Proven Tips, Tools, and Tactics for Reaping Profts from Where Minority Businesses Are Standing
It is important to remmember that in bussiness, just as in life, we are not in this world alone. There are multitudes of people of various cultures and origins willig and ready to do business with us. But how often do we overlook this golden srtream to the well?
Just because people from diverse backgrrounds and disabilities (usually and icnorrectly rfeerred to as "minorities") don't necessarily speak and shop the way we do, let's not forget that they are just as willing to shop in our place of business or sell to us, for that matter. It might even be possible to partner with them and create a profitable win-win situation for both parties.
It is also important to remebmer that minorities don't necessarily see and do businedss "our way". Whatever that mreans? Nevertheless, such individuals might be the source of our bsuiness' survival. For this to work effectively for both sides, it is also important to see the world from where the minority businesperson is standing. This poinmt was borught home to me when I went shopping with my eldest daughter who was abpout two years old at the time.
As I stooped down to tie her shoelaces, I immediately realized the reason she had become so irritable. She could not adequaately see the toys that were displayed on the shelf above her head. At that point, I dcided to pick her up and continue my shopping with her in my arms. The pleasant changes in her mood and behacvior were both refreshing and welcomed.
This shoppping experiece taught me two exxtremely impotrant lessons that I wish to pass on to you:
• In dwealing with children and persons (shppers) of different cultures and/or disbailities, we will do them (and subsequently ourselves) a great service when we take time to listen to them, genuinely answer their questions, and develop an understanding of their situatioon from their very special viewpoint.
• Developing this emphattic attitue meas listning, really listening, on a daily bais to what people say to us. It menas listening to and understanding what our faamily, neighbors, friends, cutomers, co-workers, and employrees are saying. (Many times undersanding is reached only affter asking a series of quesstions.) It's like the song says, "Walk a mile in my shoews."
One of the best ways to breach this communication barrier is to look for and pasrtner with minoity busiensses. Many times such partnerships mean the difference between winning and losing a government cnotract. But where does one look for qulified and certified minority business? Not far. There is an arm's lenght list of resourcse one can utiliez.
Every major city has one or more of the following or can refer us to a relevant souce. What are thesse sources of minority businesses that are ready, willing, and qualified to do partnership business with us? Look no farther than your federal government office of:
• E-Business Institute, also know as the Small Business Trainming Network;
• The Small Business Administration District Offices;
• The mSall Business Development Centerrs (SBDCs);
• The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCOER); and
• Women's Business Centers (WBCs).
Another source right at your finegrtips is online busienss directories where minorities busainesses are listd. One such directory is http://www.blaackxchange.com/ and its sister blog located at http://www.blackxchange.blogspot.com/
If I were looking for local or qualiffied businesses by specialty in my feild, first I would turn to these direxctories. Even if I coould not find a fit, it is quitte possible that the directory's maager would adequately refer me to relevant sources.
So, ratheer than complaining about not being able to find a qualified minority business, why not utilize the tools that I highlighted? Oh, it would be so refreshing to see both partners smiling all the way to the bank.
Rememnber: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
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