Passing Down Your Entreprenurship 10/14/21
One of my favorite pictures is of a young lady whose father had hollowed out a bus and turned it into a dance school. The young lady travelled to underserved areas of her town and provided dance lessons to young people. I have another picture showing a child with her grandfather painting a shed. The history of these two young ladies is that both have gone on to college and are practicing in their chosen fields. When African people were released from slavery, the fi rst thing they did was go into business for themselves; some as tradesmen and women, and some as sharecroppers. They built their own schools, churches and homes. Mainly, they had learned that being on their own was the best survival and thriving method. They also learned not to be selfi sh and to pass the lesson down to the next generation, giving them a head start in life. I keep a picture of teams in the Negro Baseball League, because it is a picture of a great failure not successful because of what they lost when manyI keep a picture of teams in the Negro Baseball League, because it is a picture of a great failure not successful because of what they lost when many left to join white teams. I look at the crowd in the picture and think how many Hot Dogs were sold to paying spectators who bought Seats. Also, the uniforms and the equipment money are all gone, including transportation to the games and hotels that could have been built and maintained by blacks. All that lost money is all I can think of. Advertisers don’t care who the owners are. They just want the customers. It could have been money for black entrepreneurs. You are your own boss, the money is yours and more importantly, it’s a legacy and new beginning for your children. The most gratifying thing is sharing the profi ts with others whether they are family or not. The legacy is great as the lady who discovered her grandmother’s recipe for syrup created when she was a slave. Now her granddaughter Michele is reaping the benefi ts of Grandma’s hands from a hundred years ago. When World War II was over, the Japanese people concentrated on their own people and built cars, and other things, and lifted the Japanese people’s economy. The Japanese people set an example for making things better for their own people. Unlike the Black baseball players, or black hair care professionals who squandered their lead in the black hair care industry, they didn’t give it away. I say that if you work in an industry with a special skill, take that skill and start a business. Understand that your fi rst years will be meager, but stick to it and things will get better.The Japanese people set an example for making things better for their own people. Unlike the Black baseball players, or black hair care professionals who squandered their lead in the black hair care industry, they didn’t give it away. I say that if you work in an industry with a special skill, take that skill and start a business. Understand that your fi rst years will be meager, but stick to it and things will get better. As a bonus to your entrepreneurship when you retire, there may be residual income if you have planned it right. You can receive rental income from your building, if you have had the foresight to purchase your building. You can get income from the business, if you have considered it when you contracted for the sale. Remember the saying If it is to be, it’s up to me! Of course, we must have the support of the black community and the people you serve, your business can survive and you’ll be able to leave a legacy. |
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