By and For Minority Business Enterprises
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Tip of the Month

November-December, 2009

 

The Keys to Longevity, the First 15, to Apply to Your Life and Work
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more." Written by Regina Bell, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

 

Here are the first 15:

  1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
  2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
  3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
  5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
  6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
  7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
  8. It's OK to get angry with God, He can take it.
  9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. (or at least start now)
  10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
  11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
  12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
  13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
  15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But, don't worry; God never blinks.

Watch for the next 15 in her list, next issue.

Mastering the RFP Process ~ Part 2
None of us are experts at the Request For Proposal game, but along the way many of us have learned a thing or two. In Part 1, we focused on understanding how you can be selective and how the details can guide you.

This issue, we are sharing with you Part 2, how it is first important to learn where the organization issuing the RFP is coming from, and whether it is worth while for you to respond.

In our next issue, we will bring you Part 3 of this series with Preparation in Thought and Process.

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
...Bill Cosby

Census Bureau Demographic Report
Our nation's population is growing older and more diverse. What can this mean to you and your business? Especially if even a small portion of your business is to consumers, this information will be relevant to you, your business future planning, and your bottom line.

Do you have important information to share with other MBEs?

 

Send them off to Marilyn at:
mdayton@eotomarketingsolutions.com.

We Need You!

The purpose and mission of the MBEIC is to provide advice and guidance to the programs operating under the auspices of the GNEMSDC and to conduct such other activities that the Committee adopts in the furtherance of its goals to enhance minority economic development, provided such actions do not impair the 501c (3) tax-exempt status of the GNEMSDC. Go to www.mbeicct.org for more information.

We are looking for people like you, fellow MBEs, who would like to commit to helping one another and by volunteering to be a part of this wonderful group. The only requirement is that you join one of our sub-committees.

 

If you would like to participate, contact:

Carlton L. Oneal

carltononeal@lightspeededu.com.

 

Correspondence for the MBEIC should be sent to:

MBEIC c/o commVerge Marketing
4133 Whitney Ave., Building 4, Box 2
Hamden, CT 06518

For further information and suggestions for this newsletter, contact:

Marilyn Dayton

Chair for the Communication Sub-committee MBEIC

mdayton@eotomarketingsolutions.com.

Message from Carlton

Greetings all:
This note comes to you on the heels of another NMSDC annual conference. For those of you who attended, it is likely you felt the excitement in the air as corporations conducted many one-on-one meetings in addition to the traditional exhibit booth interactions. As many of us left the meeting, a number of discussions could be heard concerning the positive changes in the economy, the drive and dedication it took to make it through the year, and the hopes for the future. And, although a lot went into the planning and preparation for a successful conference, some of the real hard work on the conference begins after returning to your office. Many of us know this, yet far too many do not do the work. That work to be done is the all important follow-up. Whether it is a short email message, a personal card, a telephone message or all of the above, follow-up makes a difference. There have been times when corporate members have mentioned to me that they met a particular MBE who said they would follow up, but for some reason did not. In one example, the corporate member had an opportunity to share that arose after the initial meeting. Fortunately, this corporate member reached out to find out what happened to the follow-up. But, just for a moment, consider the number of people who may have had an opportunity for an MBE but did not reach out. So, as we head toward the Fourth Quarterly meeting of our Council and the holiday business card exchange to close out the year, please keep in mind the importance of follow-up. As the economy rebounds, this surely is the time to take advantage of every potential opportunity.

Best wishes for a successful end of the year and a tremendous start to 2010!

 

Carlton L. Oneal
Chairperson, MBE Input Committee