And Finally... March 16, 2015

It is a weird feeling that has come over me lately because in about four weeks, I will write my last And Finally and spend my final days as President and CEO of the GNEMSDC, an organization that I can say -  I love.  The feeling is similar to what I imagine Derek Jeter felt as he played the last month of his major league career.  There is the uncertainty of a future that no one can see with clarity; the anxiety of wondering will I be able to perform at the level needed for success in the next phase of my professional career; and the joy of working with phenomenal business and political leaders and a great staff over the past 14 years.  If a life is a collection of moments, my life with the GNEMSDC has been truly fulfilling.

But now is not the time for sentimental reflections.  We still have work to do.  But I really hope that I can convince as many of you to join me in Boston at the GNEMSDC Gala on April 11.  This celebration of 40 years of service by thousands of MBEs and corporate members, directors, staff, volunteers, sponsors, supporters and others is worthy of your support, and most importantly, your presence.  So please plan on being there on April 11.  I want to go out with a bang like, Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit!

And Finally... March 9, 2015

This week I am attending the RES Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. This conference brings together Native American Tribal leaders, Native American business leaders, and leaders in the public and private sector. To get in the spirit of the conference I am reading the book, Working in Indian Country by Larry Keown. Mr. Keown is not a member of Native tribe, so he is recounting the lessons he learned often from some very common mistakes made by non-Natives looking to conduct business with Natives.   If I were to boil down the key to being successful in Native country to one word, the word would be - Respect.

As I thought about this, I realized that respect is something that all business relationships should be built on regardless of whether it is a situation involving people of different cultures, races, genders or people with similar backgrounds and beliefs. Respect should be the basis of a relationship, particularly when power, either economic or political, is not equal between the parties. For the more powerful to respect the less powerful requires humility, which has the same root word found in human and humane. It has always been my experience that showing respect is almost always reciprocated regardless of whom has the most power.

Respect in the fullness of the word and the practice is also unrelated to moral judgments of right or wrong. Wars are fought because of the lack of respect. Young Black and Hispanic men lose their lives because of the lack of mutual respect between them and "authority". Some business is never consummated because of the lack of respect. And love is lost for the lack of respect - just ask Aretha Franklin - "all I want is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T."

I hope to be successful at this conference in building more and deeper relationships with my Native brothers and sisters. In truth I can personally claim to be Choctaw given my maternal great grandmother was "full-blooded" Choctaw. But while my personal heritage can help in building those relationships this week, nothing can overcome the failure to show respect.