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First Business Action Step
for "The Essential Women's Movement for African American Women"
Are You Wired for
Business Ownership?
16 Facts You Should Understand
About Potential Black
Business Owners
May 31, 2017
By Syndicated Columnist Cathy Harris, DearCathy.com
I am not writing this article to offend anyone, but I am writing it to educate, inform and empower all current and future business owners, especially African  Americans.
After conducting business seminars and workshops for many years, I have come up with the following conclusions and why I believe that many African Americans are not wired to
become business owners.
If many potential business owners don't change their  level of thinking, they will have a hard time making their dream of becoming a business owner come true.
For some potential  business owners, this list are just some of the obstacles that they seriously need to address or in many cases overcome, before opening up the doors of their business.
1.
Want Everything for Free:
There is an old saying that "Black People Will Buy What They Want and Beg for What They Need." In other   words they want everything for free! Crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe.com, Indiegogo.com, and others have made it much easier for black business owners to become beggars. Even when they have legitimate, quality services and products in front of them, they would rather take their money and buy something that will not bring empowerment into their lives.
2.
Rather Fake It Until You Make it:
Most potential African American business owners don't want to admit that they don't know everything. They are  afraid to brainstorm with others, especially those smarter than them such as legal, financial and marketing advisors, so they rather "Fake It Until You Make It!" For some this will mean never telling the truth about themselves or their businesses and if they keep faking it -- they will eventually become perpetual liars.
3.
Don't Understand Business:
Most African  Americans don't know if they are an advocate/activist or a business owner. If you offer a service or have a product, you are a business owner so legitimize your business and start making money.
4.
Stop Conducting Research:
The more research you conduct on the front end of your business, means the better chance you will have at being successful on the back end of your business. However, many business owners stop conducting research  once they open up the doors of their business, and this is a reason they remain on a small scale.
Many just stop believing in their businesses and this is why most businesses go out of business within 2 to 5 years.
5.
Afraid to Seek Out Business Mentors:
Building a business will be one of the most successful things you will ever do in your life. At the same time, it will be hard work! It is true that most African American business owners need business mentors, especially  youth business owners to guide them along so they don't make too many mistakes. But it will be extremely hard to find these mentors in black families so they will have to go outside the family to get these mentors. Having a mentor means having the guidance and motivation to become a successful business owner.
6.
Afraid of Business Plans:
Most African American business owners including those that have been out there for five, ten years or longer, are  afraid of business plans. A business plan is a roadmap and without it, you will get lost in your business. But most African American business owners will never write a business plan! Is it because a large percentage of African Americans are doing math at a 4th grade level and they are afraid of the financial section in a business plan - possibly?
7.
Refuse to Put Up a Website:
In this day and age of technology, many business owners fail to take their businesses online.
It really takes away the legitimacy from your business when you don't have a website. A website means that potential customers and clients, who live nationally or  internationally can view your products and services anytime of the day or night. The other mistake after putting up a website is most black business owners are afraid to put their pictures on their websites, which makes it impossible to "Buy Black." Many believe they will not have customers unless others think they are a "white-owned" company.
8.
Bad Customer Service:
African American business owners, even those who don't have storefronts are still horrible when it comes to returning phone calls, emails and texts. They don't  have contact information on their websites, which should be on every page. It's like they are saying "Yes I have a business" but "No don't contact me." They have unprofessional business literature, especially business cards missing important information.
9.
Services and Products Need to Be About Edutainment:
Other communities are armed with knowledge because over 95% of the books that they read are non-fiction books, but in the black community over 60% of books mostly read are fiction books. Non-fiction is information that people  buy that will save them time, money, increase their knowledge, or improve their lives. Fiction is entertainment. The writer makes things up. But often fiction can be based on real events. Most blacks are into "edutainment," which is a
form of
entertainment
designed to educate
as well as to amuse. S
o unless your services or products are about "edutainment," many African Americans will have a hard time understanding your message.
10.
Rather Get Involved in Network and Multi-Level Marketing Ventures:
Most African American business owners rather get involved in Network and Multi-Level Marketing ventures (aka Pyramid  Schemes) such as Noni Juice, Melaleuca, Prepaid Legal, Primerica, YTB Travel, Quixtar, ACN, Ameriplan, Warm Spirits, Ignite Energy, Ambit Energy, Body Magic Shapers, 5linx, Juice Plus, MCA (Motor Club of America), Karatbars International, Prepaid Legal/Legal Shield, USANA Health Services, Young Living, etc., which black people are horrible at, instead of starting and growing legitimate businesses. You are not a business owner if you get involved in these types of unethical dealings, instead you are working for someone else.
11.
Rather Start a Non-Profit than a For-Profit Business:
Many African American business owners rather start a "Non-profit" than a "For-profit" business. Instead of conducting their own research, many business owners have listened to someone in  the community, who are not even a business owner, who told them the government will give them FREE grant money to start a "Non-profit" or a "Not-for-Profit" business. I have seen Non-profits who have been out there for 5, 10, 15 and 20 years still begging for money from the government. What's more alarming is that there is a whole new generation of potential young black business owners coming behind them, that are now also begging for money from the government.
12.
Refuse to Form Business Alliances, Strategic Partnerships and Co-ops:
Most African American business owners don't understand that the best way  to become successful in business is to form business alliances, strategic partnerships and co-ops. Even when you run into a competitor, instead of just offering  better services with higher quality products, you should also think about forming "referral networks." On the other hand, it's extremely hard to find legitimate and credible black businesses that operate with integrity, so it's important to be a part of "ethical" business groups.
13.
No Belief in Youth Entrepreneurs:
Most African Americans are too protective of their children and feel that if their kids become business owners, they  will not be safe. Sure parents will need to be "hands-on," but nowadays with one or both parents out of work, these youth (Kidpreneurs and Teenpreneurs) can become  breadwinners for their entire families. Unlike their parents, they haven't had time to experience pain and because they live in a world of technology, they are multi-talented, which means they can easily set up their own business or help with family businesses, which are the best way to generate true generational wealth.
14.
Believe Their Life is Over at Age 40 or 50:
Most African Americans think their life is over with at the age of 40 or 50. At 40 years of age you have  over 60% of your productive life left ahead of you. At 50 you have 40% of your productive life left ahead of you, but many are afraid to reinvent themselves by going back to school or starting their own businesses. With this weakened economy and unfair workplace policies, what other choices do they have?
15.
Too Unhealthy to Start a Business:
With an epidemic of sickness plaguing the African American community at this time, many believe it's impossible  for them to become business owners. What they need to realize is that most holistic and natural healers, especially health coaches and consultants, and many other  professionals got started in holistic health careers because they were successful in healing their ownselves. So even if you are not healthy at this time, it doesn't mean you can't turn your life around and become healthy and start your own business.
16.
In that Waiting Mode:
Many potential business owners are listening to family members, friends,  neighbors and colleagues, who are not even business owners and choosing to sit back in a "waiting mode" to see if things will get better. In a  weakened economy, there are tons of opportunities out there, but these opportunities will not just knock on your door. You have to get out there and create these opportunities.
 If you fit in any of the above categories, use this article as a teaching moment to really look at your level of thinking, when it comes to business ownership. Only you can decide whether you are actually wired to become a business owner.
Just remember to create a business that you are passionate about because you might end up working in your business -- 12 or 16 hours a day -- and if you are not passionate about your business, you will not want to do it.
Cathy Harris is known as "The Ethical Black Business Coach."
She is also an Empowerment and Motivational Speaker, Non-GMO Health and Wellness Expert, Advice Columnist at DearCathy.com, Self-Publishing and Business Coach. She is the author of 24 non-fiction books, including 5 health books and 2 business books, who provides seminars, workshops, webinars and consultations through her speaking and training platforms at http://www.cathyharrisinternational.com
and can be reach through her empowerment company, Angels Press, CEO, President, Publisher, P.O. Box 19282, Austin, TX 75380, Phone: (512) 909-7365, Website:
http://www.AngelsPress.com
,
Copyright 2017 Cathy Harris. All Rights Reserved
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Available as E-books & Paperbacks
The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Up Businesses for Youth and Adult Entrepreneurs
Available as E-book & Paperback
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Top Businesses for People Who Like to Cook/Bake
Chapter 2: Top Businesses for People With Green Thumbs
Chapter 3: Top Businesses for People Who Like Cars
Chapter 4: Top Businesses for People Who Like Animals
Chapter 5: Top Businesses for People Who Like Computers
Chapter 6: Top Businesses for Writers
Chapter 7: Top Businesses for People Who Like Photography/Videos
Chapter 8: Top Businesses for People Who Like Entertainment
Chapter 9: Top Businesses for People Who Like To Sew or Crafts
Chapter 10: Top Businesses for People Good With Their Hands
Chapter 11: Top Businesses Dealing With Children or Babies
Chapter 12: Top Miscellaneous Businesses
List of Businesses (185 Total)
How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide To Starting Your Own Business
Available as an E-book & Paperback
CHAPTER 1
Entrepreneurship 101 - Do You Have What It Takes?
-Are You Setting Your Kids Up for Failure?
-Why Open Your Own Business?
-Do You Have What It Takes To Become an Entrepreneur?
-Tap Into Your Own Talents and Passions To Start A Business
CHAPTER 2
Top Three Stages of Setting Up and Legitimizing
a Business
-Checklist To Set-Up and Legitimize Your Business
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Do You Have Good Internet Skills
?
-Why Do Some Websites Sell and Others Don't?
CHAPTER 3
Legal Business Structures
-List of Business Structures
-Business Insurance
-Business Deductions
-Business Tax Information
CHAPTER 4
Top Business Myths, Mistakes and Scams
-Top 12 Business Myths
-Top Business Mistakes
-Top Business Scams
CHAPTER 5
How to Market Your Business
-Marketing Tools Needed for Your Business
-Free and Low-Cost Marketing Tips for Your Business
CHAPTER 6
Are You Losing Business Because of Bad Customer Service Skills?
-Customer Service 101
-Why Network?
-How To Get Referrals?
CHAPTER 7
Top Steps to Finance Your Business
-What is a Business Plan?
-How To Seek Funds for Your Business
-How To Find Potential Investors
CHAPTER 8
What is the Small Business Administration (SBA)?
-What Are Small Business Development Centers?
-Who is SCORE?
-How To Prepare A Small Business Loan
-How To Buy a Franchise
-How To Grow Your Business by Winning State Contracts
-What is the Chamber of Commerce?
Cathy Harris Business Blog
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Message from "The Essential Women's Movement for African American Women"
May 31, 2017
Hi everyone,
This is our
FIRST Business Action Step
so therefore, we will give you a mix of weekly or semi-monthly
Health Action Steps,
Community Action Steps and
Business Action Steps.
Our ultimate goal is to build healthy, thriving black business districts throughout the land so we need input from everyone. In order to match up Millennials with mentors, we need everyone to get involved.
All action steps will be posted at the below links:
Join our new movement
at the below links:
Also new Facebook.com page - Join Now!
Facebook.group - Join Now!
Meetup.com group - Join Now!
First Community Action Step for
The Essential Women's Movement for African American Women"
Report Back and Action Plan for Dallas, TX
10 Health Action Steps for
"The Essential Women's Movement for African American Women"
Cathy Harris Launches "The Essential Women's Movement"
FIRST ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
How To Gain Access to Good, Clean Organic Foods
SECOND and THIRD ACTION STEPS for "The Essential Women's Movement"
(Valentine's Day Editions)
Create a New Healthier Holiday Tradition
& What Single Women Need To Stop Telling Themselves
About Relationships
FOURTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement
What You Need To Know About Vaccinations
FIFTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
What You Need To Know About GMOs
SIXTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
Food Allergies vs. Environmental Allergies
SEVENTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
What You Need To Know About Diabetes
http://conta.cc/2mj9Q2u
EIGHTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
What You Need To Know About Cancer
NINTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
Know Your Numbers and Save Your Life
TENTH ACTION STEP for "The Essential Women's Movement"
How To Get Off All Medications
Cathy Harris, Speaker, Author, Coach
Angels Press, CEO, President, Publisher
Austin, TX 78760
(512) 909-7365
(Seminars, Workshops, Coaching)
(Webinars)
(Empowerment & Publishing Company
(Advice Columnist)
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It's Time To Grow Our Own Foods...
Coming Soon New Book
and New Food Project
Website:
Virtual Organic Garden Clubs
Facebook.com Group:
Blog:
Cathy Harris Garden Club
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Read and Study this Book from
Cover to Cover...
This book can be read by 12 year olds and above.
This book can be a summer reading
assignment for your kids.
"New Book Release - Coming Soon"
"Overcoming Food Deserts in Your Community: How To Start A Home, School or Community Garden, Food Co-op or Food Coalition"
by Cathy Harris
Will be available as an e-book and paperback
Table of Contents
SECTION 1: HOW WILL YOU GAIN ACCESS TO GOOD, CLEAN, ORGANIC FOODS?
- How To Start A Home Garden
- How To Start A School Garden
- How To Start A Community Garden
- How To Start A Food Co-op
- How To Start A Food Coalition
SECTION II: LEGAL STRUCTURE AND FINANCING FOR FOOD PROJECTS
- Job and Business Opportunities
- Legal Business Structure
- Top Ways to Finance Food Projects
SECTION III: MARKETING AND MEDIA FOR FOOD PROJECTS
- How To Market Food Projects
- How To Deal With Media Entities
PREFACE - A NOTE TO THE READER
This book not only lays out several action plans to gain access to good, clean, organic foods, but it will help all family members gain access to job and business opportunities, while they eliminate food deserts in their communities.
Face it we will never get back to totally living off the land like our ancestors did, but families must come together today for the sake of future generations. We need to seriously look at solutions because this is the first generation that will not outlive their parents. However, there are economically-empowered ways we can feed, clothe and shelter our own families.
Food is not always only about the most expedient way to suppress hunger. Many community organizations have long understood this and believe that food access and quality is tied to both racial and economic justice.
Over the past few years we have heard quite a bit about food deserts, or high poverty areas where a lack of grocery stores makes it difficult for residents to purchase fresh food. However, we know far less about the food realities of people who live near grocery stores where fresh food is sold, but because of their limited
incomes, they simply cannot afford it.
Affordable healthy food is an issue of both equity and justice that disproportionally affects working-class and poor people of color in cities and rural areas. Reducing the economic necessity for some to rely so heavily on food that is unhealthy, is not only a tool for fighting health concerns, there are other benefits too.
Time and time again it shows when many schools team up with healthy venues and swap out soda machines and offer instead -- juices, water and low-sugar energy drinks and also prepared meals entirely free of additives and chemicals, but with abundant amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole-grain breads, this have led to reduced behavioral problems, higher grades, lower expulsion rates, decreases in the use of ADD prescription drugs, and teachers are reporting that the students were more attentive and could concentrate for longer periods of time.
Gaining access to clean, sustainability, grown food is a basic human right so we need venues to offer education to inspire family members to live healthy lives, by offering hands-on education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition and this is what this book will do.
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Cathy Harris 90 Day Health Challenge
Can Women Turn Off the Stove for 90 Days to Save Their Family?
Can Men Stop Watching Sports for 90 Days to Save Their Family?
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Welcome to
"DearCathy.com"
Cathy Harris, Advice Columnist
Bring in the Expert?
DearCathy.com Questions for Apr. 2017
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Cathy Harris List of Books
Books can be read by
12 year olds and above...
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Available at
Learn How To Write Your Own Book
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Find Cathy Harris on Social Media
Join Cathy's Groups on Facebook.com
All Books are Available at AngelsPress.com
Brought To You By
AngelsPress.com
Cathy Harris
Empowerment and Motivational Speaker,
Non-GMO Health and Wellness Expert, Advice Columnist at
DearCathy.com, Self-Publishing and Business Coach at
Cathy Harris, Speaker, Author, Coach
Angels Press, CEO, President, Publisher
P.O. Box 19282
Austin, TX 78760
(Seminars, Workshops, Coaching)
(Empowerment & Publishing Company)
(Advice Columnist)
(The Cathy Harris Story)
"We Can Sit Back and Watch As the World Goes By
or We Can Find Opportunities To Make It Better."
....Cathy Harris
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