As a Black Woman Entrepreneur, Marketing Consultant & Coach, who works with women of color who are struggling to establish their presence in the business world both online and offline & struggling to attract more customers in order to build successful business both online and offline. I would like to share ideas on what other African American Women Entrepreneurs can begin to do now to accomplish her goals in 9 simple steps!
It is widely known, to the detriment of many capable african american and black women owned business that there exists a concrete ceiling that is difficult to shatter. That coupled with the glass ceiling effect that many women in general have encountered, throw in race and gender, a Black business woman might as well have a quadruple by-pass surgery and call it a day.
Barriers facing African-American women in business include and are not limited to negative, race-based stereotypes, more frequent questioning of their credibility and authority; and a lack of institutional support. Experiencing a “double outsider” status -African-American business women report exclusion from informal networks, and conflicted relationships with white women, among the challenges they face. These results beg the question is there any use in trying to break through the ceilings?
Well if recent events, that being the election of the first American-American president and the First black lady are not enough to persuade you that “yes you can” then perhaps there is no reason for you to venture. The real issue is a lack of focus and strategy. To help you rise up to the occasion and claim your birth right and focus on living a more fulfilled life, career, and business goals, I have created a simple system, which I call “9 Pillars To A More Fulfilled You.” Here are the 9 key tips:
1. Honey, You’ve Got To Let It Go: I have always loved that song by Toni Braxton, an astute African-American woman entrepreneur herself, Let It Flow. You cannot possibly begin to receive the good that before you if you are still hanging on to the pains and fears of yesterday. The day has finally come for the fullifilment of this prophecy “I have a dream that one day our children will not be judged by the color or their skin but by the content of their character! Pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King. I recommend that you make the song let it flow your anthem!
2. Find a mentor/coach: Numerous studies, both private and government funded have been conducted to understand the barriers facing women and minority owned businesses The most common recommendation that has been made in favor of the up ward mobility of African-American women is the need, the inclusion and the establishment of mentoring programs and mentorship. The game is often won before you get onto the field, If you are going to play the game you had better find on your side a really savvy business coach and consultant
3.Become A Visionary:I know that you will be very familiar with this phrase, Where there is no vision, the people perish. In other words what are you looking to get done at the end of the day? Quit your job? Retire your husband? Spend more time with your children? Paint? Learn to cook? Long walks on the beach? What do you value the most? What is it that you most desire? Visualize to materialize.
4. Create a 90-day plan: With recent vision boards craze, I encounter many heart-broken people who wonder why they have been able to materialize their dreams of MacMansions, bling and whips! It is very simple A goal not written is merely a wish. A goal without a plan is a ticking time bomb. It spells nothing but failure. Make a list of the life areas you want to work on such as: spiritual, physical, financial, career, relationships, etc. Next, write out your goals for each area. Then, put your goals into a 90-day plan. Planning in 90-day cycles will help you accomplish twice as much in half the time.
5. Make it Your Business to Be in the Know- Read a book: Another major obstacle to the advancement of the black woman owned business is Limited Access to Critical Information and Business Networks, when you don’t have the right information, it is difficult to compete. You are as successful as the last book you read. It is very important you become very selective about the material you allow yourself to absorb. Just like it is true that you are what you eat, As a [woman] thinketh, so is [s]he. It is also says in the bible that (Hosea 4:6 ) “My people perish for lack of knowledge” As the risk of beating a dead horse, knowledge is power!
6. Get A Website: Bill Gates, you know the owner of Microsoft and 3rd richest man in the world? He says
“there are two types of businesses, those with websites and those that are out of business!
Studies show that about 75% of people go online to find out more about you and your product. The preferred site to do this is Google. Of these 50% of these people will purchase a product from you online, but only if you have online presence!
7. Track your results: Those who loose weight and keep it off the longest are those that keep a record of their activities. You see it is very difficult to know where you are headed if you haven’t a clue where you came from. It is also easy to beat yourself up when you don’t have proof of how far you have come or how well you are doing. Journals are highly recommended. Track your progress. Document every little success. You see success is nothing but a series of compounding events with a big pay off. Compound interest anyone?
8. Pace yourself: Success is not a destination but a journey. Multi-tasking is so 2008! Stop and smell the roses and remember it is not a race to the finish line. Success does not happen overnight, but one night it does happen!
9. Take time for you: You know Bono of U2 sang it best when he crooned
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
Women we are the worst at this be they stay at home moms, professional business women and/or small business owners. At the end of the day we have given it all with nothing left for yourself. Is it a wonder you have no energy left to make the changes that will bring you happiness? Even Jesus Christ, Buddha, Mohammed took a time out. What is it that the Bible say? 6 days He created the earth on the seventh day He rested? Half an hour a day to yourself for 15 minutes deep breathing is a must and 15 just to enjoy the silence.
10. Reward yourself: On a weekly basis, review the progress that you are making on your goals. With every accomplishment take time to recognize your achievement and pop in Kool & The Gang
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let’s celebrate)
Celebrate good times, come on! (Let’s celebrate)
There’s a party goin’ on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years.
You must get into the habit of seeing the good you have to offer. Women of color are just not very aware of what they capable of today. Bring out the inner Harriet Tubman in you, The Rosa parks and The “Madam C.J.” Walker. You have a rich history and heritage. Those women fought long and hard for such a time as this and you get to live do them justice, do yourself justice. Get it together and bring it back to me!
African Grey Parrots’ Food
When you invite an African Grey parrot to share your home, you are taking on a long-term responsibility to provide a good diet for that parrot for 50 years or more. Many owners fail to do this, even for a few months. Believing that bird seed is enough, they purchase a large bag of mixed seed, and feed their African Grey. Seeds are cheap, so bird food companies push them.
African Grey parrots’ food must not be only seed, however. Such an incomplete, imbalanced diet is likely to cause illness. Seeds are high in fat and carbohydrates, and your African Grey will probably pick out its favorite seeds, making the diet even less balanced.
Most parrot experts agree that an African Grey parrots’ food needs can only be met with a formula diet supplemented with a variety of other foods.
Organic Pellets
What is a formula diet for an African Grey? Organic pellets. I say “organic” pellets because many of the conventional pellets have unhealthy ingredients. Some have even been noted as containing potentially toxic ingredients.
African Grey parrots’ food should never contain menadione. If the pellets you are considering for your African Grey list menadione as an ingredient, read on. The FDA requires a warning on every bag of food that contains it. That warning must read, “Person who handles needs to wear protective outfit, gloves, mask, and glasses.”
Menadione may be added to give your African Grey additional vitamin K. A better option is to provide full spectrum light for your parrot. An African Grey will get vitamin K from the light, just as it would if living outdoors.
Organic pellets also let your African Grey avoid the high quantities of sugar in colored pellets. Most African Grey parrot owners care enough about the bird in which they’ve invested so much money, that they don’t want to give it a diet that is high in sugar.
African Grey parrots’ food that is based on organic pellets will be free of contaminants that might be found in other pellets. In the U.S., government regulations force companies making organic parrot food not to use pesticides or other contaminants.
In addition to a basic, formulated pellet food, African Greys need many of the same food you eat.
1. Fresh vegetables: Offer your African Grey a wide variety of vegetables, raw or cooked. Think bright, deep colors for the most nutrition. Most vegetables that offer high nutrition to you and your family will be good for your parrot as well. Cooked legumes such as beans and lentils are good. Sprouted seeds are also good. Your African Grey will love them. To avoid contaminants such as pesticides, you may want to use organic vegetables for African Grey parrots’ food.
2. Fresh fruits: In the wild, African Greys eat fruit freely. The trick is to keep your parrot from filling up on its favorite food and neglecting pellets and vegetables. As with vegetables, choose bright, rich colors in fruit for the most nutrition. Also, purchase organic if possible.
3. Other supplemental foods: African Grey parrots enjoy cooked eggs and small amounts of yogurt now and then. African Greys are more prone than some parrots to calcium deficiency, so you may leave the egg shell on the hard boiled egg, if you wish. You should not need to give your parrot calcium supplements if you are using a good organic pellet food. You may give a few seeds as a treat, but go easy on them.
No, Thank You
African Grey parrots’ food dishes should never contain avocado, chocolate, or rhubarb. They should not contain any human junk foods or processed meats either. It should go without saying, but your African Grey should never be given anything containing caffeine or alcohol.
Water, Please
Remember, when thinking of your African Grey’s dietary needs, that it should have fresh, clean water in its cage at all times.
Helpful Tip
For healthy African Greys, be sure you clean the food and water dishes every day. If your parrot decides on an impromptu bath, wait until it is done, wash the water dish, and give it a fresh supply of water.
The ‘Big Five’ Of Tanzania
There are quite a few countries in Africa where you can spot the ‘Big Five’, but the most spectacular of these is Tanzania. This is because Tanzania has some of the greatest populations of each of the big five, and the perfect environment and habitat for them to survive.
Lion
As the saying goes, the Lion is the king of the jungle! These big cats can grow to be around 250 KG and are one of the most feared animals in the bush. Male Lions can be identified usually by a mane and do not generally do any of the hunting. The females of the pack hunt in groups by stalking their prey until they are close enough to catch and take it down.
Some of the locations they can be seen in Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Selous.
Elephant
The Elephant is the largest land mammal that exists in this current day and age, with the largest on record weighing around 11,000 KG. Elephants are herbivores, so spend the majority of their days eating plant matter such as fruit, bark and leaves.
Some of the locations they can be seen in Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Selous.
Cape Buffalo
The Cape Buffalo can stand at around 1.5 Metres tall and weight round 700 KG. They live in herds, and feed on grass. Buffalo have known to be unpredictably dangerous when alone without a herd, and have been known to kill whatever comes in to close to its vicinity. To make up for their bad sense of vision, Buffalo have a great hearing.
Some of the locations they can be seen in Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Selous.
Rhino
The Rhino is in danger of becoming extinct, with numbers dropping rapidly over the last 20 years. These large and strong animals weight around 1,400 KG and feed primarily on leafy plants, but will also consume fruits, roots and branches.
Some of the locations they can be seen in Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire.
Leopard
The leopard is a greatly patterned cat that hunts at night and usually sleeps during the daytime. They tend to hunt much smaller animals than lions would, and will store the kill up in trees to avoid scavengers taking their prey away from them.
Some of the locations they can be seen in Tanzania: Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro.