And Finally III, Musing on Minority Business Development
I want to thank Rod
Powell of Yankee Gas for his kind words in his forward to And Finally 3. However, I did not include an introduction to
this version. The Romans had phrase (res
ipsa loquitor -it speaks for itself) that addresses why I did not write an
introduction. In other words, I hope the
messages in this book will not only stand on their own, but will speak to
you. Each week the message reflected
some activities or thoughts that I wanted to share with the newsletter
readers.
Arguably, the more
important information is above the And Finally note each week. Since it is
above the note that we recognize the successes of our MBEs and corporate
members and we also inform both of opportunities for our stakeholders to do
business with each other. The newsletter
is chronicle of minority business development in our region and country. In the And Finally section, I attempt to give
you a view into what I am thinking about, and also how I believe I can provide
assistance to MBEs and corporate members by looking at things from my
perspective. I know I do not get it
right all of the time, but I try to not only inform but to entertain.
I sub-titled this
version of the book, Musing on Minority Business Development because in the
creation of these And Finally commentaries, I am often reflecting on some event
or activity that may or may not be directly connected to the ultimate message I
want to convey. So, the challenge is to
muse on these things until I can put together a thread that ties two or more
things together. While not on the same
level, my inspiration for this approach come from artist and philosophers like
John Coltrane and Lao-tzu. Simplicity,
truth, depth and self deprecation humor are what I am seeking in these
messages. That is what these artists
and philosophers do so well.
My recommendation
for reading the book is to open it at any page and read a few messages at a
time. This method might not be the
traditional way of reading a book from first page to last, but this is not a
traditional book. On day I will write a
more traditional book on minority business development, but not now. If the few pages that you read speak to you
and your current situation, I have been successful. But most of all enjoy. It is an honor to be able call you my
colleagues and friends.
Forward Message by Rodney O. Powell
President & Chief Operating Officer - NU Gas Business
And finally . . . Really! No seriously …Really? In this 3rd offering Dr. Fred immerses us in a tapestry of National and worldwide events shaping our domestic and global economies; recommends actions that must be taken if our State’s economy is to emerge stronger from the lethargic recovery and inure to the benefit of all its residents; And Finally a dose of some home brewed antidotes that bring us back to the self-realization of why we go into business in the first place.
It’s a focal point for every MBE and would be MBE to
evaluate, consider, think through and decide for yourself --- am in this with
every fiber of my being? If not . . .
get out! Entrepreneurship, like growing
old, requires our best effort. It’s hard
work, exercise (mental and physical) and finding something you are religiously
passionate about. Otherwise you don’t age,
you deteriorate or in the case of the entrepreneur you linger until hope
dies. But as Dr. Fred prescribes, be
intentional about your planning and devoted to flawless execution your reward
will be exponentially greater than the sum of all your sacrifices.
Let’s be honest, planning, goal setting and strategy
development; creating mile markers, key performance indicators; measuring
progress and periodically refining strategies to adjust to changing dynamics isn’t
glamorous --- its tedious . . . but it
is the stuff that success is made of.
The good doctor reminds us of the slanted playing field
of small business. What I call the 3rd
handicap . . . one, and two being you’re minority and / or woman owned; you’re
under-resourced and underfunded. What’s
this 3rd handicap? Ninety
three percent (93.75%) of all business conducted by the State is not available
for your bid or solicitation. Now that
small businessperson is a playing field with about a 90 degree slant … and its not in our favor.
I recall serving on the Board of Directors of a State
Quasi. The issue of inviting “qualified
minority and women owned business” to bid as we reviewed contract language
wording. I challenged then as I do now
the need for such language in state contracts.
What irony … “Qualified”? This is
the State, not unlike most States, where key cabinet and commissioner positions
are “rewarded” as political favors to individuals who are inherently not
qualified to hold their positions. But I
digress. Dr. Fred has provided all of us
with a buffet of food for including a hearty bowl of soup for our
entrepreneurial spiri0t.
Read it And Finally, as Ed Shultz would say “let’s get to
work”!
What
People are saying?
“I
think Dr. Fred provides a valuable service to MBEs
and corporate members with his insights into
minority business development. He has a way
of saying things and providing advice that spur
action based on thoughtful reflection.”
Bill
Boodry,
Liberty
Mutual
“I
start my week with Dr. Fred’s Monday GNEMSDC
e-newsletter and I have to admit
I
start at the end with his And Finally commentary. It
is often inspiring, thought provoking,
funny
and inspirational.”
Larry
Wooten,
Pitney
Bowes
“At
times, I do not always agree with Dr. Fred’s And
Finally editorials, however, they always allow me
to pause and reflect on an important insight and
opinion on important topics.”
Gary
Stiffler,
President
and CEO
The
MATLET Group
And
Finally II, Essays on Minority Business Development
This book picks up where
the first edition of And Finally ended. This
version includes the popular weekly comments that are a
part of the GNEMSDC e-Newsletter and essays on
minority business development that should be
of interest to corporate supplier diversity
managers, minority business owners and those interested in
public policy and minority community development.
Unlike many books that
have a clear beginning and end and a fairly linear
line of argument and discourse, this book is a departure
from that format. The reader is encouraged to pick it
up on any page and read from front to back or back to
front. As a former business school professor, I
believe there are nuggets of valuable information that
can assist readers accomplish their goals,
whether they are supplier diversity managers, senior
executives in large corporations, or minority
business owners.
And Finally II, Essays on
Minority Business Development that I try to relate to
business and success. It has been a blast working on
this over the years and I hope that you get as much out
of it as I have putting into the book.
I have many people to
thank and they are all in the book somewhere, but I need
to specifically mention my wonderful staff, Delores
Holley who retired at the end of 2010, Gloria Yopp,
Tatiana Paredes, and Jerilynn Clarke. I also want to
thank my very tolerant board of directors for putting up
with some of the unconventional approaches
I have implemented to make the GNEMSDC one of
the most vibrant NMSDC Councils in the country. I
thank the corporate members who support the
Council and our mission of
minority business development.
I give a special thanks to the hundreds of
certified MBEs who struggle for success like their lives depend on it.
What People Are Saying?
“Give
‘em hell Fred!”
Carlton L Highsmith, Former CEO Specialized Packaging Group
I
always read “And Finally” because each week you have something important to
say. . .sometimes philosophical. . .sometimes direct and justified “righteous
indignation”. . . but I am always enlightened (and often well-entertained)
after reading your column. Today’s column is clearly one of my favorites.
Though
I don’t have any claim to a “special relationship” with Santa, I am located
significantly North of Hamden, so if Santa comes to my house first on his way
South, it will be my pleasure to vouch for you and your many good deeds over
the past year!
Wishing
you many blessings over the coming year, most especially health, happiness, and
wealth beyond your needs. Looking forward to working with you in 2011.
Paula E. Graves
Senior Minority Programs Development Manager
Tuck Executive Education at Dartmouth
Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
I am
still on the mailing list for this newsletter and am led to write this
morning and congratulate you on continuing to provide insightful commentary on
issues that affect minority entrepreneurs. I am a product of Birmingham,
Alabama and while I know very little about the issue you are writing about (so
I have no position either way on it) but I am always reminded of how much
we all owe to leaders like Martin Luther King who championed just causes even in
the midst of fear and uncertainty.
Take
care and keep up the good work
Audrey Goins Brichi
Manager Strategy, Planning and Coordination
Downstream Technology and Services
Chevron Corporate Procurement
Chevron Services Company
A Division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Chevron Services Company
A Division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Your
comments and rationale in "And Finally..." were in
Outstanding!!!
Keep
up the terrific work.
Bobbie Melvin Miles
V. P. Sales & Business Development
ValorOne, LLC
ValorOne, LLC
Your
final comments ... Are so true! Relationships are and should be an investment
... For the future. I enjoy and look forward to reading your e - newsletter. Darnell
And Finally - The Humor and Philosophy of Minority Business Development
When
I started the job as president (then it was called executive
director) of the Connecticut Minority Supplier Development
Council (CMSDC) in July of 2001, I realized that the
organization needed to try to establish a place higher up in
the business organization food chain. While ego was clearly a
driving force, the dominant rationale for an improvement in
the brand was mission.
As a not-for-profit working to
increase opportunities for certified minority owned businesses (MBEs), it is necessary to make the connections between
our role in this worthy process and the day-to-day
struggle
of MBEs and the strategic goals of our corporate members.
We needed to stand up and shout to the business and
political communities primarily in Connecticut, but also nationally,
that our mission of minority business development is
critical to the continued growth and development of the
United States as a land of opportunity.
With
this in mind, and the developing technology of the Internet
that allowed everyone and anyone to be their own publisher,
editor and distributor, I now had a song to sing and
a stage to sing it on. So, I started humbly enough in the fall
of 2001 by writing a weekly summary of activities and coming
events. The chairman at the time, Pat Lorent, then of Fleet
Bank, was encouraging and doubtful that I could continue this
enterprise, given that I started calling the publication the
CMSDC weekly e-newsletter. But continue I did, each week
increasing the readership from an initial number of less
than 100 e-mail recipients to weekly distribution of over 2,000
today. The readership comprised representatives of the
corporate membership and the MBE population. My
goal was not only to dryly report the MBE/Supplier Diversity
news of the week. I also saw the need to entertain and
inspire. So at the end of each newsletter, I started a one paragraph note,
entitled "And Finally". This small section was always
the most difficult to write because I wanted to be original and
insightful. I often would take a walk in the woods with
my dog, Hannibal, to seek inspiration for that final section. There
is nothing like a walk in the wilderness to clear the
head for creativity. I highly recommend it. I did not know how
this personal note would be received by people I was just
getting to know, but I thought if ever there was a time to re-create
yourself, now was a perfect time.
And while I was at it,
I might as well develop a moniker. So I chose Dr. Fred because
it was simultaneously respectful of my hard earned Ph. D. in economics from Yale and informal enough to encourage
its use. At the time I had never heard of Dr. Phil, but I was well aware of Dr. J. Over
the past six years the "And Finally" section has become
a focal point of the readership. I often hear from readers
that it is the first thing they read when they come in
to
their offices on Monday morning. Consistency is important in
the publishing business, so the newsletter comes out every
Monday morning at 8:30 AM whether I am in town or
not. The wonders of technology never cease to amaze me.
This
book can be read from start to finish, but like a coffee table
book, it can also be read randomly. If you are a business owner
or a corporate executive you should be able to
find
something here to make your day lighter and more productive.
What People are Saying?
"Dr. Fred's column is a must read for me every Monday
Frank J. Gramo
Director Strategic Business & Diversity Relations Avis
Budget Group, Inc
"And Finally addresses the hopes, the fears, the
challenges and the successes experienced by
minority business owners and supplier diversity professionals."
Carlton Highsmith President and CEO Specialized Packaging
Group
"Dr. Fred is a man of keen insights, thoughtful
analysis, sound judgment and good humor. All of those traits are on display in 'f\nd Finally".
Every week I look forward to his commentary, and this compilation should be required reading for Fortune 1000
CEO's as well as
minority entrepreneurs just starting out. Dr. Fred will make you laugh, but more importantly, he will
make you think!"
Peter F. Hurst, Jr. Founder, President and CEO The
Community's Bank
"Corporate executives need to be reminded that small
businesses represent the largest number of
companies and contribute the greatest to employment, taxes
and the development of the community. Dr. Fred's column gives me a perspective that is important for my company."
