There is no money in me only.

[Griot's Roll Film Production & Services Community Page]

In this world that we now live in of me first, and succeed at the cost of others. What are you doing to work with other business owners to achieve a common goal?

I was listening to Michael Baisden on Wednesday, and he had this discussion about the hair industry, and how the Korean community now controls 75 % of all profits. The consensus on the show was that African Americans don’t work together like Korean Americans to attain and achieve common goals. This was the belief of why Blacks had lost control of the industry, whether you agree with this line of thinking or not there is something to be said about why it seems that in our community, meaning the African American community why we do not have majority control of any industry. I know some of you may be saying the music or sports industries, but the truth is that African Americans may populate those careers but we don’t dominate the economic machine that powers those industries.

When I started my business five years ago there were few people in my family or my wife’s family that were thrilled about me leaving my city job to start my own business, not to say that they shouldn’t be concerned with the move that we were making because of the economic, and physical challenges that we would incurred by taking on a risk like running your own business. What I am trying to point out is that not one person ask or even tried to investigate if the business we were getting into was a good idea, maybe even seeing if they themseveles could be investors in the business. Even now when I talk to family members about what we do and some of the successes we have had with the business, I still feel like I talking to them about my date at the prom. They sit and stare at me and smile and nod, and say things like that’s great or wow keep working man. My point is no one is asking how I can help, maybe aid us in their knowledge, money, man power maybe the goal of making my business a success becomes all of our success. A great example of this is the Golden Krust Caribbean franchise, the company was started by Lowell Hawthorne, but the business is a family owned and run business. Their story goes with this company that each family member brought something to the table, Mr. Hawthrone has a sister who was an accountant she handles the books. He also has a brother who is great at construction he handles the building process for each one of their new stores. This is the Golden Krust story and this is the reason that business is so successful.

If you are familiar with place like the Grameen Bank in Indian and Project Enterprise that has been established here in America, the premises that these organization are built on are the very points that I’m trying to get across in this blog. They work through the power of community. These organizations have turned out successful businesses that will give the community jobs and better the neighborhoods there in.
There is an old saying that says it takes village to raises a child. I would add to that in saying that it takes a village to raise capital, and create commerce’s. So if you chose to try to go it alone you may get somewhere, but if we help one another we all get there together.

Derrick Guest: CEO & Founder
Griot’s Roll Film Production & Services

Mr. Derrick M. Guest will give free advice via articles, panel discussions, speaking engagements, interviews, networking events, seminars, lectures. For booking and interviews contact Eula M. Young at [phone] or [e-mail].

[Roy]

I hear you! Very well stated.