The Debt Ceiling Debate is Now Reaching Critical Levels

by Ayvaunn Penn, Your Black World

Valuable time is ticking away, and there is now less than a week left until the U.S. runs out of money. Government leaders around the world are getting nervous. According to Reuters, a board member of the Bank of Japan stated, “As the world’s biggest economy, the U.S. would have an immeasurable impact on global financial markets and Japan would not escape the damage. Valerie Pecresse, France’s budget minister says, “The global economy needs an American agreement…WRAPPED UP IN A BOW.” Simply put, everyone’s nerves are being frazzled by this U.S. governmental stalemate. Reuters reports:

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Dr. Boyce: The Debt Ceiling Battle is a Symptom of Much Greater Economic Troubles

 

 

by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action

In early 2001, America’s economic future was rosy: Our government was sitting on a massive budget surplus, and the Congressional Budget Office predicted that the next 10 years would carry our nation down the path of seemingly endless prosperity. This was a good time for President George W. Bush to push through a set of massive tax cuts, significantly reducing government revenue at a time when we didn’t quite seem to need the money.

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Five Tips to Survive and Thrive in this Changing Economy

What is Your Business Model?

There is a saying that if you continue to do the same things the same way and expect a different result, that is the definition of insanity.

There was an article, Business Models for Industries in Crisis, that discussed how five industries must change the way they do business if they are going to survive and thrive.

The same is true for a lot of us! We are in a state of crisis. If we want to survive and thrive in the current economy we have to change our strategies and tactics.

So, the question for each of us is what are we willing to do differently?

For example, if you are looking for new employment, do you continue to do it the same old way or have you employed new tactics? You can't afford to literally and figuratively look for a job the "old fashion" way. It doesn't yield sufficient results in this competitive environment.

I have a friend who was interviewing for a position with an organization. He saw that I was connected to someone via Linkedin who worked at that organization. He called me to ask if I could make an introduction. A great way to network!

Another colleague of mine was interviewing with someone. When she looked him up on Linkedin, she saw that they were connected to a mutual person. She called that person to find out more about the person she would be interviewing with. A wonderful opportunity to be prepared for an interview by knowing a little about the interviewer!

Regardless, if you are an entrepreneur or not, you are the C.E.O of your life. Read 5 Tips to devise a winning strategy that will enable you to create a “business model” that will guide you through this ever changing economy.

Good Luck and Much Success!

Bio: Danielle Douglas is President of Inspire Enterprise. Get more great information to learn How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

The Landscape of Entrepreneurship is Changing! What Side of the Fence Are You On?

From what perspective are you looking at the lack of job opportunities?

We continue to hear in the news about the lack of job creation for the American people. And we will continue to hear about it since both the Democratic and Republican parties are gearing up for the Presidential election in 2012 that is fast approaching.

One thing that both the Democrats and Republicans have agreed on is that “big business” is not the answer to the unemployment problem. As a result, the Federal Government has tried to collaborate with private industry to invest significant dollars in entrepreneurial programs such as Startup America.

In addition, there have been other programs developed like the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Initiative that has committed to investing $500 million to help entrepreneurs grow their business to create jobs. They thought this would be the answer to the unemployment problem. Not so!

There are some clear cut trends that are influencing small business owners and consumers that give some insight on why startups are starting smaller and adding fewer jobs to the U.S. economy. These trends demonstrate why it is much easier to start a lean business today.

What are these trends? Read more….

Bio: Danielle Douglas is President of Inspire Enterprise. Get more great information to learn How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Dr. Boyce, Marc Lamont Hill, Steve Perry, Michael Eric Dyson Sign on for New Film, “Hoodwinked”

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Another One Bites the Dust: Ebony/Jet Sells a Big Chunk of It’s Magazine

 

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High-Flying Citigroup Executive Allegedly Robs His Bank with a Computer

 

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How to Do Business with a Fortune 500 Company

We can either talk about how opportunities are not being handed to us or we can discuss how to take advantage of the opportunities that are being given?

As a small business owner, I want to be part of a dialogue about how money can be made NOT about how I am being hindered from making money. What do you want to talk about?

There was an article about the discrimination by major organizations against black businesses via the “NON URBAN DICTATE” initiative. This particular initiative is geared towards black and Hispanic consumers NOT black businesses. That doesn’t make it any more palatable, it is just a point of clarification.

With that said, there ARE major organizations who want to do business with minority and women small business owners. They understand that African Americans and Hispanics will be the new majority in the 21^st century.

Therefore, they are looking to do business with minority business owners that can help them maximize the revenue that can be generated via these communities. I have said it before and I will say it again, in a capitalistic society, the bottom line is revenue.

Did you know that Macy’s had a Workshop at Macy’s initiative that held workshops this past Spring? These workshops were specifically targeted to minority and women small business owners to prepare them to do business with Macy’s.

The hard truth we need to face about ourselves is that, more often than not, we are not prepared to do business with major organizations like a Macy’s.

Are you ready to take advantage of the opportunity when it comes?

If you want to know how to do business with Fortune 500 companies, go to the Four Steps to Getting Business With Fortune 500 Companies to read and listen to the discussion I had with Ms. Lynda Ireland, President and CEO, of the New York/New Jersey Supplier Diversity Council (The Council)

In addition, I spoke with Corey Smith, Former Director of Supplier Diversity at NBC Universal to get additional tips on what it takes to get business with a Fortune 100 company! As a corporate member of The Council, his organization looks to The Council to provide viable vendors who can do business with NBC.

Let us not perish for lack of knowledge

As consumers and small business owners, we should be focusing our attention on the companies that respect us as viable consumers and viable strategic business partners.

If you are a serious about making money and about your business, then take the time to read and listen to my discussions with Lynda Ireland and Corey Smith. Nuff’ said!

Bio: Danielle Douglas is President of Inspire Enterprise. Get more great information to learn How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Are You Planning to be an Accidental Entrepreneur? If so, think again!

Some bad news!

The unemployment rate continues to plague us. African Americans have been the hardest hit with unemployment. According to a survey that was done by Dr. Boyce Watkins, 38% of you have experienced a lay off in the past three years. If you haven’t personally experienced a lay off, you know a friend or a family member who has.

Across the board, we are in a dismal state: unemployment, wealth creation, and the value of our homes have diminished substantially. Recently, there has been much talk about how hiring has significantly slowed down again. We don’t need the economic reports to tell us what we already know.

Some good news!

Did you know that from 2008 to 2009, African Americans and older Americans had the greatest increases in starting their own businesses?

Although, that can be considered great news, we still must be cautious in our optimism. These challenging economic times can and has been a primary motivating factor for individuals to start their own businesses when they have been laid off for a significantly long time.

And now some ugly news!

One of the worst reasons to start a business is because you believe you have no other options. It’s like getting married just because the woman is pregnant. It requires too much sacrifice and hard work to do it for that sole reason. Here are Ten Questions You Should Answer if you are considering entrepreneurship.

For a lot of us who have started our own business, we have tapped into our personal savings, 401k plans, and/or home equity. Of course, we expect a return on investment. More often than not, that doesn’t happen. Ninety-five percent (95%) of small businesses go out of business in five years.

Am I advocating NOT starting a business? Of course not!

If you have always wanted to start a business and you see this as an opportunity to do so, great! Most successful entrepreneurs started out in a traditional work setting where they learned some great skills that enabled them to make a successful transition to entrepreneurship. So, you have one thing in your favor.

If you want to know what else it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, read The Decoding of the Successful Entrepreneur – Here’s the Secret Formula.

What I am advocating is that if and when you take that leap into entrepreneurship make sure you acquire the essential business skills necessary to be successful. A lot of small business owners fail because they are great at their craft but don’t have the “know how” to run a successful business.

Don’t Just Do It!

Like marriage when entrepreneurship is done for the “right” reasons and there is a solid foundation of skills and know-how, it can be wonderful. When not, it can suck all your financial and emotional resources right out of you. Be Prepared!

Bio:

Danielle Douglas is President of Inspire Enterprise. Get more great information to learn How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur.