Black News
Blackecommerce.com will post news articles and events that will keep you informed and inspired.
Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge: Tribute to the Titans
At the 17th Annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, 40 "Titans: The Most Powerful African Americans in Business" were recognized with a stirring tribute, hosted by Pepsi, to their contributions and achievements.
40 Next: Sirena Moore
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
No. 1: John H. Johnson, The Legend
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Business icon and Johnson Publishing Co. Founder John H. Johnson is No. 1 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
B.E. Golf & Tennis Challenge: Classic R&B and Hip Hop
On Friday, September 3, attendees of the 17th Annual Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge enjoyed a classic R&B and old school hip hop tribute to the 80s, sponsored by Pepsi. El DeBarge, Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte and Big Daddy Kane rocked the house to help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Black Enterprise!
Retiring Rich: Asset Allocation 101
Asset allocation or balancing risk and reward based on your retirement timeline is important to getting the most out of your portfolio.
No. 2: Robert L. Johnson, The Power Player
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. BET Founder Robert L. Johnson is No. 2 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
Celebrity Side Hustle: Caron Butler Scores With Burger King
NBA Mavericks baller Caron Butler talks about why he chose the franchising route and how Magic Johnson inspired him to keep his eyes set on business success after the NBA.
No. 3: Reginald F. Lewis, The Global Dealmaker
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Ground-breaking dealmaker Reginald F. Lewis is No. 3 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
40 Next: Sheldon Gilbert
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
Shopping Insider: Online Labor Day Deals
The Labor Day holiday is once again upon us. If you plan to take a shopping trip this weekend, dont forget to check out some of the Web deals before you head out. You might be pleasantly surprised to find a discount that you wouldnt have otherwise snagged at the store. Heres a rundown of some of the top Labor Day deals this weekend.
No. 4: Kenneth Chenault, The Consummate leader
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. American Express CEO Kenneth I. Chenault is No. 4 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
No. 5: Earl G. Graves Sr., The Champion Of Black Business
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Black Enterprise Founder and quintessential entrepreneur Earl G. Graves Sr. is No. 5 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
No. 6: Oprah Winfrey, The Media Powerhouse
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey is No. 6 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
40 Next: Rosalyn Durant
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
B.E. Golf & Tennis Challenge: Love, Peace & Sooooooul!
To celebrate the first decade of Black Enterprise, attendees of the Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge take it back to the 1970s, a time when music had meaning and spoke volumes. The welcome reception, which also recognize the 40 Next achievers featured in the August 2010 issue of Black Enterprise, was hosted by FedEx.
40 Next: Greg Marchand
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
Inventors Insider: 5 Tips for Creating a Prototype
Often, the ideas for many inventions die in the prototype stage. Some inventors spend thousands of dollars in legal fees for patent approval only to learn later that the idea wasnt sustainable or the product will cost more to manufacture then people are willing to spend on it.
Real Estate Insider: 4 Things to Know About Reverse Mortgages
With the number of potential borrowers growing with the aging population, it's important that homeowners fully understand the risks and costs involved.
Money Basics: How to Begin Investing
John Gannon, senior vice president of The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority(FINRA)s Office of Education, offers these steps for beginning your journey in investing.
40 Next: Leona Locke Dotson
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
Resources to Help Your Business Tap Overseas Markets
In an effort to narrow America's trade deficit, the Obama administration unveiled the National Export Initiative (NEI), which among other things, is designed to foster growth in the number of minority owned enterprises that sell products and services in not just another country but multiple countries.
5 Things You Should Know If Your Bank Fails
Through June of this year, 118 banks have failedand have been taken over by the FDIC. At the current failure rate, more banks are expected to collapse in 2010 than in 2009.
Kodjoe, Underwood to Shine at Golf & Tennis Challenge
Leading men Boris Kodjoe and Blair Underwood are among the stars attending the Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge, which will kick-off on Wednesday, September 1, at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. The event, which continues the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Black Enterprise, will feature top notch entertainment as well as recognize the achievements of Black Enterprise's Titans of iconic business leadership and BE Next generation of young business achievers.
Wellness Insider: 3 Tips for Healthy Skin
Use these three tips from Dr. Susan Evans, a physician on the television show Dr. 90210, to achieve healthy glowing skin.
Tech Insider: Moving From Quicken Online to Mint.com
Quicken is gone. Intuit shut it down this week. What does that mean for you? This article outlines five things you need to know about your old data and Mint.com, the new online software that Intuit supports.
With Troops Out of Iraq, Obama to Shift Focus to Economy
In a prime-time address from the Oval Office Tuesday night, President Obama officially declared an end to the United States combat mission in Iraq. The president praised the troops whove fought and have been injured or lost their lives during the seven-year war, but made clear his desire to shift greater focus and resources on solving this nations problems, in particular the ongoing weak economy.
Love & Money: Achieving Financial Intimacy
It has often been reported that financial discord is one of the top reasons for divorce. One way to potentially avoid snags in communication when it comes to finances is to sit down and have an honest conversation with your mate about money. Financial Intimacy, a book by financial coach Jacquette Timmons, aims to help couples communicate more effectively about their finances. It is a guide to money and relationships. According to Timmons, financial intimacy involves managing moneys emotional impact on your romantic relationship. She goes on to say that not possessing this skill can cause relationships to become damaged because of financial stress. In addition, Timmons says financial intimacy is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process that must be nurtured on a daily basis.
No. 7: Richard Parsons, The Chief Strategist
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Transformative corporate leader Richard Parsons is No. 7 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
40 Next: Franklin Leonard
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
No. 8: Michael Lee-Chin, The Billionaire Investor
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Jamaican-born billionaire and value investor Michael Lee-Chin is No. 8 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
UBR Morning Post: Black Enterprise Titan Bill Mays
This week on The Urban Business Roundtable, UBR Contributor Angelique Westerfield speaks with Mays Chemical Founder and CEO Bill Mays, named one of 40 "Titans: The Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and How They Shaped Our World" in the 40th Anniversary Issue of Black Enterprise.
Making Peace With the Millennials
Generation Next (generally those born from the late 70s to the early 2000s) has been part of our business reality for a while now. And what do you know? Theyre not the disruptive, mind-bending threat we thought theyd be.
Obama Announces the End of Operation Iraqi Freedom
President Barack H. Obama, in remarks prepared for delivery on August 31, 2010, officially announces the end of the war in Iraq.
Tax Insider: Tax Tips for the Unemployed, Part 2
If you're unemployed tax credits can help reduce the taxes you owe and put more money in your pocket next tax season.
Investment Clubhouse: 3 Tips for Investing in REITs
Financial adviser Chris Long offers three tips for investing in a REIT index fund.
B.E.’s 40th Anniversary Star-Studded Golf & Tennis Challenge
Its time to get ready for the hottest Labor Day event aroundthe 17th annual Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge, Sept. 2-6 at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. But this year is going to be especially hot. Not because the West Coast will be experiencing a heatwave, but because it also happens to be Black Enterprise magazines 40th anniversary. So to celebrate, we invited a few friends to this years Challengefriends like Ronald Isley, El DeBarge, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, and MC Lyte. Theyre all coming through to make this Labor Day weekend one you wont forget.
Your Fall Season Must-Haves
A mere three months left before another year, and the great news is there is still time to make this your best year yet.
STEM Spotlight: Mary J. Blige, NASA Pair Up to Get Girls Into Science
Mary J. Blige is collaborating with NASA to inspire girls to pursue STEM careers. BlackEnterprise.com talks with Marian Johnson-Thompson about things parents should do to stimulate an interest in science.
Dealing With Debt: 5 Reasons You’re Headed for Financial Ruin
Check out these five financial blunders that will lead you to ruin.
40 Next: Lanesha Anderson
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
Your Virtual Career: 5 Tips to Maximize Your LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn, one of the top social media sites for professionals, has become a social media powerhouse with more than 75 million members in more than 200 countries. Its the go-to site for recruiters looking to fill positions, executives looking for opportunities, and entrepreneurs looking for prospective clients.
No. 9: Russell Simmons, The Man Who Took Hip-Hop Mainstream
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons is No. 9 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
Managing Credit: Keeping Students Out of Credit Trouble
The final components of the White Houses CARD Act took effect last Wednesday. Major portions of this installment of legislation focuses squarely on protecting college age students from incurring massive amounts of credit card debt and ruining their credit score.
It’s a Living: Computer Scientist for the FAA
Love it or hate it, we all have to go to work, and each of us is responsible for contributing to the bottom line somehow. Here's how some of us do it.
Glenn Beck, Al Sharpton Host Dueling Rallies
If the tens of thousands of Tea Party patriots who descended on the National Mall in Washington, DC, Saturday morning were hoping for a revolution, they were probably disappointed with the revival that they got instead. Standing just two steps down from where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his I Have a Dream speech exactly 47 years before, the controversial Fox News host was more evangelical than political pot stirrer.
Mentoring Insider: Become a Youth Mentor
The Igbo and Yoruba people of Nigeria told us long ago that it takes a village to raise a child, and todays urban villages are no different. Children still benefit from an involved community of people in their lives, and proof of that can be found in the many local and national youth mentoring programs across the country.
Home Base: How to Cut Costs by Cutting Phone Service
As more companies develop VoIP options, its getting easier to find cheap service and sometimes downright free offers. Check out which companies offer no-cost and low cost phone calling options.
Style Biz: Chemist Carves Niche with Eco-Friendly Cosmetics
BlackEnterprise.com talked with Generation Y chemist and founder of FSL Cosmetics, Kimberly Riley, about her passion for all-natural beauty goodies, her use of exotic ingredients to carve a niche, and why Web commerce was the best option for her startup.
Family Biz: 3 Things to Include in Your Buy-Sell Agreement
If you or a member of your family dies or wants out of the business, a buy-sell agreement will help you come to an agreement about how to break up the business and avoid future squabbles.
40 Next: Christopher Johnson
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
No. 10: Percy Sutton, The Godfather Of Black Radio
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Tuskegee Airman and civil rights activist Percy Sutton, known simply as "The Chairman" at Inner City Broadcasting, is No. 10 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
Katrina +5: A New Orleans Native Looks Back, And Hopes
Zara Green was working for the administration of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin when Hurricane Katrina hit and subsequently, the levees protecting the city failed, causing one of the largest and most costly disasters in American history. A native New Orleanian, Green lost all of her possessions in the disaster, and did not know the location of her father and brother for nearly two weeks. (Both survived.) Here, in her own words, she shares her emotions about her home town, and her hopes for it's future.
Katrina +5: Jobs Lag and the Road Home Remains Uncertain
If jobs and housing are the barometers by which recoveries are judged, five years after the storm, New Orleans is getting mixed reviews. The job market was initially brisk due to the inevitable uptick in construction and service trade jobs, which were accompanied by higher hourly wages. In many ways, observes Jefferson Parish Councilman Byron Lee, Louisiana was for a long time sheltered from the economic downturn going on just about everywhere else, because it was still in recovery mode.
40 Next: Ajilli Hardy
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
Katrina +5: Billions of Dollars Later, La. Has Made Strides
On August 29, 2005, the United States experienced the greatest natural disaster in the nations history when Hurricane Katrina bore down on the Gulf Coast. The damage caused by Katrina, compounded less than a month later by Hurricane Rita, resulted in the loss of 1,100 lives, 220,000 jobs, 215,000 homes, and 18,700 businesses, and displaced 785,000 residents. Overall, the financial impact on the entire Gulf Coast is estimated to be around $100 billion.
Katrina +5: SBA, Taken by Surprise, Unprepared to Quickly Offer Aid
When Katrina struck, SBA was in the middle of a transformation that included an internal reorganization, and a major computer system upgrade. Only 800 people could be on the new computer system at a time, so SBA had to incorporate shifts. Now 10,000 people can be on the system at once. The disaster loan processing system, which was located in Fort Worth, Texas, could accommodate only 366 seats; it has since been built up to accommodate 2100.
Backtalk with Ray Nagin
Katrina was one of the costliest natural disasters and one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the United States. Five years after the catastrophe, Nagin spoke with black enterprise about the citys fight to restore its health and livelihood.
No. 11: Herman Russell, The Master Builder
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Construction industry leader Herman J. Russell is No. 11 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
Is Your Business Ripe for Fraud?
There are simple steps a small business owner can take to reduce his or her likelihood of falling victim to an employee looking to defraud the company.
40 Next: Michael Seibel
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
Celebrity Side Hustle: Skateboarder Terry Kennedy Stakes His Claim on the Industry
Professional skateboarder Terry Kennedy talked with BlackEnterprise.com about how hes making his mark on the multibillion-dollar skateboarding industry and how doing what he loves has led him to the best business decision of his life
Shopping Insider: Are You Addicted to Spending?
Do you like to shop a little too much? Occasionally treating yourself to something new is one thing, but unplanned shopping sprees and knowing the intimate details of store clerks lives is another.
Nonprofit Insider: 4 Steps to Fundraising for Your Nonprofit
Samuel T. Jackson, founder and CEO of the Economic Empowerment Initiative, provides these four tips for planning a successful fundraiser.
No. 12: Thomas Burrell, The Dean Of Black Advertising
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Ad industry visionary Thomas Burrell is No. 12 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
Food Biz: Culinary Career Advice from a Top Chef
At 23, Kenny Gilbert was the first African American chef to work as chef de cuisine--French for executive cheffor The Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, a AAA Five Diamond Restaurant in Amelia Island, Florida. He spoke with Black Enterprise about how to take a culinary career from a slow simmer to a rolling boil.
Retiring Rich: Too Young to Think about Retirement? NOT!
Taking advantage of your 401(k) plan now will reap rewards in the future.
Celebrated or Not, Mediocrity Wont Cut It
Excellence is a personal code of conduct that demands that, every day, you strive to do better, know more, and try harder than you did the day before. Its a process, not some pinnacle you reach. Its a way of life thats guaranteed to breed not just professional success, but the character builderspride, dignity, knowledge, integrity, self-respectthat engender respect from others, and more importantly, respect for self.
Get a GPS for Your Life
Time and again, I chat with people, young, old, and in between, who dont have the most basic plan to guide their lives much less a back-up scenario in case they meet major obstacles. As unbelievable as it may sound, most dont map out the essentialsfinances, careers, education, or health, to name a few areas. You must figure out the big picture, set goals, dont let any impediment wreck your future, and develop a vision for your life.
40 Next: Latoya Wall
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Follow us as we reveal our "40 Next: Emerging Business Leaders Who Are Shaping Our Future."
In the Raw
Most people cant believe that the stylish and youthful Karyn Calabrese is 63 years old. But whats even more noteworthy for the celebrated raw foodist, given her family history, is that shes alive. I started my journey because all the women in my family died young and overweight, she explains.
The Dos and Donts of Delegating
When Juliet Okafor started her sales and marketing business in January 2009, she handled all the responsibilities of entrepreneurship herself, from customer service to marketing to chasing down invoice payments. By May of that same year, she had reached a breaking point. When a business partner asked Okafor to write a press release for a fashion show she was planning, I broke down and just couldnt do any more, she says. I finally realized I needed help.
Learning How to LEAD
Marcus Allens original plan was to join the military after college, but he changed his mind when he applied to the Verizon Future Leaders Program, a 10-week summer internship.
Unemployment Still Uneven
Its no surprise that, compared with other groups, African Americans have been hardest hit by the recession. Although the national average for unemployment has been declining since it peaked at 10.2% in October 2009, the unemployment rate for African Americans stands at 15.4%, a much higher rate than the 8.6% for whites and 12.4% for Hispanics.
New Opportunities in Finance
Drew white first knew he wanted to go into the world of finance when he was a college student at the University of Virginia. I wasnt sure if I wanted to be a banker, a trader, a salesperson, or a researcher, the 27-year-old recalls. I just knew this was an environment where the best and brightest could show their stuff.
Boosting Profits
Power Play: Clarkes modification of the budgeting policy at MLSE, which comprises several sports franchise divisions, including the NBAs Toronto Raptors and NHLs Toronto Maple Leafs, boosted the organizations bottom line by 3% to 5%. Clarke was also one of the decision makers behind the companys investment in Maple Leaf Square (also under Clarkes business development portfolio), a 500 million Canadian dollar ($476 million) mixed-use development that includes a sports and entertainment complex.
Maximizing Employee Value
Arvetta Powell, the senior human resources director at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., supporting the realty division, which consists of more than 3,000 employees, suggests that as human capital becomes increasingly important to a corporations market value, the companys competitive advantage will rely more and more on performance.
Speaking in Tongues
As business continues to become more globalized, fluency in multiple languages is increasingly important to compete and remain relevant in the marketplace. Not so long ago busy professionals looking for true language learning could exercise one of few options: relocate for complete immersion, take courses at a local school, or hire a tutor. Then came programs from Berlitz Language and Rosetta Stone, which offered ease and convenience.
Getting Rid of Global Glitches
When he first started shipping products overseas in 2005, Alex Ayalew, owner of Joint International Business Group L.L.C., learned that he had to fill out 60 documents the first time he sent just five electric generators to Ethiopia and Tanzania. In addition, he had to search through some 8,000 commodity classifications codes to assign codes to the products.
Accelerated Advancement
MAXI-CON2 (www.maxi-con2.com; 301-931-3206), a construction contractor in Beltsville, Maryland, is turning into an impressive do-over for Julie Elliott. After climbing the ranks in a construction company from administrative assistant to division manager, she found herself downsized in 2007. So, utilizing her skills in project management and small business support, Elliott started anewthis time as president and CEO of her own business.
Avoiding Fatal Missteps
The hills of New Hampshire are perhaps the last place one would expect a minority-focused business education program, yet two can be found on the campus of Dartmouth College in Hanover.
Recycling 202
We all know how to recycle newspapers and water bottles. But when it comes to other items, many consumers either dont know they should recycle, or theyre not aware of convenient recycling opportunities in their local area, says Jennifer Boone Bemisderfer, a spokeswoman with the Arlington, Virginia-based Consumer Electronics Association.
Should You Get Your Degree in Three Years?
The pinch of tuition has some students balking at the idea of a traditional four-year undergraduate degree program. A handful of colleges and universities are responding by implementing three-year programs to help students cut costs. But how much do students really benefit when they shave a year off of college?
Producing Success
In the late 1960s, a colleague approached Don Jackson who was then an advertising sales manager for WVON, Chicagos No. 1 black-oriented radio station, inviting him to work on the development of a new television show. The concept was an African American dance show and the creator was an aspiring disc jockey named Don Cornelius. After evaluating the concept, Jackson said: Man, there is no way in hell a show called Soul Train will ever make it. Thank you, but no thank you.
The 40 Best Franchises for African Americans
When Donald King retired from the Army in 2002, he looked at starting his own business. With the skills he learned from 20 years in the military, this University of Maryland graduate believed he was ready for the challenges of entrepreneurship.
The Meaning of Life Insurance
Life Happens and so does death. Although most of us would prefer not to dwell on the second part of that equation, preparing for an untimely death and protecting those who depend on your livelihood is one of the most important financial decisions you can make.
Who You Gonna Call?
Here are seven financial friends to add to your personal, business, and social media networks.
Mixing the right ingredients for growth
Operations are humming at the 56,000-square-foot Norwalk, Ohio, bakery. The facilitys 160 employees, nearly all wearing bouffant caps and what appear to be white lab coats, toil alongside large mixing, baking, and packaging machinery. Elaborate conveyers prepare, mix, bake, and pack plain, seeded, and double-cut hamburger buns at a rate of roughly 4,000 dozen per hour.
Different Strokes
It isnt easy to be a nonconformist in the staid, buttoned-up world of finance.
Life After Death
A death in the family is always emotionally demanding, but it can have lasting effects on a familys finances. Jannis Briggs Milhouse of Columbia, South Carolina, knows this firsthand. For the past six years, the 45-year-old widow and mother of three has relied heavily on her late husbands survivor benefits.
Cleaning Up At Whirlpool
On Jan. 1, 2009, Whirlpool corp. Chairman and CEO Jeff Fettig told its 70,000 employees that economic forces had placed the home appliances manufacturer in the weakest position he could remember. By the end of 2009, the $17 billion giant, the leader in its space against brands that include Electrolux and GE, produced a 9% sales growth and now projects another 6.9% increase in 2010.
7 Books That Will Enrich Your Life
Its back-to-school time again. Whether youre a student or the parent or guardian of one, youre likely shopping for school supplies and purchasing a backpack full of books. Were not sure if any of these are on your list but, black enterprises editors came together to offer you our top reads about personal finance, business, and careers.
Leading a Thrifty Lifestyle
André and Yohancé Jackson routinely attended a movie and purchased the latest CDs and DVDs every week after dining out at posh restaurants near their home. But as the economy began to falter, so did the couples carefree spending habits. Like many Americans, they are tightening their belts and increasing savings.
Finding Your Fortune in Franchising
Franchising is hardly a new topic for our editors to tackle. This sector is and has been an important contributor to the U.S. economy, and if tapped into properly, it can serve as a viable avenue through which African Americans can build wealth. In our inaugural issue of Black Enterprise, in August 1970, we produced a franchising feature that included such high-profile entrepreneurs at the time as then Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Brady Keys, former astronaut Ed Dwight, and rock and roll legend Fats Domino. And 23 years ago, in our September 1987 issue, we viewed franchising as such a significant area of opportunity that we developed our black enterprise Franchise 50 to help readers identify franchise businesses that offered the lowest barriers to entry.
Get Paid!
With unpredictable shifts in the stock market this year, its a good time for investors to seek out dividends stocksthe distributions of cash many companies pay shareholders on a quarterly basis.
Inventors Insider: How to Create an App for That
There is an app for just about anything you can thing of; or maybe not. Perhaps youve got an idea for an app that no one else has invented, but you have no idea how to get the app in peoples hands, or rather on their smart phones. We talk to Samuel Suraphel, inventor of the iHeritage iPhone app on how to take your app idea to market.
Managers Notebook: How to Delegate
When you have too many tasks, you spread yourself too thin and all your work can suffer in the process. By delegating tasks, you free yourself up to spend more time doing what will move you toward your goals.
Franchise Insider: How to Boost Lagging Sales
Scott Jewett, senior adviser at iFranchise Group, offers advice on how to rebound if sales at your franchise have taken a dive.
Social Media Insider: Using SM to Boost Your Mobile Base
Joel Comm offers these quick tips on how to grow your mobile base by leveraging social media.
No. 13: Ed Lewis/Clarence Smith/Susan Taylor, The Voice Of Black Women
In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise ranks the Titans: The 40 Most Powerful African Americans in Business--and how they shaped our world. Follow our daily countdown. Essence Magazine Co-founders Ed Lewis and Clarence Smith, along with iconic Editor-in-Chief Susan Taylor, are No. 13 on our list of the most impactful black business leaders of the past four decades.
QUIZ: How Well Do You Delegate?
Your boss asks you to take on a high-profile project that will last about six weeks. The project will likely double your workload during that time period. What do you do?
