from your plate?' Streamline and 'systematize' your marketing to make it more predictable, responsive, and profitable so you can [...]

What Is SEO

Search Engine Optimization is the process of getting your site or specific pages of your site to the top of search engine results for the targeted words and phrases people use when searching online for what you sell and do. SEO may involve focusing on a few essential keywords or phrases or may involve an entire [...]

One Size Doesn’t Fit All…

There's a reality marketers refuse to acknowledge. We're in an age of specialization. Everyone wants, no, demands to have things their way. This applies to the clothes they wear, the foods they eat, the beverages they drink, the homes they live in, and just about every aspect of their lives. 30 years ago large institutions doled out [...]

Instant Business Capital Without Borrowing

[asa]0316346624[/asa] Last week I was conducting an exploratory session with a new business owner. One of the topics that came up was how tough the credit crunch has made it for businesses to get financing. And that got me thinking… For more than two years I've been championing the concept of growth through leveraging marketing assets. Assets [...]

Obama and change…what it means for businesses

So Obama has won. What does this mean for businesses across the USA? What does it mean for the world in general? Honestly I don't know. The problems facing the president-elect are too complex for any single man to fix. Maybe life will improve during his term in office. Maybe the economy will completely fall flat. [...]

Free Online Business Growth Video

[asa]0316017922[/asa] If you are frustrated with current sales growth check out this free marketing video. The steps shown in the video work for all for-profit businesses whether you are a manufacturer, retailer, professional, service business, restaurant owner, or any other for-profit company. The video is import to view because when it comes to marketing it seems most [...]

Business Growth Advice: How To Survive The US Depression of 2008

memory.loc.gov Recent riveting headlines like these cause business owners to worry about the future of the US economy: Bailouts Will Push US Into Depression USA 2008: The Great Depression The Second Great Depression - Is The US Headed Towards The Second Great Depression? And last week one of the TV news stations in my area interviewed several local business owners [...]
 

Members

  • Veronique Topping
  • Sistahs In Unity
  • P Andrews
  • The Phenomenal Women Group, Inc.
  • Kisha Mack
  • Eula
  • Shirley L Daniels
  • Andrew Bing
  • R. Lee Gordon
  • Esther Augustin
  • Marlen Adams
  • Our Stories Productions, LLC
  • Denise Best
  • Dwight D. Hunter, Esq.
  • Urbantalker
  • nick B.
  • Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins
  • Regina McRae
  • D.Fields
  • Trish Adeoti, PMP
  • Yvonne Wilcox
  • Coco
  • Deborah Bailey
  • Althema
  • P. Young
  • Lyle Seales
  • Ridasha Anthony

Welcome to the Black Owned NY Social Network!

Business Organization DirectoryYou are invited to join the Black Owned NY Social Network to collaborate with other black business owners in New York!

This is a private social network for current and aspiring black business owners in New York.


CONNECT WITH FELLOW ENTREPRENEURS on the Black Owned NY Social Network:

1. Introduce yourself to the other business owners in this network.

2. Request connections with other local business owners

3. Start a Business Blog to inform the other entrepreneurs in this network about your business.

4. Join Business Groups to network with other business owners in your field and to request and offer Partner/Barter arrangements.

5. Get answers to your pertinent business questions from other business owners.

*. Invite Fellow Entrepreneurs to join in on the fun!

CONNECT WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS -

* Add Your Business Listing and Web Page to the BlackOwnedNewYork.com directory to ensure that your customers can find you and your business.

JULY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Business Profile Spotlight Business Name:   Sistahs In Unity

Business Description:
Sistahs In Unity is a social and networking organization dedicated to empowering the lives of African American women worldwide. Our vision is to strengthen the quality of life by providing resources, services, education, advocacy, self-awareness and networking opportunities within our communities.

Business Website:
www.BlackSocialConnect.com

I am interested in networking/partnering with the following businesses:
Several

Visit My Page »


Every month, a member will be highlighted based on their profile.

Events

June 6

Saturday

July 16

Thursday

  • Social Marketing Strategies

    July 16, 2009 from 6pm to 8:30pm – *

    Roget Romain is a top entertainment industry executive and President, CEO, and Founder of SampleMyMelodyz Inc. His presentation will focus on: * Why creating a “web presence” is important, and tip...

    Organized by Black Data Processing Associates | Type: program meeting

Forum

Veronique Topping

NAACP Centennial Convention

The NAACP announced it will celebrate its 100 year anniversary in New York, NY. The NAACP will highlight a century of Bold Dreams, Big Victories with a visit from President Barack Obama, Attorney G...

Tagged: convention, naacp

Started by Veronique Topping in Local Business News Jul 4.

R. Lee Gordon

Our Prize

We’ve taken our eyes off the prize. Our gifts. Our babies. Our children. Our future. For too long. Far too long. Far too lost. Far too many, too far gone. Today, the things that matter most ...

Tagged: EMPOWERMENT, NATIONAL, “THE, “RED, GREEN”

Started by R. Lee Gordon in Water Cooler Topics May 12.

Veronique Topping

The Network Journal Announces its 2009 List of "40 Under Forty" Dynamic Achievers

The Network Journal (www.tnj.com), the New York tri-state premier monthly magazine for Black professionals, corporate executives and small business owners, will honor its 40 Under Forty achievement...

Tagged: Network Journal, 40 Under Forty

Started by Veronique Topping in Local Business News May 6.

Veronique Topping

Business Assistance, Grants, and Loans 5 Replies

ACCION New York provides micro-loans and business advisory services to individuals and small businesses that do not have access to traditional sources of credit. Visit www.accionnewyork.org for mo...

Tagged: loans, business

Started by Veronique Topping in Business Resources. Last reply by Veronique Topping Mar 8.

R. Lee Gordon

The 1st National Black TEEN Empowerment Expo Presents FAME: Fashion, Art, Music & Education

Good day and blessings. On behalf of our teenage generation who needs us more today than ever before, please consider supporting and / or participating in this event, and sharing this informatio...

Tagged: Expo, Afrocentric, Empowerment, Education, Music

Started by R. Lee Gordon in Introductions Feb 7.

EMPOWER YOUR BUSINESS!


Business DirectoryTHE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Reach local and worldwide customers by listing your business in the Black Owned NY Business Directory!

Find Out More About Adding Your Business Listing to the Business Directory at BlackOwnedNewYork.com

Business Owner ResourcesBUSINESS OWNER RESOURCES

Don't forget to visit the Business Owner Resources section of the website which contains valuable business tools to help you start, manage, and grow your business including:


Blog Posts

R. Lee Gordon

BLACK YOUTH ENTERPRISE AND NON-PROFIT MOVEMENT GROW TO NEW YORK CITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 24, 2008


Contact: R. Lee Gordon
President / Co-Director
UniTee Design, Inc. / The Better Detroit Youth Movement
www.uniteedesign.com / www.betterdetroityouth.org
rgordon@uniteedesign.com / rgordon@betterdetroityouth.org
Toll Free: 888.OUR.RBG.TEES / Phone: 313.516.8384


BLACK YOUTH EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT ENTERPRISE EXPANDING TO NEW YORK CITY

Brooklyn, NY - As part of his mission to better reach and teach African American children, R. Lee Gordon is returning… Continue

Posted by R. Lee Gordon on December 1, 2008 at 11:26pm

P Andrews

Georgia Woodbine’s Personal Economic Stimulus Plan: She Tells All How to Stimulate Your Own Personal Economy

Georgia Woodbine’s Personal Economic Stimulus Plan:
She Tells All How To Stimulate Your Own Personal Economy




Westchester, New York [March 2009] – What do you do? When you don’t know what to do? Bestselling Author/ Speaker/Life Coach Georgia Woodbine share her insight on how people can fight the recession through purpose and ingenuity. She shows others how to tap into their creative ambitions and develop future goals. Her tools and strategies demonstrate how to reclaim their… Continue

Posted by P Andrews on March 18, 2009 at 12:30am

P Andrews

Georgia Woodbine’s Personal Economic Stimulus Plan: She Tells All How to Stimulate Your Own Personal Economy

Georgia Woodbine’s Personal Economic Stimulus Plan:
She Tells All How To Stimulate Your Own Personal Economy




Westchester, New York [March 2009] – What do you do? When you don’t know what to do? Bestselling Author/ Speaker/Life Coach Georgia Woodbine share her insight on how people can fight the recession through purpose and ingenuity. She shows others how to tap into their creative ambitions and develop future goals. Her tools and strategies demonstrate how to reclaim their… Continue

Posted by P Andrews on March 24, 2009 at 3:53pm

P Andrews

GW Monthly Networking Event (Networking with A Purpose) Wednesday, April 29, 2009 NYC



GW Monthly Networking Event (Networking with A Purpose) Wednesday, April 29, 2009 NYC

Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:30 pm
Dallas BBQ
27 West 72nd Street 10023
New York, NY, USA

GW Monthly Networking Event (Networking with A Purpose)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The purpose of GW Monthly Networ… Continue

Posted by P Andrews on March 25, 2009 at 2:48pm

P Andrews

NY's Premiere Business 2 Business Networking Event (Not Just Networking) May 11, 2009 Queens, New York



Queens, New York - Premeire Business 2 Business Networking Every 2nd Monday

Continue

Posted by P Andrews on April 25, 2009 at 6:50pm

The Black Business Coach

Don't Waste Time With Unprofitable Customers

That's right I said it, and you can quote me on it! But really I'm just regurgitating what was highly recommended in an article entitled "When, Why, and How to Fire That Customer" from the November 2007 issue of Business Week Magazine.

The article encourage entrepreneurs and business owners to "[get] rid of the unprofitable, the time wasters, and the crazy-makers in your midst."

Most of us can relate to having a customer who is loyal, but is such a nuisance that they are actually a distraction to our motivation - and thus, our profits.

For example, the client that pays for one service but keeps insisting on getting another service for free. Or the client who wants to tell you his life story every time he gets you on the phone. Or the client who nitpicks and is overly critical. Or even the client who acts like he's your only client - as if your entire company revolves around him.

Here are some snippets from the article:

Yes, breaking up may be hard to do, but when a client is costing you money or making you crazy, it can be a smart move. Severing unprofitable or exhausting relationships can, after the initial fallout, boost your company's revenues.

Of course, you don't want to let a profitable client go if losing that revenue could sink you. And no one is advocating firing clients just because they are demanding or you simply don't like them. This situation demands objectivity.

That means it's time for a cool-headed assessment of your clients - how much you're bringing in from each, as well as how much each really costs your company.

"Entrepreneurs have this horrifying sense of scarcity, that the customers they have are the only ones in the world," says G. Richard Shell, professor of legal studies and management at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. "That is not true. But [firing clients] takes courage."


Yes, even in a bad economy - giving up a worrisome client make be a very good idea.

To read the full article, visit:
www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_44/b4056431.htm


Interest-Free Loans For Small Businesses?

It may sound too good to be true, but it's actually very creditable via the U.S. Small Business Administration. The federal government is, in fact, offering interest-free loans of up to $35,000 to try to keep smaller companies from going out of business.

For businesses that need a lending hand, the SBA is offering the loans with no required payment for 18 months and no interest for more than six years.

They are called ARC loans as part of the federal stimulus package. ARC is an acronym for America's Recovery Capital. There are only 10,000 ARC loans available around the country. That breaks down to only 200 loans per state, making the process extremely competitive.

The loans are also only available to companies that made a profit at least one of the last two years - not start-ups.

The SBA says that businesses interested in the loans should act fast.

For more details, visit: www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html or www.arc-loans.com


Book Review: "Peaks and Valleys"

I recently read a great book called Peaks and Valleys by international best-selling author Spencer Johnson. Johnson is best known as the author of Who Moved My Cheese? and The One Minute Manager - which are also great books to read.

This book, while not his best work, is still worth reading. It's essentially a fictional story about an unsatisfied young man who lives in the valley who meets a very satisfied old man who lives on the peak. Through principles and practical advice, the old man helps the young man adjust his thinking - convincing him that he too can live on the peak.

I like the book because it's short and to-the-point, but also because it easily allows you to apply the principles to your own personal situation. Johnson is a genius at telling a story in a way that makes you think about YOU.

My favorite part of the book is when the old man is helping the young man to see that life is naturally full of ups and downs for everyone. The old man explains that every valley is between peaks - meaning that when you are in a valley, you just came from a peak and are headed to another one.

The key, he says, is to adjust your attitude and change your way of thinking. He also says that by carefully managing resources and having a giving spirit - one can maximize their time on a peak, and minimize their time in a valley.

I highly recommend that you read this book. It's perfect for entrepreneurs who may be experiencing a slow down in business.

The book is available for 10% off at http://tinyurl.com/n5lx7s


Did You Get Your Facebook Username?

I'm not a big fan of using Facebook for business purposes, but a lot of people do this and I've heard some pretty good success stories. If you do use Facebook to grow your business, you may as well maximize on it.

They have a new feature that allows you to personalize your Facebook URL (web address) by selecting a unique username. It will appear in the location bar of your browser after "http://www.facebook.com/" when you view your profile.

For instance, my personalized URL is www.Facebook.com/DanteLee

Since so many people use Facebook, this is a really neat feature because it makes it very easy for people to find you. In addition, over time your page will start to show up in search engine results whenever people "google" you.

Don't procrastinate though because if someone takes the username you wanted, there's nothing you can do about it. If this happens though, consider other options. For instance, I could have also registered Facebook.com/LeeDante or Facebook.com/Dante.Lee or even Facebook.com/DanteMLee. Which ever one you go with, just remember that you can not change it later - so get it right the first time around.

Also, don't even think about name squatting - that is, trying to capitalize on someone else's name. Facebook reserves the right to remove and/or reclaim any username at any time for any reason.

To choose and activate your username, visit: www.facebook.com/username


Are You Twellowing and TweetBeeping?

I blogged several months ago about why all entrepreneurs should be using Twitter.com - an extremely popular web-based micro-blogging tool. Hopefully, you listened because Twitter has been growing exponentially and still remains to be a very useful way of getting and retaining new clients. It's also a great way to stay in-the-know.

To enhance your Twitter experience, there's a site called Twellow.com that helps you easily find relevant people to follow on Twitter. Essentially, it's a Yellow Book directory for Twitter profiles and it's much more extensive than the search feature on Twitter's web site.

I use this site all the time to find people who are connected to the industry that I work in. For instance, relevant keywords for me are "supplier diversity", "minority business", "diversity recruiting", etc. When I find people, I start following them and interacting with them - and eventually, they'll inquire about my services.

I also recommend that you use another site called TweetBeep.com that allows you to get email alerts when ever someone twitters about you or your company. You can also specify other keywords that may be of interest to you.


Never Too Late to Be An Entrepreneur

I was recently reading an article on BusinessWeek.com, and found it very interesting that there are of tons of "older" people who are entrepreneurs.

According to economists and small business observers, the number of individuals starting their own companies during what is usually considered the "retirement years" has been rising.

According to the nonprofit AARP Public Policy Institute, in 2008, 21% of the self-employed were between 55 and 64, while 10% were 65 and older.

A 2005 study by the Center on Aging & Work/Workplace Flexibility at Boston College found that workers 50 and older are more likely than younger folks to own their own businesses.

This should be very motivational for those who are of age. Whether you're approaching 40, 50, 60, or 70 - it's never too late to pull up a chair to the table of business. It's wide open to anyone who has a passion for their ideas.

A thousand mile journey starts with the first step.


First Black Woman To Head Fortune 500 Company

When Anne Mulchay steps down as CEO of the Xerox Corporation, a black woman will head a Fortune 500 company for the first time. The company released a statement stating that Xerox Corporation President Ursula Burns will be replacing Anne Mulcahy effective July 1.

Ms. Burns, who has been with Xerox since 1980, started with the firm as a summer intern focusing on mechanical engineering. She was named president of the company in 2007 and has been instrumental in helping to revive the company’s financial health after shares plummeted 80 percent in 2000.

Ms. Burns will also join the list of four other black CEOs and 15 other women CEOs of a Fortune 500 company. She is widely credited with helping turn around the company after it came close to bankruptcy.

Ms. Burns has played a pivotal role at Xerox in recent years: overseeing corporate strategy, global accounts, IT and human resources. She has been at Ms. Mulcahy’s side during her efforts to revitalize Xerox. Ms. Burns is credited with negotiating with the company’s unions to cut thousands of jobs.

Xerox’s share price is still low, but the company is profitable again and has gained market share. Ms. Burns talked about the company’s turnaround at Oregon State University in September.

“We are poised for greatness and for success. We have pulled ourselves back from the brink of bankruptcy and taught ourselves that we can do just about anything we aspire to do, if we work hard and put our head down.”

Ms. Burns, 50, grew up in a New York City housing project and went on to get a master’s degree in engineering at Columbia University. She started at Xerox as a summer intern in 1980.


Don't Oversimplify Business

Business is simple, but don't oversimplify it.

Whether you're planning to launch a company or already running one, always remember that it takes hard work and smart thinking to stay afloat.

Often I hear people say "all you have to do is...", but this is the wrong way to start a sentence when referencing how to build or manage a company. It's not about one or two steps, or some type of overnight solution. It's about patience and long-term diligence. It's about strategizing and blueprinting, and properly managing your resources.

Business is only simple in the sense that it can be defined in one statement: the exchange of currency for products and services.

However, business involves many components. There's advertising, public relations, sales, logistics, accounting, management, human resources, law, and more - and staying on top of all of these doesn't always ensure profitability.

Don't be mistaken: Simplicity does not mean that it's super easy.


Recession Strategy: Speak Your Mind

People are always hungry for valuable information from a respectable voice. This is where YOU come in to play. You're an expert, a guru, a genius - and people are just waiting to hear what your opinions, thoughts, and ideas are.

The best way to meet their demands is to write relevant columns and distribute them to the media.

For instance, if you're a business coach - write about how the economy is affecting small businesses and what your solution to the problem is. If you're a health practitioner, write about your solution to a current health issue - such as the spread of Swine Flu. If you're a technologist, write about the latest technological development and why you think it's huge. If you just authored a book about love and relationships, write about...well, love and relationships.

How does this help you? Well, many newspapers and magazines will print your columns for free, and many radio stations will want you to come on-air to further discuss the topic. This, my friend, is free advertising for you. Essentially, by doing this, you're drawing attention to yourself and to your company.

Remember though to avoid self-promoting techniques within the body of the column. This will be deemed very unprofessional. You want to remain unbiased, and only want to mention your company, services, and contact info briefly at the very bottom of your column in your tag line.

When finished writing your column, forward it to all your colleagues and ask them to forward it to all their colleagues. Also, consider distributing it through newswire services such as BlackPR.com or PRweb.com.

If done correctly, writing good columns regularly (weekly or monthly) will lead to more publicity for your business - and thus, more revenue.


Bill Gates Vs. Nintendo Wii

Microsoft is planning to release a camera accessory for the XBox 360 that will create an experience similar to that of the Nintendo Wii. It's called "Project Everyone" and it lets players use a wider range of movements, as well as voice commands, while they play games. According to BusinessWeek, users will be able to play games without even having to touch a controller.

In demos, Microsoft showed the camera using face recognition software to detect individual players and voice commands to launch programs. In one game, players could use any part of their body to smack a ball into a wall of collapsible blocks.

This is their attempt to compete with Nintendo, who to-date has sold more than 50 million Wii units - almost double the amount of XBox 360 units sold.

Ironically, Nintendo must have already been on to this type of technology because they too are planning to release Wii Motion Plus technology, which it says more accurately captures complex motion such as the twirling of a wrist during a tennis match.

Whether or not Microsoft can compete, only time will tell - but they do have a lot of catching up to do. Nintendo practically owns the motion-detecting video game industry, much like Apple owns the MP3 industry.

Interesting though, how our country is in a recession with thousands of jobs being lost every week - but the video game industry is alive and kicking.


Great Book: "Be The Media"

Be The Media by David Mathison is a great book that helps independent bloggers, authors, and entrepreneurs create and distribute content without selling their royalties, rights or souls in the process. It's deemed as the "ultimate independent media handbook".

Recently released, the book is full of 536 well-written pages of research, tips, and guidelines on how to maximize publicity and revenue while minimizing your budget. Interestingly enough, the book is NOT available at Amazon.com or other online retailers because that would defeat their message of selling independently and keeping more of the profits.

I haven't read the whole book yet, but it's definitely a good read. So far, I would easily say that this is the best book I've seen on this topic. Not only is it well-endorsed by other industry vets, you can easily tell that the author spent years compiling research. Despite this, the tips are very relevant and up-to-date with modern technology and practices.

Mathison is well-respected for his insight and is an internationally recognized media expert with more than 20 years experience. I visited his booth at the recent Book Expo America conference in NYC, and I was thoroughly impressed about his company's techniques and philosophies.

I highly recommend that you buy and read this book.

To purchase the book, visit www.BeTheMedia.com


"If You Lose Your Job, We'll Make Your Payments For You."

This is what auto companies are telling people nowadays in order to get them to buy new cars. Hyundai started it, and now Ford and GM have announced their own variations.

While Hyundai's walkaway program offers to absorb car payments for three months and will accept a returned car without any additional payment, Ford is offering to pay $700 a month up to one year and GM is offering to cover up to nine payments of $500 each.

This sounds like an interesting marketing strategy, and it may work somewhat to increase new car sales. However, it doesn't address one thing: It's still a better deal to buy a used car vs. a new car. That's the route that many people are taking, and therefore used car dealers are faring much better in this bad economy.

The U.S. government and automakers have to find a stronger incentive to get people to buy new vehicles. Perhaps, a drastic decrease in pricing, a "buy one get one" free special, a huge tax break, or even free mechanical services for a year.

Consumers are much smarter these days and much more economical than ever before. Put simple: Buying a new car at nearly double the cost but with free "job insurance", is not a better deal than paying half the price for a used car with no "job insurance".


Colleges Aim To Stay Profitable

In case you didn't know, colleges and universities operate like companies. They have to make money, and they have to be profitable. Thus, in a bad economy, they suffer. Obviously, if people are losing jobs and getting their salaries cut - they can't afford to pay for their kids to go to college.

However, many institutions have a unique plan. The Washington Post reports that "some U.S. schools are looking anew at an old idea: slicing a year off their undergraduate programs to save families time and money." That's right; They are introducing the three-year undergraduate degree.

This is actually a pretty big deal because "the four-year bachelor's degree has been the model in the United States since the first universities began operating before the American Revolution." But during a bad economy, sometimes you have to break tradition if you want to stay afloat.

I think its a great idea. Even though they will make less money off each student, they will be enrolling more students who can now afford to attend.

In my opinion that's what entrepreneurship is all about: Breaking tradition, bending the rules, thinking outside the box, and doing what's ethically necessary to stay in business.


10 Million Cars Sold Is Not Enough

When I heard that automakers were expected to sell 10 million new cars and trucks in the U.S. this year, I thought that was a good thing. I said to myself: "The recession is finally coming to an end."

But as I continued to read the USA Today article, I learned that that figure makes 2009 one of the worst years the auto industry has seen in the past three decades.

Apparently, before the auto collapse last year, car companies routinely sold more than 16 million new cars and trucks annually in the U.S.

While 10 million may sound like a lot, it's simply not enough to make these car companies profitable. Chrysler's already in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, and General Motors will likely do the same on June 1st. Even normally healthy automakers such as Toyota and Nissan are losing money.

Many people don't understand this part of business. They think that when money is being exchanged, it means that companies are profiting. That's not necessarily true.

All companies have debts and expenses that have to be paid for first before a profit can be declared. It's very common to have most of your revenue allocated to paying bills and taxes, and not having much left over after that.

To prevent this, entrepreneurs should always be thinking of ways to lower their overhead. In fact, this should be heavily considered before you even pursue a business idea.

Overhead kills a lot of companies before they even launch. Others die off in a bad economy. I'm willing to bet that the companies that are still afloat right now are the ones that have figured out how to minimize their expenses.


Step Up Your "Sales" Game

Apparently, more people are getting into sales or at least are investing more into tools that can help them generate more sales.

According to BusinessWeek.com, sales management software maker Salesforce.com's profits have nearly doubled this past quarter. The company claims to have added 3,900 new customers in the past quarter, bringing its total to over 59,000. Their revenue rose to $304.9 million from $247.6 million a year ago.

What does this mean for you?

Well, every entrepreneur is a salesperson and apparently many will step up their sales efforts during a bad economy. This makes sales more competitive for you, and so you have to be more competitive yourself.

If you make cold calls, learn to be effective within your first 10 seconds. Understand that likely you are not the only salesperson to have called, and that vendors today are working with limited budgets. Don't be demanding. Instead, quickly convince them that you have what they need.

If you like to email your potential clients, learn to be short and simple with your message. Don't spam, and don't subscribe people to your newsletter without their permission. If they don't respond immediately, be patient. Sometimes people can fall behind on email. Don't be too quick to send another inquiry; That can be a turnoff.

My best sales advice is to target your audience. Only contact people who want or need what you're selling. Also, learn to ask for and identify the right person that you need to talk to. A lot of times, it may appear that you're talking to the right person - but you're not. Before you even start your sales pitch, get in the habit of saying: "Are you the person in charge of _____?" or even "Can you direct me to the person who's in charge of ______?"


The Future: More Multicultural Families, More Low-Income Consumers, and Less Children

According to TargetMarketNews.com and Nielsen Media Research, here's what we can look forward to regarding American consumers:

1) More Multicultural Families.

While households with children will continue to decline, ethnic (non-white) families are expected to grow at a faster rate than the total population. According to Nielsen, more than half of families with children are expected to be multi-cultural by 2025. By 2050, that number is anticipated to be greater than 60 percent.

2) More Low-Income Consumers

According to Nielsen, household incomes are expected to stagnate or fall slightly over the next ten years. Based on these projections, household spending will grow at a very slow pace-especially when compared to the previous ten years. Nielsen data show the lowest income population segments growing the fastest (as much as 17.8 percent in some scenarios), with affluent and wealthy segments declining (9.2 percent and 5.5 percent respectively).

3) Less Families With Children

Nielsen projections indicate a continued decline of households with children and fewer children per household. By 2036, households with children will outnumber those 65 and older without children by just 5 million, compared to a 17 million difference in 2007.

For the full article, visit:
ww.targetmarketnews.com/storyid05180902.htm


Be Careful About Online Travel Agencies

Online travel agencies like Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity can be twofold - helpful and troublesome. Yes, they allow you to see multiple rates at once and may even offer you a discounted price - but be careful because they can also screw up your travel arrangements.

Just recently I bought a one-way ticket for United Airlines from Washington Dulles to Columbus Ohio. The ticket was only $100 bucks on Orbitz.com, but was $380 on United.com. Naturally, I bought the cheaper ticket.

Here's where the problem came: The day I was supposed to leave, I received a text message from Orbitz saying that my flight had been delayed by 2 hours. When I arrived to the airport later that day, it turned out that my flight had never been delayed. Not only did I miss the last flight of the day, I had to pay to stay in a hotel another night - and they couldn't even get me on the first flight the following day. Eventually, I got home on the 2nd flight out.

Of course, I called Orbitz to tell them about what happened. They denied sending me a text message, but did agree to give me a $50 credit. They said they would do more if I faxed them the original text message that I received.

Once I finally figured out how to do that (yes, there is a way to fax a text message - at least from the iPhone), I called them to plead my case for at least a $200 credit. Of course, they denied it.

Their excuse was that United Airlines originally delayed the flight, but change it back to an on-time status. I'm thinking: "Why didn't you idiots send me another text message?"

Moral of the story: Use online travel agencies to find the best deals, but don't buy from them. Buy directly from the airline. However, if you do insist on buying from the agency and you get a text message from them about your flight status, call the actual airline to double-check.


Radio One Looking To Hire An Online Editor

Radio One, Inc., one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies and the largest radio broadcasting company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners, is looking to hire an online editor for www.Radio-One.com

It looks like a pretty good gig for freelancers and entrepreneurs who specialize in writing and content management.

Here is the job description:

The Online Editor is responsible for all aspects of programming (i.e. developing and managing content) for Radio One’s radio station websites in the Washington, DC market, WKYS, WMMJ, WPRS, WOL and WYCB. The position is responsible for increasing the sites’ online traffic and engagement through the maintained programming of celebrity news, entertainment and local events, and by linking the stations’ on-air and off-line marketing and promotional activities.

Job Responsibilities:

* Writing, editing, and assigning posts about news, celebrity, entertainment, and gossip on both a national and local level

* Constant aggregation of material from around the web and the stations’ other network partners including, but not limited to, other Radio One station sites, BlackPlanet.com, TV One, and the content verticals of the BlackPlanet Universe.

* Reporting on, and engaging with, local Washington, DC and surrounding area events and activity

* Working with radio personalities to assist in the creation and maintenance of daily blogs

*Working with the stations’ Program Director, Operations Manager, and/or Marketing/Promotions leads to maintain the vision, voice and brand direction of the stations online

* Working with the National Director Of Online Content for Radio to leverage national programming opportunities, tools and services


For more details and/or to apply, visit:
http://blackjobs.com/cgi-bin/jobs/searchJobs.cgi?job_id=904164


Why Fly Without Wi-Fi?

More and more airlines are offering passengers the ability to connect to the Internet while in-flight. Its a concept that's long overdue, but it has finally arrived.

Southwest and Delta were the first to do so - but Wi-Fi is only installed on some of their planes. Just recently, however, AirTran announced that by the end of July, all of their planes will be Wi-Fi enabled. Virgin America too announced that by May 25th, all of their planes will enabled.

The price to connect via a handheld device or laptop will be $7.95 to $12.95 a flight, depending on the device and the length of the flight.

Jack Blumenstein, CEO of Aircell - the Chicago-based provider of the wireless service of more than 1,000 jets, says that "a typical narrow-body jet can be equipped with the 125 pounds of necessary equipment and fiber-optic cable during an overnight stay at an airport for about $100,000."

$100,000 per plane is a hefty investment, but remember that millions of people fly every day. Imagine an airline getting 50,000 people a day to buy into a $12 internet fee. That's $600,000 a day.

The only catch is that Virgin America is the online domestic airline that provides an electrical outlet to plug your laptop into while in-flight. For other airlines, you just gotta make sure your battery will last long enough.

Those 5 hour coast-to-coast flights will be tough.


New Study Says 'Babyface' Look Can Help Black CEOs

The Associated Press reports:

Black Fortune 500 CEOs with a "babyface" appearance are more likely to lead companies with higher revenues and prestige than black CEOs who look more mature, an upcoming study says.

In contrast with research showing that white executives are hindered by babyface characteristics, a disarming appearance can help black CEOs by counteracting the stigma that black men are threatening, according to the study from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

The study is scheduled to be published in the journal Psychological Science in September.

A babyface is characterized by combinations of attributes, including a round face, full cheeks, larger forehead, small nose, large ears and full lips, the study says.

Decades of research has shown that people believe babyfaced adults to be more trustworthy, and respond to them with greater patience, sensitivity and compassion, according to Robert Livingston, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of organizations and management at Kellogg.

In the study, a group of 21 college students was shown photographs of 40 current and past CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Eleven of the students were white, 10 were Asian and 10 were female.

Of the 40 CEOs, 10 were black (only 10 blacks have ever led Fortune 500 companies). For every black CEO, a current or former white CEO from the same company was included. Another 10 CEOs were white women, and 10 white male CEOs were chosen at random.

Participants rated each photo on scale of 1-4 for "babyfaceness," leadership competence and personal warmth.

To account for differences in perceptions about blacks or whites in general, participants gave separate ratings on warmth and competence for "blacks," "whites" and "women," which were factored into the results.

The results showed that Black CEOs who rated high on the babyface scale worked for companies that ranked higher in the Fortune 500 and had higher annual revenues than blacks with more mature faces. The reverse was true for whites - the more babyfaced CEOs tended to work for companies that ranked lower and had less annual revenue.

Black CEOs also were described as significantly more babyfaced than white CEOs. The female CEOs were rated as having more mature faces than both blacks and whites.

The study was duplicated with 106 student participants, with similar results.

Livingston said the study indicates that "disarming" characteristics, which have been shown to hinder white executives, can help black leaders.


For the full article, visit:
www.blacknews.com/news/babyface_look_can_help_black_ceos_study_says101.shtml


 
 

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Black Enterprise

Small Is Beautiful

When it came time for Mell Monroe and his wife, Angela Higginbotham Monroe, to refinance their mortgage earlier this year, the couple shopped around for attractive rates. One bank offered a nice enough loan, but there was a catch. The bank wanted to charge the couple an extra fee to receive its lowest interest rate. Its representatives explained that they were assessing the fee because Monroe’s credit score had recently dropped 75 points because of a late payment.

Unemployment Hits 26-Year High

Employers cut 467,000 jobs from the economy in May, pushing the unemployment rate to a 26-year-high, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At 9.5%, the jobless rate continues to signal a tough road to economic recovery.

Are Online Classes the Right Fit For You?

The obvious advantage to enrolling in an online school is the flexibility that it allows professionals at every level. “If you’re a working mother, you can put the kids to bed and then go to class,” says Kaplan University Provost Dr. David Clinefelter. Even though online programs can provide a rich learning experience for those seeking to boost their skill sets, this very seemingly informal structure is not for everyone. Independent and disciplined students will do very well, says Clinefelter.

Relief for Student Loan Borrowers

College graduates facing mounting student loan debt may find relief in the new Income-Based Repayment plan that took effect Wednesday. Designed to take into account monthly income and family size, graduates with outstanding federal loans can see their minimum payments cut to less than 10% of their earnings. “We know many graduates are concerned about their [...]

Darryl Strawberry Opens Up

Last week I had the opportunity to attend ESPN radio’s “Lunch with a Legend,” series  at the Oak Room in New York City in honor of former New York Met and Yankee Darryl Strawberry and author of Straw: Finding My Way (Ecco; $26.99). He’s been called the firecracker of New York, the city’s wild [...]

Rules of Engagement

“It was very difficult for me to fire people because we are like a ­family here,” says Gregory Cancryn, owner of Payment Transaction Systems in Atlanta. “For me it felt like a personal failure.” Cancryn had been running his 29-employee credit card processing company for 10 years, when in late 2006 he first noticed a decline in consumer spending and the trickle-down effect that it had on his company’s bottom line.

A Chat With a $100 Million Man

Calling all small business owners and entrepreneurs. Visualize with me for a second. Imagine finally getting out of the military. You have your GI Bill in your left hand and the world in your right. What would you do? For Roderick Rickman, the question wasn’t what to do, but how to do it. As the founder and chairman of [...]

The Secret to Their Success

Phyllis Holly-Ward and her husband, Jorey Ward are enjoying the fruits of responsible money management. The Trenton, New Jersey, couple are a modern-day success story: a six-figure savings account; two self-sufficient college graduate sons, William, 29, and Phillip, 28; and, including their sons’ properties, an estimated $1 million worth of real estate. What’s their secret? The Wards manage their household finances like a business.

Is Now the Time to Buy Real Estate?

If you believe in the investment philosophy “buy low and sell high,” then you’re probably already starting to wonder if now is the right time to begin buying real estate. The market is flush with foreclosures (homes that have already “gone back” to the bank/lender) and short sales (those ripe for negotiation with lenders that have yet to “take back” the homes through the foreclosure process), both of which present good opportunities for investors looking for a beneficial place to put their money.

A Perfect Fit

Charles Turner used to daydream about owning a shoe store, a dream that would have fulfilled a design passion of his—and a need—since he often has difficulty finding shoes that fit both his liking and his size 13 feet. Turner, however, already had a career; with 14 years in finance he pays the bills as a manager of treasury operations for a hedge fund administrator in New York City. But after trying to get his foot in the door of the shoe industry—he took his first shoe design class in 1999 and considered using his background in finance to help develop the business of a cobbler in Harlem—Turner ventured to find out if his passion for shoes could become a business reality.

The Dropout Epidemic: A Crisis of Human Capital

s this issue of black enterprise arrives in homes and offices and hits newsstands across the nation, many of you are preparing to celebrate a major rite of passage for many of the loved ones in your life: high school graduation. Finishing high school remains the first and most important step to productive adulthood, a prerequisite to higher education, career and business success, and seminal to the wealth building capacity of the vast majority of Americans. Earning a high school diploma remains the No.1 early predictor of who is likely to make it in society, how far they are able to go and what they are able to earn and achieve.

A Commitment to Self-Preservation

A year ago, I attended the funeral of a close friend. The 44-year-old former college athlete appeared to be the picture of health. But it took just four short, painful months from the day he received a diagnosis of inoperable cancer to witness a brilliant life snuffed out in its prime. If the disease had been detected sooner, he would likely still be among the living. But his fate was unfortunately sealed because he’d refused to get a single medical exam in more than 15 years.

Backtalk with James Pickens Jr.

Perhaps best known as Chief of Surgery Richard Webber from ABC’s medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, James Pickens Jr. has earned four NAACP Image Award nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Drama Ensemble playing Seattle Grace Hospital’s top dog. Pickens has been part of the award-winning cast since the show’s inception in 2005 and is one of the few African Americans in a lead role on network television. Returning for its sixth season in the fall, Grey’s Anatomy received the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Television Series and multiple Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series for 2006 and 2007.

Top Talent Need Apply

Each month, the American public has met the U.S. Labor Department’s unemployment reports with a great deal of apprehension. And with good reason: Since the recession began in December 2007, nearly 6 million Americans have received pink slips. So you probably figure that your prospects for employment in this environment are virtually nonexistent. Well, think again.

The Globetrotter

Kenneth Holley cringed last winter every time he heard someone on the television news compare the current U.S. recession to the Great Depression of the 1930s. “They went too far,” says Holley. “Unemployment was 25% during the Depression, and there were thousands of banks that went under. The parallels aren’t there.” (The nation’s jobless rate at press time: 8.9%)

Sky’s the Limit

The air in the aviation industry rarely has a calm moment. Shortly after 9/11, roughly 130,000 jobs were lost as airlines responded to reduced demand. Then the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq fueled spikes in oil prices and airfares. Today, airlines directly employ 550,000, the Air Transport Association reports. As the economy struggles to rebound, aircraft mechanics, pilots, and air traffic controllers are concerned about staffing shortfalls and their stake in the $120 billion commercial airline industry.

Taming A Wild Economy

Roger W. Ferguson Jr. has answered the call at a time when our nation needs him most. Earlier this year, he agreed to serve on President Barack Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, the influential body charged with providing recommendations for revitalizing America’s battered economy. Ferguson was enlisted to be part of the 15-member task force charged with simplifying the federal tax code and finding ways to recoup the $300 billion in taxes that go uncollected each year. Ferguson was a sterling choice. A former vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, he is one of the nation’s leading economists. He is also the president and CEO of TIAA-CREF, one of the world’s largest financial services firms with more than $360 billion in assets. In February, his credentials earned him a coveted spot on the black enterprise list of the 100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America. Editorial Director Alan Hughes recently sat down with Ferguson in TIAA-CREF’s New York City headquarters to discuss the turbulence in the financial markets, the uncertain state of the economy, and projections of when things may turn around.

I’m No Fortuneteller

One of the odd things about being a financial specialist is that I have a lot more conviction in my long-term expectations than in my short-term ones. People have a hard time understanding this, because it runs counter to the way life works. Where will you be tomorrow at noon? You probably have a good idea. How about on June 6, 2013? You probably have no idea whatsoever.

Where the Jobs Are

Massive cuts and layoffs continue but as companies restructure, opportunities for job seekers will increase. Do you have what these organizations are looking for?

Bernard Madoff’s Sentencing Ends Period of Secrecy

After hearing that Bernard Madoff received one of the highest-ever prison sentences for a white-collar crime, I cynically joked to friends that the judge must’ve mistaken Madoff for a black man. Madoff’s lawyers were hoping Judge Denny Chin of the U.S. District Court would consider their defendant’s age—he’s 71—and grant him just a 12-year stint. [...]
 

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