April 17th Blog

April 17th, 2007
Greetings!

We are delighted to present you with our 21st issue of Entrepreneurial Alternatives Newsletter and our 5th issue of 2007. Our theme for this edition is "Moving to the Next Level." We have certainly been doing just that over the past decade. Over the past eleven year period, while performing exciting research on African American entrepreneurship, I also became an entrepreneur myself, having been involved in the development of 4 non-profit business organizations and two for-profit businesses.

Our latest business ventures are the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., (housed in Greater Cleveland), which I established some months ago, in consultation with some of the board members of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, and the establishment of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy, in collaboration with the Mayor of the city of Youngstown, the Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership, and Youngstown State University.

The National Center for Entrepreneurship is now the flagship center which oversees the strategic operations and activities of two other affiliate centers that I created in the past decade which are the Center for the Study and Development of Minority Businesses at Kent State University and the Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland. We are very happy to welcome aboard our newest affiliate center established last week, which is the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy. More information is also included below about our exciting new collaboration with our affiliate partners in Youngstown.

We also provide you The Ten Personality Characteristics of Successful Black Entrepreneurs based on some excerpts from my fourth book with the same title, as well as more information about both the National Center for Entrepreneurship, the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy, and our upcoming scholarship dinner presented by Health Legacy of Cleveland on April 29, 2007. I am delighted to serve as the Chairwoman of the Development Committee for this exciting organization. Last, we offer you our "Dear Dr. House" letters and responses.

Quote of the Week

"I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealing and strict adherence to the view that, for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well."

---Alan Greenspan---
Former Federal Reserve Chairman


The Ten Personality Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
by Dr. Bessie House

Personality Characteristic Number One: Salesmanship

(The following is a small excerpt from Dr. House's fourth book, "The Ten Personality Characteristics of Successful Black Entrepreneurs: How to Achieve Them". )

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a business conference that was organized by the Wall Street Journal. One of the panels featured several prominent millionaires that were entrepreneurs. One of the panelists got on the stage and made the following statement: "The number one rule of business is to make sure that you sell something that someone actually wants to buy." It makes perfect sense.

What is entrepreneurship? The best definition I can give you is simply this: entrepreneurship is the art of developing a concept or an idea and using it to create value in the economic marketplace. You create value by taking the idea or concept and converting it into a tangible product or service that you then turn around and convince people that they need to pay you a particular price for that product or service in order for them to possess it.

Salesmanship, is thus, the first personality trait of successful entrepreneurs, but the selling takes place on two different levels. On one level, you are selling your product or service. On the second level, you are selling yourself. These levels are separate, but they are very much interwoven.

As you start your business and to out to try to get contracts or to make bids on various jobs or even to get business loans, at the back of the other persons' mind are questions like these. What kind of person is Sally? If Sally gets the contract, can she really deliver the goods at the agreed upon time? What kind of character does Sally really have? Is she honest and straightforward? Can she be trusted? Can she really get the job done? Ultimately, it's about credibility. So, it's about selling a product and selling yourself as well.

Dr. House has written four books, numerous scholarly articles and book chapters. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, "Confronting the Odds: African American Entrepreneurship in Cleveland, Ohio" which received the coveted Henry Howe Book Award. A much sought-after public speaker and presenter, she has made numerous public presentations to diverse audiences in the United States and abroad. Dr. House will be autographing and signing copies of all of her books, as well as her audiobook.

If you would like a copy of Dr. House's audiobook, please e-mail min oritybusinesses@gmail.com for instructions on how to purchase a copy.
Dr. Bessie House and Board Members Establish the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

The National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. was founded several months ago by Dr. Bessie House, President and CEO of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, in consultation with several of its' board members which include Mr. John Bustamante and Mr. Steven Simms. Mr. John Bustamante is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NCE. The purpose of the National Center for Entrepreneurship is to promote entrepreneurial development and economic growth in our region, the state of Ohio, and in the United States, more broadly speaking. The National Center for Entrepreneurship is a collaborative of regional and national business centers which have been created to use the successful entrepreneurial model developed by Dr. Bessie House over the past twelve year period. The National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., has created a national model of entrepreneurial excellence that is based on empirical research performed by Dr. House on numerous factors which promote business success that has been validated many times over in the business training classes provided by the National Center for Entrepreneurship and its' affiliate centers over the past decade. The NCE is a non-profit business franchise that is developing more affiliate centers across the United States. The goal is to replicate the entrepreneurial model used by the NCE in many towns and communities in order to generate more new business start-up companies and to help existing businesses to take their work to another level.

Affiliate centers of the NCE include the Center for the Study and Development of Minority Businesses at Kent State University, the Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland, and the recently established Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy in Youngstown, Ohio. According to Dr. House, "We are delighted to say that we have also been asked to establish affiliate business centers in Akron and Canton, Ohio, as well as in Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and New York City."

If you are interested in establishing an affiliate center in your home town, please contact Dr. House about the details of such a collaboration and the requirements for becoming an affiliate center at 330-672-5307 or 216-731-4426.
Youngstown Mayor Announces New Collaboration with National Center For Entrepreneurship (Headed by Dr. Bessie House)

Mayor Jay Williams of the city of Youngstown and Dr. Bessie House [picture on right], announced in a press conference on Monday morning, April 9, 2007, the creation of a strategic partnership and collaboration with the City of Youngstown, the National Center for Entrepreneurship (housed in the greater Cleveland area and headed by Dr. Bessie House), the Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership (headed by Mr. Richard Roller), and Youngstown State University. Together, they have established the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy. All of the collaborating partners in the collaboration were present at this historic event!

The development of this important partnership is in perfect harmony with efforts that are now underway in Northeast, Ohio to encourage more collaborative initiatives that promote the goals of regionalism, economic and racial inclusion, and to develop a common economic development strategy to help the entire region to prosper and enhance economic self-sufficiency.

This strategic collaboration will also help to further the city of Youngtown's goals of providing business training assistance to minority and female residents, and disadvantaged individuals of Youngstown in order to create more viable businesses, job opportunities, and wealth creation. The ultimate goal is to help the citizens to become economically independent and to acquire skills to enhance their own empowerment.

The creation of the National Center for Entrepreneurship (NCE) by Dr. Bessie House, John Bustamante, and Steven Simms (members of the Board of Directors of the NCE) 2006 was the natural outgrowth of her earlier development of two other business training centers during the past 10 year period which include the Center for the Study and Development of Minority Businesses at Kent State University and the Entrepreneurial Academy for Greater Cleveland. Through the years, these centers have produced award-winning research, award-winning curricular materials and business training programs. The National Center and its' affiliate centers have developed innovative, research-based business training programs, which are different in many respects from other existing business centers in Ohio and the nation. Thus, they have developed a very impressive track record of success as they have served more than 350 clients and have helped to generate more than 51 new business start-up companies in Northeast, Ohio. They have also helped existing businesses to take their work to another level. These businesses have contributed greatly to economic growth and development for this region and the state of Ohio.

Dr. House is also a nationally-recognized leader, advocate and expert on entrepreneurship and economic development and is also an entrepreneur herself, having established several for-profit businesses. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed book, "Confronting the Odds: African American Entrepreneurship in Cleveland, Ohio" which will be one of the required textbooks used in the business training classes.

The Director of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy will be Mr. Herman Hill, who is a former graduate of Kent State University. He possesses a strong background and keen understanding of economic development issues for our region. .

The Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy will begin its' operations immediately. It will offer two intensive introductory business training classes starting in June of this year and will later offer an advanced business class. It will also help participants to achieve micro loan support and will work to establish space and support mechanisms to house its' new business start-up companies. The goal of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy is to produce new business enterprises and to provide assistance to existing entrepreneurs as well. For more information about the program and to enroll, please contact, Mr. Herman Hill, the director at 330-747-7921, extension 1190.
The third annual Health Legacy of Cleveland (HLC) Award and Scholarship Dinner will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2007.

The third annual Health Legacy of Cleveland (HLC) Award and Scholarship Dinner will be held on Sunday, April 29, 2007, at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The event is held annually to raise awareness for the importance of diversity in medicine and dentistry in Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland Clinic will serve as the event's presenting sponsor, honoring Jefferson J. Jones, D.M.D., the first African-American endodontist (root canal specialist) in Ohio, with the Award for Excellence. In addition, scholarships will be awarded to African-American students pursuing careers in medicine and dentistry who intend to return to the Cleveland area to practice.

Delos Cosgrove, M.D., president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, is serving as general chair of the event. Anthony Stallion, M.D., staff, Pediatric Surgery and Pathobiology, at Cleveland Clinic, and A. Gus. Kious, M.D., president of Huron Hospital, are serving as Honorary Chairs.

The HLC Award for Excellence honors the living legacy of African-American physicians and dentists who have served the Cleveland area in their professions and provided mentoring and role models for the community's youth. In 2007, this award program will reach out to the broader community that supports diversity and education and the programming that inspires diverse young people to pursue careers in medicine and dentistry in the northeast Ohio region.

High school scholarship applicants include Cleveland Municipal School District students pursuing health careers, as well as medical and dental school students from the Cleveland area who intend to return to Northeast Ohio to practice.

Individual seating for the dinner begins at $150 Corporate sponsorships begin at $1,500 and are available for company tables, student seating, scholarships and programming in education or diversity. Online event registration and scholarship applications are available online at http://www.healthlegacycleveland.org.

About Jefferson J. Jones, D.M.D. Jefferson J. Jones, D.M.D., is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Endodontics at Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Jones has a strong interest in Minority Recruitment and Graduation for the Dental School and for the University. He has been on the faculty for thirty-five years and Department Chair for the last twenty-four years.

About Health Legacy of Cleveland

Health Legacy of Cleveland, founded in 1993, is one of the few African-American founded nonprofit foundations that awards scholarships to African American students pursing professions as physicians and dentists who intend to return to the greater Cleveland area to practice. Its mission is to increase the pool of African American physicians and dentists in the Greater Cleveland area.

Contact Information:

Cynthia Clark
Health Legacy of Cleveland
P O Box 201519
Cleveland, OH 44120

PHONE. 216 621-1933
FAX. 216 621-4174
EMAIL: cynthiaclark@healthlegacycleveland.org
Dear Dr. House

Dear Dr. House:

Hi Bessie,

Great newsletter and even greater to reconnect. Hope all is well with you. I'm attaching my newest project. It's great fun. I have a nightly radio show On Air with In Business and you can listen to the pod casts and use them in a variety of ways.

Here's the link!!

http://podcast.loyalears.com/wtdy.php?task=shows&show_id=51

Hit FREE on the shows you want to hear.

Let me know what you think.

Best of luck with your new venture, not that you need it. It looks GREAT!!

Joan Gillman
Executive Education
School of Business
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dear Joan:

Thank you so very much for your spectacular letter and your warm remarks about our blog. Your foray into podcasting shows a fire that is necessary for any successful entrepreneur.

It is not enough in this current economy to merely provide a needed service, but one must constantly innovate and impress. Your show is an example of this, and entrepreneurs looking to succeed in the current economy should sit down and plan out how they will make a similar impact.

All the best,

Dr. Bessie House
Director
The Entrepreneurial Academy
And Executive Director and Founder
The Center for the Study and Development of Minority Businesses
Kent State University

Quick Links
# The CSDMB
# E-Academy
# B. House Communications, Inc.
# The Dr. House Minority Business Blog

In Closing
Finally, we at the Center For The Study and Development of Minority Businesses and Entrepreneurial Academy want to make a call out to any former student of our Center. If you move or have some other method of contact, please notify us! We love hearing about your new businesses, business plans, and any other successes that you might be experiencing. If you could send us a recent photograph and a small description of your success, we will include them in one of our upcoming editions of Entrepreneurial Alternatives.

Our demand pull is high, and we cannot conceivably get everything that we would like done without your aid. We are looking for volunteers for both of our centers. If you are interested in volunteering for us, please call our Kent center at 330.672.5307 or our Cleveland center at 216.731.4426.

There are individuals in our class that we have not heard from since they stopped attending; keep in touch! Contact information is at the bottom of this blog.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bessie House
Director, The Center for the Study and Development of Minority Businesses
Director, The Entrepreneurial Academy

All Stories, Pictures, and Works Copyrighted by their Original Owners. Entrepreneurial Alternatives is a copyrighted phrase of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Incorporated.
email: minoritybusinesses@gmail.com
phone: 330-672-5307
web: http://www.eacademy.biz