This past Saturday, I was among a handful of people who were honored at an annual Gala Breakfast hosted by World Youth Foundation, Inc. I was accompanied by my 8 y/o shorty. I didn't have a prepared acceptance speech so as I sat there while being introduced, I thought of something special:
After receiving the award, I said "I would like to acknowledge my future business partner, Corbin Amos. Please stand Corbin Grant Amos" as I pointed to him in the audience. He stood and the audience gave a him a rousing ovation. I could see him grinning wider than ever before. Later during the ceremony they put my pic on the screen and he held my back and laid his head on my shoulders like you do when you're totally in love with someone for a good 5 minutes. That's the proud part of this blog.
A lot of people spoke to him about being the future CEO, but one older man (who follows me everywhere I speak) said that you no longer hear of family-oriented businesses. He said, back in the day, you would hear a LOT of businesses like Johnson & Son, Sanford & Son, etc. but not anymore. This opened my eyes. For whatever reason, most black people today don't see the value of owning family-owned businesses anymore. Is it because "we" don't want to struggle to do what it requires to build it up successfully?
He also added that IF one does exist and the founder later dies, the business usually fails b/c of too much in-fighting. That's the pondering part of this blog.
I've always concluded that our communities failed because we weren't willing to build unity within like other cultures do. Look at the Asian communities. Ma & Pop everything: cleaners, stores, restaurants, etc. Kids working diligently, keeping the profits in the family AND in the community. I can't count how many employees I've hired in the past 14 years -- and only ONE has been a relative. Now, my shorty is being brought up with his name on the company -- Amos & Grant Advertising Design -- of course, he may not want to have anything to do with it as he grows older. And I respect that as I'd much rather he becomes the 60th POTUS than President of A&G.
Just my thoughts for the day/week/month.
Posted By: Craig Amos
Monday, July 19th 2010 at 12:43PM
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