Is this the best the Bud Billiken can do?

The Bud Billiken Parade has been around since 1929. It is always held on the second Saturday in August. It was created by Chicago Defender founder Robert S. Abbott. The parade has been the kick-off to encourage students to return to school and do their best.

The Bud Billiken has been able to attract many illustrious notables throughout the years. A lot of political hopefuls come out in a last ditch effort to get votes they may not get. It is also an opportunity for various schools throughout the city and surrounding suburbs to showcase their many talents by having their band, flag team and or dance team perform.

This year, the Grand Marshal was a Chicago native who has made headlines for more than just his music. If you didn't know it was R. Kelly. Some years ago there were allegations that R. Kelly was having sex with minors. He beat the charges that were brought up against him and I'm not holding that over his head. The issue I have is he's illiterate. How does one who has admitted that he is illiterate become the Grand Marshal of a parade that is supposed to encourage students to go back to school and do their best? I think that's the biggest oxymoron ever! I also believe it sends the wrong message to students in a system where a good number of them are functioning at least three grade levels behind.

I think it is sad that the Bud Billiken has gone from having the likes of then U.S. Senator Barack Obama being the Grand Marshal to R. Kelly. What a contrast! I guess this is the best they could do.

Time out for ma and pa businesses!

I just saw a post on FB that a friend made. It was a PSA to hairstylist about increasing their prices because their business has decreased. It read : PSA for stylists: When you clientele starts decreasing, increase your marketing. Don't resort to raising your loyal client's prices to compensate your profit margin. That is all.

Now I understand the concern the poster and others have as it relates to maintain loyal clients; however, I often wonder why in certain industries people expect to be treated differently because of their loyalty. I know there are some companies who have customer loyalty programs but some of these programs cost and the rewards are not always as great as we would like them to be.

I digress. So I asked the person who posted this if this stylist has a said price list visible in the salon. Of course the answer was no. The prices are in the stylist head. HUH? So I suggested that maybe it is time for the client to find someone else to service her. Maybe she should go to a salon where there is a set price list.

So I guess my question is this: Why are there so many businesses (especially in the Black community) that are ma and pa businesses? I know this is how many of them got their start, but when do they progress and grow? Now, the original post was about increase your marketing, but how much marketing is being done if this woman does not have a set price list in place? I am inclined to believe that many small business owners are missing out on a lot of business because they do not have a solid business plan. Then there are others who will argue that there really is no need for one, but I believe that is nonsense. If you are going out of town and you have never been there, you need a map or GPS in order to get around. That is what a business plan does for a business. It gives you direction. I am not suggesting that you can not become successful without a business plan; however, having one will allow you to know when you have arrived at your destination.

Before you get in business, learn how to operate one.

Just the other night, I was going through some old mail. As I was looking through the Valpak, I came across an advertisement for a nail spa. I had reason to suspect that this was not a reputable place, but I decided to look at the website for fun.

When I went to the website, I was a bit impressed. It appeared to be done with care. As I continued to look at the various sections I was really surprised. That was until I got to the picture gallery. When I went to the picture gallery, I noticed quite a few pictures that appeared to be taken from other publications. So, I go to this one nail company website and look at their pictures and walah! There were most if not all the images on this nail company website. I could not believe it. (Well, I could.) I guess the nail spa didn't expect a licensed nail technician to look at their website and identify the images.

The next concern I have is this another salon. I was on a website for a shoe store I like to frequent. I saw that this salon sponsored the shoe store ad so I decided to click on the salon website to see what it was all about. Well, it seemed nice but when I tried to click on the links, they were not working. That is not good. So in my ignorance, I kept on clicking various areas to see if I would be successful and I was not. When I finally was able to click on an area, the information appeared to be written in French.

Now, I am wondering: Why would you post a website that is not fully functional? Do you think people are going to remember to come back and check it in a few weeks or months? More than likely, NOT! I am beginning to wonder if people actually think before they decide to call themselves operating a business.

My dear friends, before you decide to operate a business, learn how to run one.

How do you become an expert overnight?

I was speaking with a friend and she was sharing some things with me about her job. She has a new boss and all of a sudden, people who have never done anything at work or the bare minimum have become experts in the field and are jockeying for a position. After our conversation, I begin to question how does one truly become an expert in their respective fields overnight? Or are there just certain fields in which this happens?

I have always been an avid reader and I make sure I keep up with what is going on in my field(s) so I won't appear to be an idiot when engaging in a dialogue with others. I have some suggestions for those who are professing to be the expert in their field.

(1) If you have just entered this field, there is a GOOD possibility you are clueless to that field. I was speaking to another educator last night and we both laughed at some of the things we were taught in school and how it meant absolutely nothing when we started teaching. One of the reasons for this is the people who write the books are often so far removed from a situation or so out of touch with it they don't know what's really going on in reality.

(2) In most areas, your expertise comes from on the job experience. What people tend to learn in school is just a blueprint or guidelines for what may happen, but you really don't know until you experience it. If you know like I know, a lot of that stuff that is taught in school isn't worth what the bird left on the limb.

(3)Remain open and teachable. There are some people who feel like they have all the answers or all the knowledge and no one can tell them anything. WRONG! In order to become wise, you have to be open to learning. If someone is not open to doing so, then they are doomed for failure.

If you are an overnight expert, maybe you need to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate your knowledge. There's nothing worse than a person who thinks he/she knows everything but in reality they know nothing at all. If you truly want to become an expert in your field, you first need to be open to learning on a continual basis. Once you have mastered that, you need to be willing to share this knowledge with others. It makes absolutely no sense to have the knowledge if you aren't going to share it. Also, I thought in order for one to become an expert in his/her field, others must recognize it.

Funerals truly bring out some special individuals.

This year is ending on a somber note for me. On December 9, 2010, my dad had a seizure and a slight stroke while getting ready for dialysis. My sister and mom called 911 and off to the hospital he went. When he arrived at the hospital, they needed to send him to a hospital that had a neurosurgeon on staff. This hospital is probably ten minutes away from the first one.

When my dad arrived at the second hospital, it was determined that surgery was in order to stop the bleeding on his brain. That went well and my dad seemed to be recovering well. Shortly thereafter, it was determined that a second surgery was needed because it was difficult for my dad to receive dialysis. After that surgery, he was very tired, but he seemed to be recovering okay. My daughter would talk to him about what they would do when he came home from the hospital and how my mom was going to bake two cakes, one for her and one for him. hey were going to have birthdays. That's what they would say whenever my mom baked a cake.

I left the hospital that following Wednesday because there were only two more days of work/school left. I got home around 11p and decided that I would take a nap before I continued to finished my work. It couldn't have been more than an half hour after I arrived home that my sister called me to tell me my dad was not doing well and we needed to come back to the hospital. My daughter and I put our clothes back on and immediately went back to see my dad.

My dad's pressure kept dropping and it just wasn't looking good. He held on until Friday, December 17, 2010. My dad fought a good fight and I believe he was just tired.

This entire experience has shown me a lot about people, specifically those who are family. There have been so many of them didn't bother to come by my parents house after the burial to see how my mom was doing. Then a few of them had the nerve to say "We didn't know you all were having a repast at your house." Are you kidding me? You have got be bull shitting me. I mean do people only have to come over because they want some fried chicken and green beans. Really?!

Then, none of my aunts even bothered to speak to my mom at the funeral. Really?! Unbelievable. I mean, people are some strange individuals. I mean, none of them bothered to come to the hospital to see how my mom was doing. I had one cousin and his wife to come and check on us and sit with us during this time. Maybe it's because he too is the black sheep of the family.

My dad's sisters were doing some special type of stuff as well and I was so glad to see them go. I am not sure if they forgot that my dad died and this WAS NOT about them. They never really tried to communicate with my dad while he was living and I really wasn't sure why they came. Maybe their conscience was whooping them. Only God knows. My oldest aunt was having a difficult time understanding that this was not a social call and life does not revolve around her.

I was glad that my family from St. Louis came in because they were a pleasant surprise. I was really surprised to see them here.

I am glad that the hoopla is over. I am so over people telling us stupid stuff like "You know it's the holiday" or "I gotta get ready for the holiday." NEWSFLASH: We know it's the holiday and if I could bring my dad back and have a do over, I'd tell him to wait until it is more convenient for others before he dies. I mean, people have truly been strange and I know after this, I probably won't speak to a lot of people. However, my one friend Shalonda said it best "I still can't imagine what you all are going thru. But I do know this much for as long as I've known and interacted with you and your family, you ALL have always opened your hearts and home unselfishly to sooo many!!! You and your family serve as the "rock" too many. If there was anything anyone needed you guys are there jolly on the spot!!! It just hurts so bad because so many go to you all for consoling advice and assistance." I am so glad she posted this to my Facebook page because a lot of people don't realize it.

I have come to understand and realize this long before this day: I don't overestimate my importance in others lives and many of have proven it. I'm eagerly awaiting 2011 and all that is in store for me! I'll leave some people and their tomfoolery in 2010!

Don't believe the hype.

In the 90's, Public Enemy made a song titled "Don't Believe the Hype." The lyrics of this song challenges a lot of the things the media presents as truth. This has been and probably will always be a concern especially when it comes to the Black community. So many Black people have come to believe what the media presents and they never think to challenge it.

One example of this is the "recession." I am so tired of hearing Black people scream there's a recession. Many of us have lived a recession our entire lives yet we did not know that is what is was called. We thought this was our way of living. We have succumbed to the media and its brainwashing that is so eloquently done that we don't know if we're coming or going. I am not discounting that people are facing lean economic times but there are a lot of people who are profiting during this recession. We need to get real about the truth. A lot of people are profiting from others misfortunes.

I believe it is time for Black people to wake up and smell the cocoa beans. Yes, there are a lot of people who are having a difficult time finding employment; however maybe it is time for use to create our own wealth. We have always been resourceful and the time is long overdue for us to start tapping into those resources. If we continue to wait on others to do it for us, we'll probably continue in this "recession" for years to come. It's time to wake up and get moving!

Please allow us to give thanks before we shove the snowmen down our throats!

I have noticed this year the Christmas decorations in the stores have appeared earlier than usual. I know they always seem to appear right after Halloween, but it seems like as soon as midnight hit, the Christmas decorations were up! It's like the stores hit a button and they magically appeared.

There are so many people who are going to go further into debt during this holiday season. They will buy gifts for children who probably could give a care about the "stuff." I wonder why so many people put some much money into a few hours on one day. I always ask people who do this, what happens if the person they were buying all this stuff for suddenly died? What would they do? Would it even matter at that point?

I think a lot of people focus on the commercialism of the holiday season and they forget the true meaning or reason for this time of year. Maybe we should focus on what's really important and learn to celebrate those people we love on a daily basis. I am grateful to be alive and I know tomorrow is not promised to anyone. I make sure I tell those who are near and dear to me how I feel about them on a regular basis.

This holiday season, think carefully before you go spending money you don't have. I went to a furniture store the other day and the owner said something to me that made a lot of sense. He said " Why finance furniture? It makes no sense." I thought about that and he is correct. There are certain things we have to finance such as a home or a car, but why does furniture have to be one of them? Think about this as you go out shopping. Some items are not worth buying if you don't have the disposable income to pay for it that day.

Let us give thanks before we start crying out for the Almighty to save us from our debt.

Start planning for your future and stop living for the moment.