How African American Female Entrepreneurs Can Follow the Example of the 1st African-american First Lady to Succeed in Business!
Posted on January 12, 2009
Filed Under Women Leaders | 16 Comments
As a Black Woman Entrepreneur, Marketing Consultant & Coach, who works with women of color who are struggling to establish their presence in the business world both online and offline & struggling to attract more customers in order to build successful business both online and offline. I would like to share ideas on what other African American Women Entrepreneurs (any woman) can begin to do now to accomplish her goals in 9 simple steps!
It is widely known, to the detriment of many capable african american and black women owned business that there exists a concrete ceiling that is difficult to shatter. That coupled with the glass ceiling effect that many women in general have encountered, throw in race and gender, a Black business woman might as well have a quadruple by-pass surgery and call it a day.
Barriers facing African-American women in business include and are not limited to negative, race-based stereotypes, more frequent questioning of their credibility and authority; and a lack of institutional support. Experiencing a “double outsider” status -African-American business women report exclusion from informal networks, and conflicted relationships with white women, among the challenges they face. These results beg the question is there any use in trying to break through the ceilings?
Well if recent events, that being the election of the first American-American president and the First black lady are not enough to persuade you that “yes you can” then perhaps there is no reason for you to venture. The real issue is a lack of focus and strategy.
To help you rise up to the occasion and claim your birth right and focus on living a more fulfilled life, career, and business goals, I have created a simple system, which I call “9 Pillars To A More Fulfilled You.” Here are the 10 key tips:
1. Honey, Child You Gotts To Let It Go: I have always loved that song by Toni Braxton, herself Black woman and astute woman entrepreneur herself, Let It Flow. You cannot possibly begin to receive the good that before you if you are still hanging on to the pains and fears of yesterday. The day has finally come for the fulifilment of this prophecy “I have a dream that one day our children will not be judged by the color or their skin but by the content of their character! Pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King. I recommend that you make the
song let it flow your anthem!
2. Find a mentor/coach: Numerous studies, both private and government funded have been conducted to understand the barriers facing women and minority owned businesses The most common recommendation that has been made in favor of the up ward mobility of African-American women is the need, the inclusion and the establishment of mentoring programs and mentorship. The game is often won before you get onto the field, If you are going to play the game you had better find on your side a really savvy business coach and consultant
3. Become A Visionary: Now we all know black folk go to church, I also know that you will be very familiar with this phrase, Where there is no vision, the people perish. In other words what are you looking to get done at the end of the day? Quit your job? Retire your husband? Spend more time with your children? Paint? Learn to cook? Long walks on the beach? What do you value the most? What is it that you most desire?
4. Create a 90-day plan: With recent vision boards craze, I encounter many heart-broken people who wonder why they have been able to materialize their dreams of MacMansions, bling and whips! It is very simple A goal not written is merely a wish. A goal without a plan is a ticking time bomb. It spells nothing but failure. Make a list of the life areas you want to work on such as: spiritual, physical, financial, career, relationships, etc. Next, write out your goals for each area. Then, put your goals into a 90-day plan. Planning in 90-day cycles will help you accomplish twice as much in half the time.
5. Make it Your Business to Be in the Know- Read a book: Another major obstacle to the advancement of the black woman owned business is Limited Access to Critical Information and Business Networks, when you don’t have the right information, it is difficult to compete. You are as successful as the last book you read. It is very important you become very selective about the material you allow yourself to absorb. Just like it is true that you are what you eat, As a [woman] thinketh, so is [s]he. My people perish for lack of knowledge. As the risk of beating a dead horse, knowledge is power!
6. Get A Website: Bill Gates, you know the owner of Micro-Soft and 3rd richest man in the world? He says “there are two types of businesses, those with websites and those that are out of business! Studies show that about 75% of people go online to find out more about you and your product. The preferred site to do this is Google. Of these 50% of these people will purchase a product from you online, but only if you have online presence!
7. Track your results: Those that loose weight and keep it off the longest are those that keep a record of their activities. You see it is very difficult to know where you are headed if you haven’t a clue where you came from. It is also easy to beat yourself up when you don’t have proof of how far you have come or how well you are doing. Journals are highly recommended, track progress, document every little success. You see success is nothing but a series of compounding events with a big pay off, Compound interest anyone?
8. Pace yourself: Success is not a destination but a journey. Multi-tasking is so 2008! Stop and smell the roses and remember it is not a race to the finish line
9. Take time for you: You know Bono of U2 sang it best when he crooned
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
Women we are the worst at this be they stay at home moms, professional business women and/or small business owners. At the end of the day we have given it all with nothing left for yourself. Is it a wonder you have no energy left to make the changes that will bring you happiness? Even Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mohammed took a time out. What is it that the Bible say? 6 days He created the earth on the seventh day He rested? Half an hour a day to yourself for 15 minutes deep breathing is a must and 15 just to enjoy the silence.
10. Reward yourself: On a weekly basis, review the progress that you are making on your goals. With every accomplishment take time to recognize your achievement and pop in Kool & The Gang
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let’s celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let’s celebrate)
There’s a party goin’ on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years.
You must get into the habit of seeing the good you have to offer. Women of color are just not very aware of what they capable of today. Bring out the inner Harriet Tubman in you, The Rosa parks and The “Madam C.J.” Walker. You have a rich history and heritage. Those women fought long and hard for such a time as this and you get to live do them justice, do yourself justice. Get it together and bring it back to me!
To Your Success,
Party Plan Pat
Watch the video related to african american women history
Kiri Davis
Help answer the question about african american women history
Female African American History?Identify three distinct African American women between the 1890s-1930s and illustrate how the institutions and organizations they designed to uplift the African American community challenged the stereotypes of “what a woman ought to do and be.”
About Author
Are you looking for a coach/mentor with emphasis on African American Women Entrepreneurs , Black Women Business Owners with a focus on how African American Women Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners can begin to gain web presence or “change your life” theme? Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo is an articulate, entertaining, high energy expert that delivers fresh ideas to motivate and inspire. You can learn more about her
http://www.homepartyplansuccesstips.com/consulting
Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo
Party Plan Pat
http://www.partyplanpat.com
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16 Responses to “How African American Female Entrepreneurs Can Follow the Example of the 1st African-american First Lady to Succeed in Business!”
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Thanks so much for this historical post. When I was in junior high school Diva Marian Anderson came to our school to perform circa ‘62 and her performance was breathtaking!
Her voice is great!
Great vid. Hey! this is the same tune to Britain’s nat anthem.This is a great piece of nostalgic footage.Fantastic to see a sistah making moves.Great lady.Another to put in our history books and tell out children about.thanks for the vid.
Your question is unclear. Are you asking about African-American women's history?
Are you looking for a website? Are you looking for a college or university that offers majors in African-American studies and/or Women's studies?
Please rephrase your question, and I'll try to help.
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/africanamerican/a/black_women.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html
http://www.lkwdpl.org/WIHOHIO/figures.htm
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/dailylp/dailylp/pdfs/dailylp054a.pdf
http://www.aawc.com/paa.html
Are you kidding?! If we had a white history month, we'd be labeled has racists. It's like in Indy with the Black Expo (a convention that celebrates African Americans in Indy) if we tried to have a white expo we'd also be labeled racist.
awesome voice!
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. BTW, I think some of the people you mentioned like Marc Lamont Hill can’t compare to the contributions of someone like Marion Anderson. I also think some of them have taken up talking about race as a means of making a living.
It depends on whether you are talking about when either started or what progress has been made since then.
Slavery was abolished near the end of the Civil War, yet Jim Crow laws remain in place until the 1960's, a hundred years later. Part of the Civil Rights struggle was to allow blacks to vote. Women won the right to vote in the US in 1920 but they were still regarded as chattel [look it up] until well into the 1950's.
Worldwide, women are still struggling and are denied rights in numerous countries.
Women still earn something like 69 cents for every dollar a man earns in this country. If you think that is equitable, I have a bank that you can invest in.
–To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
–Cherry by Mary Karr
–Little Miss Strange by Joana Rose
–Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
–The Woman's Room by Marilyn French
Im black and i dont see the purpose of it either,most black people in the ghetto make up names like that,my neighbors name is booqueishia.
The "woman Question"? You don't give us much to go on.
Are you referencing black woman as they are treated in the slave community? Or one particular woman?
All that I can offer, is that the female slaves were usually not separated from their children until they reached early adolescence: not always, depended on how caring their owners were. There was no regard shown to the fathers whatsoever.
And I've never heard of a "Black Paul Revere"; so can't help you at all there.
Will keep tabs on your answers, and will hopefully learn something.
Wotan
i watched this video in class, i love it. her vioce is good
YEAH!!!
if i see it i think it should be the african american candidate(though i agree with every one here who see things beyond color but they fail to realize that to look beyond it means to realize it at first. becuz i think it will help america to express that african americans are part of america with no difference of any sort and also the ida that he applies to be a good candidate.