The Columbus Tri-Annual Issue 3

he Columbus

Tri annualMistakes men make in their

career

A National Black MBA association Columbus Chapter Publication

ALSO INSIDE:

The art of selling yourself:

Effective ways to network

leadership in a negative world

-

G I R L S

WOME N

To Become

How to Raise Our

Young

Issue 3

Wow, 2014 has already past and the NBMBAA Columbus chapter had a tremendous year! Thank you to all members, corporate sponsors, affi liates, and supporters making the NBMBAA Columbus chapter successful! Here are just some of our major accomplishments:

• A 34% increase in membership.• Our very own David Harrison was awarded the Helping

Hands award at the NBMBAA Conference and Exposi on.• The NBMBAA Columbus Chapter in partnership with The

Ohio State University hosted the 2014 Leaders of Tomorrow Business Case Compe on.

• We gave away$16,000.00 in scholarships to gradua ng seniors in our Leaders of Tomorrow program.

• Hosted successful events such as our annual résumé workshop, real estate inves ng, and more!

• Collaborated with the Columbus Metropolitan Library and City School for mentoring young boys and girls.

• Three members were recognized at the annual Mentor Program celebra on.

• Successfully hosted the 2014 NBMBAA Leadership Retreat.• The Helping Hands award at the NBMBAA Conference and

Exposi on.• ...and many MANY more accomplishments!

This is the third issue of our online magazine The Columbus Tri-Annual. Launched in 2014, members and affi liates to the NBMBAA contribute ar cles that empower people from all walks of life. From career advice to leadership skills, each issue is aimed to make YOU a be er person in your professional and personal life. 2015 will be no diff erent!

In closing I hope to see you at one of or many events in 2015!

Hello 2015!EdiEditorial

Tamara StaleyPresidentNBMBAA Columbus Chapter

1 TCT| Issue 3

Regards,

2014 in2014 in pICtures!

More images can be found at www.columbusbmba.org

www.columbusbmba.org 2

3 TCT| Issue 3

2014 in2014 in pICtures!


Contents

Mistakes Men make in their

careers - by Fanchon Kent

The plight of the Black man has been challenged for years.

17

23

the art of selling yourself: - By lynette smith

Do you envision yourself doing more than your current roll/job requires?

25

Putting the Pieces Together for

pemeds - by tasha jeffersonWithout Order of Opera ons a emp ng mathema cal calcula ons would be chao c...

13

positive leadership in a negative

world - by corey humphriesO en this feeling of going against the grain can provide a fuel or a con nued adrenaline rush

how to raise our young girls to

become women - By sean-nika steelToday’s genera on faces some complicated issues that genera ons of the past have not had to experience.

29

31

How Minorities can succeed in a

technological careerby charles byrdMinori es who want to pursue a technological career in today’s society must focus on several objec ves

P N

Contributing Writers

NBMBAA Columbus Chapter P.O. Box 163575Columbus, Ohio 43216. (614) 470-1683

NBMBAA1 East Wacker Chicago, IL 60601(312) 236-2622

We value your feedback and encourage you to share your thoughts about our magazine. Please send all emails to marke [email protected].

he Columbus

Tri annualeditor

Tasha Jeff ersonasha Jefferson

Fanchon Kent

Sean-Nika SteeleCorey Humphries

Charles Byrd

Lyne e Smith

Tasha Jeff erson

FOLL

OW U

S! facebook.com/columbus.nbmbaa

@Columbus_MBA

instagram.com/nbmbaacolumbus

linkedin.com/in/nbmbaacolumbus

issue 3-

Edmund Davidsonmund Davidson

Publisher

L S ith orey Humphries Nik St l

Ch l B dh J ff

the NBMBAA. Who are we?The National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA) was founded in 1970 at a two-day conference held at the University of Chicago, by a group of African American MBA students, faculty, advisors, and businessmen. The purposes of the Association are: the encouragement of career independence for African American business professionals; the promotion of African American intellectual and economic wealth and empowerment; and the professional advancement of African American business professionals.

Comprised of African American and minority business professionals from across the world, the Association is a business force boasting U.S. and international members and corporate partners. The Association has awarded over $5 million dollars in scholarships to minority students participating in both undergraduate and graduate programs around the world. Today, the membership is over 9,000 and the Association has expanded its outreach to include 46 chapters and 28 collegiate chapters. At the NBMBAA®, empowering professionals through strategic business forces is fundamental to our character and the way we represent our members. We have created numerous ways for our members to contribute to our commitment of fostering intellectual and economic wealth for the communities in which we empower, work, and serve.

VISIONThe Na onal Black MBA Associa on will be the premier business organiza on serving Black professionals.

MissionThe Na onal Black MBA Associa on leads in the crea on of educa onal opportuni es and economic growth for African-Americans. We serve to:

• Provide innova ve programs to s mulate their intellectual and economic growth• Build partnerships with key stakeholders who help facilitate this growth.• Increase awareness and facilitate access to graduate management educa on programs and

career opportuni es in management fi elds.

For more informa on about NBMBAA go to www.nbmbaa.org

7 TCT| Issue 3

Since 1992, the National Black MBA Association has provided mentors who coach students on a consistent basis in college preparation, academic success, leadership, public speaking, social engagement, networking, and goal setting to develop discipline, set and achieve high academic standards, and implement ways to serve their communities. Over 8,000 minority high school students have been mentored through LOT. LOT operates in more than 30 U.S. cities, Canada, and the United Kingdom More than 95% of LOT graduates enroll in college. More than $2 million in scholarships and programming support has been provided by LOT and its partners.

Setting New Standards

The hallmark of LOT is its intensity. Working with their mentors, high school students are encouraged to tackle challenges most other students wouldn’t dare even approach, regardless of socio-economic circumstances, and overcome those challenges with a high degree of excellence. At the same time, LOT students learn how to be leaders— setting goals and high standards for themselves and their peers, and motivating others to follow their lead as they make a difference in their communities.

Creating New Habits

Too many students are not proficient in basic subject matter. Moreover, to be competitive in a globally interconnected marketplace, proficiency is not enough. Excellence is required. The Leaders of Tomorrow Program helps students change the way they approach achievement on an everyday basis so that striving for excellence becomes a habit.

Embracing New Opportunities

LOT helps young people learn both how to prepare to take advantage of and create opportunities. They are exposed to different ways of thinking, different cultures, diverse career fields, numerous colleges, and people who have achieved greatness. In the process, future leaders discover that whatever they want to accomplish in life is within their grasp, as long as they have the discipline, courage, assertiveness, and skill to make it happen.

For more informa on about Leaders of Tomorrow go to www.nbmbaa.org/lot/lotCase.aspx

Leaders of Tomorrow


StudentStudent

Membership

AssociateAssociate

Membership

ProfessionalProfessional

MembershipJob SeekerJob Seeker

$75.00Per Year

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$10.00Per Resume

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Access Full Access Full Access Full Access

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Top in Search Results Does Not Qualify All Opportunities All Opportunities

Featured Profile Does Not Qualify Does Not Qualify Does Not Qualify

Upgrade To Associate To Professional

Directory Listing Chapter Only National National

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only Local Chapters only Local Chapters only

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The Value of being a MemberMembership Fees We offer several membership options based on professional level and

affiliation.

To join go to http://www.nbmbaa.org/members/joinnow/

9 TCT| Issue 3

Buffie PattVice PresidCorporate

Edmund DVice PresidMarketing

Deadra MVice PresidRecords

Qiana WilVice PresidLeaders of

2015 NBMBAA Columbus Chapter Tamara StaleyPresident

Tasha JeffersonVice President Administration

Yammah MorganVice President Operations

Anthony WilsonVice President Finance

1993 Carey Cheri1994 Leslie Epps1995 Myron Hoskins 1996 – 2000 Diana Spencer 2000 – 2004 David Harrison 2004 – 2008 Oyauma Garrison 2009 – 2013 Buffie McGee Patterson

tersondent

e Outreach

Davidsondentg

cIntoshdent

Buffie PattersonImmediate Past President

liamsdent f Tomorrow

Past Presidents of the NBMBAA Columbus Chapter

Executive Board Members

NEWSLETTER

Be in the know about our latest events, upcoming educa onal workshops, career development, and more. Just email newsle [email protected] and ask to be placed on the newsle er distribu on list!

Bwnn

Sign up Today!

NBMBAA Columbus Chapter Bi-Weekly

Putting the Pieces Together for

PEMDASPart 1

An Approach to Problem Solving

By Tasha Jefferson

13 TCT| Issue 3

Without our universally-accepted Order of Opera ons a emp ng mathema cal calcula ons would be chao c, frustra ng, and would yield unreliable results. Order of Opera ons is a pre-defi ned sequence of how to approach and solve mathema cal equa ons. It is a best prac ce, a standard, a mandatory method even. Its framework yields the consistency that we need to make mathema cs func onal. Without such a systema c approach we would be unable to build buildings using architecture, formulate and administer eff ec ve medica ons, nor develop algorithms that serve as the basis for computer programs that increasingly impact every aspect of our lives.

You can look around and easily observe all the many ways that the func on of math has been converted into prac cal everyday solu ons. This has been a very successful approach, would you agree? What about extrapola ng the framework onto the everyday problem-solving process? Let us explore what that could look like.

PEMDAS is the common term used in the United States for Order of Opera ons. It is an acronym that stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Mul plica on, Division, Addi on, and Subtrac on. There are varia ons used in other countries such as BEDMAS, BODMAS, and BIDMAS (B = Brackets, O = Orders, and I = Indices). Note that the M and D have been rearranged. This is due to the communica ve proper es which do not restrict an order between the two; simply put you can do either fi rst and obtain the same outcome. Using the PEMDAS acronym, let us explore problem solving using Priori za on, Energy, Medita on, Delibera on, Ac on, and Surveys. Priori za on


Parentheses and brackets are addressed fi rst in the solu on set, they are the fi rst priority. Math within each confi ne has been placed there a er though ully determining each component’s value both standalone and in rela on to all other components. Some mes a coeffi cient can be extracted.

In math coeffi cients simplify the process, allowing a set of rules to be applied to all of the items inside of the parenthesis since it has already been determined that all factors have the coeffi cient in common and will be aff ected in the same way, in propor on. To formulate a comprehensive and viable equa on the following is necessary: 1) though ul evalua on and organiza on of the individual components given each component’s independent and rela ve relevance 2) iden fi ca on of coeffi cients that can simplify the equa on and 3) recogni on of the priori es. The same principles are fi ng when addressing life problems.

How to priori ze. Understand that most issues can be simplifi ed into a few common themes. Iden fy those themes, or coeffi cients in math terms, and then decide how much importance to assign each one. Use this assessment tool to objec vely priori ze problems. Some themes in no par cular order are:

• Time sensi vity • High/low consequence • High/low reward • Sequen al (prerequisite for another ac vity) • Impact• Strategy • Value-alignment • Peer pressure • Duress• Ethics • Already established hierarchy of priori es

Time sensi vity by nature seems to be the default winner when it comes to priori zing. However, other themes are at play in important decision making. Have you ever simultaneously faced mul ple pressing deadlines, an upcoming mee ng, and several important inbound emails and phone calls? You may conclude that there is not enough me to do everything and decide to eliminate some of the tasks. The decision to determine which tasks to eliminate changes the factors from purely thinking of how badly me is pressing, to evalua ng other themes.

For instance which tasks will cause the most nega ve consequences if le undone? Conversely, which tasks can be cancelled with the least amounts of nega ve repercussion? The desire to achieve posi ve outcomes can be as persuasive as the desire to avoid nega ve outcomes…ask any entrepreneur, student, athlete, or parent that has foregone sleep and pushed him or herself

TCT| Issue 315


past physical limits to achieve a personal goal. Furthermore, values and sense of integrity should factor into problem-solving and decision-making. It should be easier to stack-up compe ng problems and compare the pros and cons a er iden fying which themes are at play and which themes are the most cri cal in that moment. Simplifying a dilemma by separa ng the components into well-defi ned themes brings clarity and facilitates effi ciency in the process of confron ng problems. Energy

Exponents and roots are addressed second in the solu on set, they bring exponen al increase and decrease. We o en forget about the roots component of exponents. Many mes in life we forget about what exponents and roots can symbolically represent. That

is that we are all connected to the universe; and we aff ect and are eff ected by each other. Taking me to factor in this powerful mindset will set you apart.

Exponents are o en referred to as an nth power. Power is synonyms with energy. When evalua ng a situa on it is wise to check the energies involved. What is your energy? What are the energies of others? How do you feel? How do you think others feel? Is someone red, sick, stressed, or under pressure? Do you care? What personali es are involved?

What factors are feeding into the situa on? What are the various inten ons and mo ves at play? Is there any harbored resentment lingering? What are the root causes of the problem?

Conceptualizing powers as energy that strengthens and grows upward, and roots as energy fi rmly planted in stability and wisdom, sets the stage for great insight. Exponents and roots are on the same axis of energy, they just move inversely on that axis. An exponent mul plies itself while a root divides itself. As one replicates itself to become increasing larger, the other divides itself to become increasing smaller. Residence on the same axis means that what is done can o en be undone using the inverse process [3^3=9 and √9=3]. Simply put, fi nd liberty in thinking up abstract solu ons, and be less risk averse to taking leaps of faith. If you thought that there were no mistake erasers in life, fi nd faith in this example that there are.

What dichotomies exists in the problem that you are a emp ng to solve?

• Posi ve/nega ve• Internal/external• Confi dence/insecurity• Selfi sh/selfl ess• Short-term/long-term• Ethical dilemmas • Will there be a long term eff ect to your short term decision? • Are you comfortable with any karma that your decision may yield?

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By Fanchon Kent

MISTA ES

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CAREERS The plight of the Black man has been challenged for years. Unfortunately, this has had a negative impact on his ability to maintain steady employment. Reasons can stem from making mistakes that can be contributed to the following: not being drafted to the NFL, starting a family, having a criminal record, or making a wrong career choice. Everyone has different circumstances and making mistakes is not a negative. Moreover, each person in a similar situation will fare differently. However, from the points of views for the men contributing to this article, these actions were mistakes made during their careers.

TCT| Issue 317

HEIRCAREERMISTCAREERMISTAKE

MENMAKEINTHEIR

ISTAESWOMENMA

AREERMISTAKESWERMISTAKESMENM


According to the BLS, “Much has changed for African-Americans since the 1963 March on Washington (which, recall, was a march for “Jobs and Freedom”), but one thing hasn’t: The unemployment rate among blacks is about double that among whites, as it has been for most of the past six decades. In 1954, the earliest year for which the Bureau of Labor Sta s cs has consistent unemployment data by race, the white rate averaged 5% and the black rate averaged 9.9%. Last month, the jobless rate among whites was 6.6%; among blacks, 12.6%. Over that me, the unemployment rate for blacks has averaged about 2.2 mes

that for whites” (Drew.S, The Pew Research Group).

One man commented, “My career aspira ons started for me as a quarter back Allstar player for my HS. I received a full scholarship to college wherein, I con nued playing as a quarter back. Being a professional football player was always on my horizon. However, it did not turn out to be the way I envisioned. Instead, I ended up not becoming a professional football player. I felt like I accomplished being a role model and a er 5 years I obtained a degree in Communica ons. Looking back there were many things that I would have done diff erently. One of those was my school of choice. This had a major impact in terms of my professional career. How the dra works is that it looks at the school, the league and the marke ng ability of the player. In my situa on, I was not dra ed not because I lacked the skills as an athlete but my school was considered a D1 level. Most of the players at that me were being dra ed from the top ten schools. Had I known back then that my school

of choice would make the diff erence in my professional ability to play ball, I would have a ended an in-state school.”

Another interviewee explained that “I started a family at the very young age of 17. One of the problems I had was changing focus on my new family instead of

school. While I was in school working on my Bachelor’s degree I s ll had mouths to feed. The hardest part about

that was working full- me and going to school and taking care of my family. I knew I wanted a be er life and this was the

only way to make it happen. If I had to do it over again, I would not have started a family so early but

would have fi nished my educa on and then started my career. Today, I can stake claim in my overall success of determina on and

the love that I had for my family. This helped me to push forward with my plans even

though many mes I wanted to give up.”

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TCT| Issue 319

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Another gentleman shared his experience as a felon. At an early age he would run with the wrong group of people and as a result he caught a case. He was charged with drug possession and had to serve 10 years in a federal prison. So far he has not been able to work outside of any fast food establishment. Most of his me was spent in prison but managed to get his GED. In this he regrets ge ng mixed up with the wrong crowd and wished that he would have stayed in school, fi nished his degree and then started a family. Twenty years later, he can say that being determined to work and beat the odds has helped him to be successful in his career. He is the proud owner of a landscaping business and worked hard to build up a reputable business. The mistakes made early as a child nearly cost him his career. While he cannot see himself working for a corpora on he has found solace being a business owner and helps others in his same predicament.

“My military career started right a er high school. I served the United States Army and received a medical honorable discharge a er 15 year of service. The military paid for me to a end school full me. I a ended a private university and graduated sum cum lada with a general business management diploma. A er college gradua on, I accepted a posi on as a retail manager. At the me I worked 50-70 hours per week. I felt like this was too many hours because I never had any me for myself. While s ll collec ng my medical disability form the military, I decided to quit that job. I wanted something where I could work a regular shi but without the demands that came along with the management type posi on. The mistake that I made was not making the right career choice and qui ng my job prematurely. I should have stayed in that posi on which would have learned me some very valuable skills. I struggled for years to fi nd stable employment. Today, I work as a consultant helping people to start up their own businesses which has proven to be very rewarding for me.”

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Young Black men — across the board — score below their counterparts in other racial and ethnic groups when it comes to gradua on rates, literacy rates and college preparedness. And many African American men, in turn, are virtually locked out of employment and are fi lling up the na on’s prisons in dispropor onate numbers” (2015. Thompson,T., The Smiley Group).

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The Huffi ngton Post commented, “One in every three black males born today can expect to go to prison at some point in their life, compared with one in every six La no males, and one in every 17 white males, if current incarcera on trends con nue. These are among the many pieces of evidence cited by the Sentencing Project, a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates for prison reform, in a report on the staggering racial dispari es that permeate the American criminal jus ce system” (2013.Knafo.S, Huffi ngton Post).

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Desilver, Drew. “Black Unemployment Rate Is Consistently Twice That of Whites.” H p://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank. The Pew Research Center, 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2015. <h p://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/08/21/through-good- mes-and-bad-black-unemployment-is-consistently-double-that-of-whites/>

References:

Knafo, Saki. “1 In 3 Black Males Will Go To Prison In Their Life me, Report Warns.” Huff Post Black Voices. The Huffi ngton Post, 4 Oct. 2013. Web. 6 Feb. 2015. <h p://www.huffi ngtonpost.com/2013/10/04/racial-dispari es-criminal-jus ce_n_4045144.html>.Thompson, Tamika. “Fact Sheet: Outcomes for Young, Black Men.”H p://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley. The Smiley Group, 1 Jan. 2015. Web. 6 Feb. 2015. <, h p://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/tsr/too-important-to-fail/fact-sheet-outcomes-for-young-black-men>.

Confi den al. “Mistakes MEN Make in Their Career.” Telephone interview. 5 Feb. 2015.

Rodgers, Nick. “Mistakes MEN Make in Their Career.” Telephone interview. 5 Feb. 2015.

Jackson, William. “Mistakes MEN Make in Their Career.” Telephone interview. 5 Feb. 2015.

Be sure to check out

“Mistakes Women Make in Their Careers”

in Issue #2 of the Columbus Tri-Annual.

Click here to read

{TCT| Issue 321

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0THERS D0N'T WANT

When you accept tasks, assignments, or projects that others do not want to do or won’t do; it puts the spotlight on you and your abili es to do the job. This puts your manager and peers on no ce that you are competent and qualifi ed when you excel in successfully complete those tasks, assignments, or projects.

If you are asked to be a part of a decision that violates company policy, doesn’t feel right or you are being asked to perform something that is contrary to what is expected of you, Do Not Do It. Express your feelings to your manager and others and let them know that you are not comfortable with it. This tells those you work with what is, and what is not, an acceptable work parameter for you.

A technological

career is a gateway

to possible success

to those who pursue

this path. In today’s

society, technical job

opportunities seem

to be in abundance.

Anyone who is in a

technological career

must perform to be

a success in their

role. Minorities who

want to pursue a

technological career

in today’s society

must focus on several

objectives to be

successful. I am going

to list 5 key objectives

that minorities must

utilize to succeed in a

technological career:

Howminoritiescan succeed

in a technological

careerBy Charles Byrd

01 02

TCT| Issue 323

ALWAYS TRY T0 LEARN NEW TECHN0L0GY AND IDEAS

BE C0ACHABLE DEFINE Y0UR G0ALS

Technology is expanding and growing daily. It is important to learn on your own the tools of your trade. If there are applica ons or processes that you want to learn be proac ve and pursue those areas. Ask to par cipate in a course, training or even online research to ensure that you are keeping up with new technology.

Technological careers foster working with others. Individuals must be able to listen and follow direc ons to make sure that there responsibili es are complete and align with business direc ves. IT departments value staff who can work well and can intermingle with diff erent IT area and staff .

A person who does not have clearly defi ned goals will not have clearly defi ned steps. A person who has clarity in his or her IT organiza on will display value, the ability to perform, and the ability to communicate to customers and others in their organiza on.

03 04 05


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Effective Ways to NetworkSelling

By Lynette Smith

TCT| Issue 325

Shawn, a very accomplished associate at an adver sing agency feels like he’s in a career “rut” and cannot get out of it. He has done everything asked of him by his current employer and o en exceeds their expecta ons. He is a top performer and rou nely wins awards and accolades for his contribu ons. Shawn can’t fi gure out why he hasn’t been “fast tracked” within his organiza on. He struggles with understanding how such an accomplished associate like himself hasn’t been approached by management and “groomed” to move up in the organiza on. What Shawn does not understand about the culture of his organiza on is that networking is a main means of upward mobility. He hasn’t networked well, if at all, in the past years and believes that his work should speak for itself. He doesn’t like what he considers individuals being “fake” in an eff ort to “get something” from one another.

Have you ever felt stuck in your

current role/job?

Do you envision yourself doing more than your current roll/job requires?

If so, know that you’re not alone.


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Accessible - return calls, be available, touches base

periodically.

Responsive – help out, call people back, mends fences

when things go awry.

Efficient - recognize priorities, does things quickly, don’t

waste time.

Dependable – get things done, follow through, “do what

you say you’ll do when you say you’ll do it”.

(Somewhat) Predictable – be consistent, don’t create

surprises.

BE Of High integrity – be credible, keep confidences, protect

secrets, have high standards of honesty.

What Shawn fails to understand is that in today’s business environment, networking is a crucial ac vity. Whether your goal is to engage, learn from, & interact with people from diff erent departments, volunteer/off er your skills, or get promoted, networking is a cri cal skill that you need to possess. Many people are unclear as to what exactly networking is, which is why they refrain from doing so. Anyone can become a good networker. To do so, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind.

BEBEBEBEBE

TCT| Issue 327

Now that you have a few ps for how to successfully network. You’ll need to test out your newfound skills/talents. Networking happens in lots of places and can be long and calculated or brief and unplanned. The key is for you to “always be prepared” so that when opportuni es present themselves, you can capitalize on them. A good networker has perfected an elevator speech. Elevator speeches should be 30-60 seconds in length, concise, and tell who you are, what you do, & why you would be a perfect candidate. The idea is that you should be able to deliver this speech during an elevator ride, which is usually short. You should be able to ra le off your elevator speech anywhere: a cocktail party, happy hour, golf ou ng, or even during a weekend volunteer ac vity. For help with crea ng and/or perfec ng your elevator speech, use sources like the internet, Linkedin, career coaches, and friends or colleagues. Once you have a good elevator speech that you’ve prac ced and perfected, it’s me to test it out.

Networking happens in a variety of se ngs and loca ons. To do it successfully, be sure to a end events outside of your comfort zone such as lunches, happy hours, golf & charity ou ngs, even volunteer events. If you’re new to it, remember that you don’t have to be the life of the party. Prior to going to an event, set a goal of mee ng one new person. Be sure to do your homework before a ending the event. Learn as much as you can about who else will be a ending, what their roles/ tles are, and who actually “gets things done.” Make sure you obtain the person’s business card and follow up on your mee ng by telephone or email. Remind the person of where you met, thank them for their me, and be sure to off er your assistance to them. If you do this enough, you’ll successfully expand your network very quickly.

You can also connect people who are not currently connected but should be (in your opinion). This form of “paying it forward” is another way to eff ec vely network, leave a las ng impression, and help others. You want to be memorable and helping others is a good way to do so.

With the few ps above you can begin to successfully create or expand your network. Keep in mind that a successful networker has not learned their skills overnight. It will take some me and plenty of prac ce. Don’t overthink it. Step out of your comfort zone and a end an event or ac vity armed with your elevator speech and you’re half way there. You can even join a friend or colleague, that you think networks well, at an event and watch them in ac on. Be pleasant, learn about others’ interests and needs so that you can off er help and/or connect them to someone. Most importantly, have fun.

Once your network has been established, update it regularly. Nurture your rela onships by connec ng regularly, off ering help, and upda ng others on the latest “happenings” with you. Remember, you don’t know when you’ll need to “ask” for a favor, support, etc. Keep the lines of communica on open and make sure your rela onship is a “two-way street.” Good luck!

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TCT| Issue 329

The cool thing is that we are fortunate to live in a country in which views can diff er or have the freedom of expression. Keep in mind there may be some constraints depending upon who provides the opportunity. It could be an employer, a sponsor, a poli cal party, a nonprofi t organiza on, place of worship or community. True visionaries are ones who can inspire change and/or movement. Leaders are these visionaries that can truly inspire someone to move and or change. O en mes depending on points of view, leaders could be considered “threats” because naturally it diff ers from the norm, status quo, or mainstream view.

Over the last couple years, several events have occurred in which the pubic displayed outcries of disagreement, disappointment, concern or injus ce. Deaths of unarmed civilians in mul ple states from authori es and the rulings following; to genocides in Africa based upon religious beliefs; to human traffi cking across interna onal borders. One wonders what were they thinking? What do they expect the outcome of this to be? Can they con nue with their normal lives or is this how they have been raised and taught? What mo vates them? What strikes their anger or pushes their bu ons? What needs to be proven or displayed? Why now?

These types of ques ons amongst others naturally arise however one may not always know the answer. One may feel the answer is apparent based upon research from mul ple sources and some mes it may s ll be unclear. The world consists of very diverse perspec ves and beliefs, some even taking a great amount of pride in being diff erent or considered an “excep on.” This can also create a following because there may be others that want to track the same path and be “excep onal.” O en this feeling of going against the grain can provide a fuel or a con nued adrenaline rush that empowers the leaders with a spirit of rebellion to believe that change is needed. As men oned in the fi rst paragraph, they may view themselves as threat to society. Being a threat can have both its advantages and disadvantages, but one has to be strategic in knowing how to handle the posi ve and nega ve. There are posi ve leaders that have demonstrated how to handle both the advantages and disadvantages. Individuals such as MLK, President Obama, S. True Cathy, Steve Jobs, Gregg Popovich just to name a few. However unfortunately there are leaders refl ected on the other side of the spectrum that take advantage of their power in a more disheartening manner and o en it just seems simply because they have the ability to do so. One may not fully understand the why’s.

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aNEGATIVEWORLD


The world naturally has its ups and downs. Some mes it appears to be more downs than ups. There are many cases that do not appear fair, do not make sense, or seem as though someone just did not get them right. But also keep in mind, there may be outcomes in which one person or a group may not be able to have a current infl uence upon. I share a strong faith that God will not cast down more than one can bear and God works in mysterious ways. There is a unique purpose for everything and for each one of us. Even though it may seem that there is an abundance of nega vity displayed throughout society, there is also an abundant presence of opportunity. Look out for those gems that turn these opportuni es into posi ves. There are some out there. Maybe you can become one.

Please be mindful that the display of nega vity throughout media is frankly what sells. That is how many individuals and/or organiza ons keep their jobs. One may not always see the posi ve fi gures in society because some mes it may not provide that edge that the sex, drugs, violence, and opposi on brings as far as ra ngs and viewing power.

I am not at all saying that certain occurrences happen merely for entertainment value, I am just saying don’t forgot your purpose. Despite the nega vity and opposi on, there are certain people specifi cally placed to ignite a fl ame and inspire change in a posi ve direc on.

With that said, I try to live by the mantra of having a posi ve infl uence on anyone or anything I come in contact with. Some mes it can be just simply saying hello or providing a helping hand or a high fi ve. But some mes it also takes going the extra mile. Simple things such as being respec ul, genuine and giving without receiving a request helps showcase character. People generally support someone that displays great character. Try to see if you can have a posi ve infl uence on just one person. Let that be a start if you haven’t already done so. From there challenge yourself to do it again. By star ng with the group that surrounds you, you will see more of these posi ve gems in society. You will eventually know your purpose and leverage your walk in life.

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How to Raise Our Young

by Sean-Nika Steele

To Become

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TCT| Issue 331

Today’s genera on faces some complicated issues that genera ons of the past have not had to experience as loudly and vividly. When we take a look at the issues that impact our young girls, we see issues around the world that largely are the result of gender inequality. Some of these issues include nega ve infl uences from the media, human traffi cking, gender based violence, pay inequality and even limited work opportuni es. There is also an interes ng diff erence in the sta s cs concerning the young women of our me. Some sta s cs will illustrate that we have more women in higher educa on in comparison to our male counterparts. On the other hand, there is informa on from sources like the Na onal Women’s Law Center that provides the troubling feedback that one in four American girls do not fi nish high school. This sta s c goes on to say that this rate is higher for young girls of color. While there are certainly other factors that contribute to the aforemen oned sta s cs, the truth of the ma er is that we just have to do be er. We can start with the young girls in our communi es and in our families here in our country.

Our young girls also need to be raised to know their self-worth and to believe in themselves.


If this genera on is our future, how do we raise our young girls to become more? How do we raise our young girls to overcome their obstacles like the women of yesteryear seemed to do with grace and with such strength? In the midst of this conversa on, it is important to remain hopeful, solu on-oriented and posi ve. If we were to query the resilient women of wisdom who walked these familiar paths decades ago, they would be sure to provide sound and profound words of encouragement, guidance and direc on. However, many of these lovely ladies are moving on to their fi nal res ng place and much of that amazing wisdom is ge ng lost in transla on.

Nonetheless, the story does not have to end with the mentors and leaders of the past genera on because we have the ability to make a diff erence. We can reach out to the current and upcoming genera ons - just as someone took the me to do with us in our youth. In today’s mes, our young girls s ll need role models who are genuine, true and posi ve examples. Our young girls also need to be raised to know their self-worth and to believe in themselves. These things are only eff ec ve if we truly believe in and embody the meaning ourselves. There are many occasions where the solu on to our concerns and our circumstances starts with us. We must truly be the change that we wish to see and take ac on to make a diff erence.

Being an example to our young girls is as simple as showing them the right or ideal ways to live a healthy fulfi lling life. Serving as an example does not mean we have to be the pinnacle of perfec on or aspire to be the ideal woman. Much of serving as a real example involves the exact opposite. It involves being human, acknowledging our faults or shortcomings and having real conversa ons around the lesson we learned. We can be a mentor by speaking to how we overcame par cular obstacles and how we have been graced to make it to this very moment. In order to serve as an example, we must also hold ourselves accountable by watching our ac ons and words. This takes ac ng and thinking consciously - with purpose and with intent. We must truly some mes begin with the end in mind. We can ask ourselves: “What do I want this young lady to absorb from this ac on? What am trying to teach her?” What we fi nd from this

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brief touch base with ourselves is that we become be er individuals as well which further aids us in being living examples to the next genera on.

In order to help our young girls, we must also encourage them by teaching them self-worth and making posi ve deposits into their self-esteem banks. Today’s young ladies should know that it’s okay to be strong, confi dent and independent in comparison to someone who merely follows the crowd. Self-confi dence, self-acceptance and having a strong sense of personal worth determines a lot in our lives from the thoughts that we think, to the choices that we make to the opportuni es that will be aff orded to us. When we know ourselves and when we are in tune with the life events that have impacted us the most, we can (and we should) be empathe c and construc ve toward someone else enduring that same struggle. We can build up our young ladies and give them instruc on without tearing them down or killing their pride.

We should strive to always be honest and transparent in our communica on. While the truth will have a certain s ng of its own, nega ve words, ac ons and behaviors toward our young ladies while they are in such a vulnerable adolescent state can be much worse. Our young girls can look to the media to fi nd ca ness, nega vity and superfi ciality. Our homes and communi es should not refl ect the same sad story. We can tell the truth and instruct in love so that our real intent is evident and so that our words don’t destroy a young girl’s confi dence in the process. Speaking of the process, it’s important to remember that communica on takes me so we need to have pa ence and persistence with our young girls. Many of us failed to

get life right the fi rst, third and fi h me as well. The great thing about our own stories is that they provide us with reassurance that our young girls will one day get the point too.

Lastly, we must teach our young girls to believe in themselves. Some mothers, like mine, teach their children to believe that they can do anything that they put their mind too. This is one of those teachings that may not make sense un l they are older but we can again model the way as they grow. We can coach our young ladies through those hard situa ons and celebrate their victories and eff orts at the end. Believing in oneself is all inclusive of all the points that were previously discussed. In order to help our young girls believe in themselves, we have to teach them how to accept themselves. We can also strengthen their individual beliefs by providing them with healthy and posi ve examples of thriving, resilient adults.

Our ac on plan is to take ac on and we can start today. Please take the me to reinforce and reassure our young girls that they are not only beau ful, but that they are intelligent, powerful and just plain amazing. Let them know that they don’t have to be anyone else but themselves. Let them know that they are unique and that they are not a mistake. Let them know that they are purposed and that they are loved. Let them know that we will be cheering them on along the way and that we will defi nitely be there smiling at the fi nish line.


Reference:h p://dayo hegirl.org/

The Building Blocks of Leadership: Relevance. Drive. Effect.

REGISTRATION AND HOUSING OPENS APRIL 15TH

Early Bird: (Apr 15 - Jun 30)

Regular: (Jul 1 - Aug 16) Late: (Aug 16 - Sep 25)

CONFERENCE OVERVIEWLocation

Orange County Convention Center

9990 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

September 22 – 26, 2015

Career Expo

Exhibit Hall B3 & B4

Thursday, Sept 24, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Friday, Sept 25, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Registration Hours

Tuesday, Sept 22, 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Wednesday, Sept 23, 7:00am – 7:00pm



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Exhibit Hall B5



Be sure to follow the NBMBAA Columbus chapter for upcoming workshops to get you

ready for national conference!

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September 22 - 26, 2015

For more information on the conference go to http://www.nbmbaaconference.org/

The Columbus Tri-Annual Issue 3

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