Power & Self Awareness

The more you read and believe.  The more you see and understand.  The more powerful and self aware you become.  We are members of The National Black MBA Association. Through this blog, our purpose is to support and foster personal investment and small business development. Our goal is to inspire you and provide you with timely information and opportunities. 

The African American story is unique in comparison to other ethnic groups in this country.  A common thread to many of its challenges is wealth and investment.  Dr. Vernon Johns, known as the father of the civil rights movement, was the minister before Dr. Martin Luther King at The Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.  Actor James Earl Jones portrayed Dr. Johns in the 1994 film Road To Freedom: The Veron Johns Story.  The clip below summarizes our driving motivations better than our own words.

Dr. Vernon Johns - "Money Is Power"

Creating Change

Through our career experience, personal interests, networking with members of other organizations we regularly meet with owners of area businesses, those well established and others starting out.  We are also meeting more individuals who are interested in making investments in local Houston area businesses, an encouraging sign.

We are here to encourage you to directly invest your money - either by investing in stocks or investing in a small business.  We are here to help you learn to invest on your own, as well as with local people you know directly and indirectly. Putting together those with money (investors) and those who can grow money (entrepreneurs) is the most fundamental economic activity that built this country.  Sharing our stories, skills, and relationships will only accelerate and strengthen business and investment opportunities.  There are no guarantees, but you know what? - neither was the success of this country.

So how do we start? 

1. Support area black owned businesses.  We will provide you with a list every month.  Tell others. Outside of Houston? Ask your local National Black MBA Chapter to provide a list. 
   Black Owned Businesses
        
2. Get in the right frame of mind.  Review the small business story videos we post each month.
   Small Business Stories
        
3. Start following stocks.  Learn to invest in stocks.  The same questions for investing in stocks are the same for investing in a small business.  We provide some great links for learning how.  Check them out.  Pass them along to a family member.
   Stocks With Upside
        
4. Read one of our recommended books. Give one as a gift.  Understand power.  Become self aware.  Buy one for yourself.  Take action.
   Food For Thought
        
5. Tell us about yourself.  Let's leverage our skills and specifically identify our interests.  Fill out the page in our Getting To Know You Section.  We cannot help each other if we don't know each other. Your information will be kept confidential.
   Tell Us About Yourself
        
6. If you're an existing business owner or aspiring entrepreneur that needs advice or capital to grow or start a business, let us know.  Members of The National Black MBA Association have strong relationships across the country.                                                                                                                                                      
7. Subscribe to our site or follow us through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ so you can automatically receive updates. 

Spread the word.

The Why

African Americans have a unique history in this country.  Slavery and discrimination are directly responsible for the wealth of a large portion of the United States population. Understanding the economic consequences related to our disenfranchisement on the macro and micro level is empowering.  This awareness will trigger understanding, not anger.  There are rich lessons to be learned about power and its application in our history.  These are lessons that will never be part of our public education system.  

Our Dominance

In career pursuits, that depend on pure meritocracy - sports, entertainment, arts - the African American has clearly dominated.  We have outperformed for our numbers.  This dominance shows that embedded within our culture is a "creative" competitive advantage that exists.  Let's build on this creative strength through this site.

Our History

The understanding of our economic and social history will change the way you walk, it will change the way you talk.  It will bring a new level of understanding to the words brother and sister.  That intangible anger will dissipate.  That need to prove that you are better than others will vanish.  This knowledge will empower you, encourage you, and allow you to inspire others. You will feel the pride and hope of your family and ancestors, your history, walking with you every day as you perform your best. You will feel a quiet and respectful confidence.  That mystery of a system, of a wizard behind a curtain working against you will disappear.  Through an understanding of our economic and social history, you can come to understand power and its use in the United States, and especially, how to dismantle it when it is unjust. 

Our Legacy

We have built a great country and it still has the potential to become so much more.  As frustrating as life may seem at times today, life is still much better for us than a short 100 years ago.  Never forget, in your family, many tears have been shed, many a pride tread upon, many a life lost for the rights we have today.  We owe it to them to persevere.  Create the time to make a difference.  Become inspired by what you find here.  Learn to invest. Save for that future opportunity and get networked.  Through some new friends you may come across the next Microsoft or Apple in your own backyard.  Be counted.  Become Power.  Become Self Aware. Spread the word.