On the thought of research and marketing, I've been living and breathing networking. I have a few women in Arizona that I love- strong, black women who are always moving positively forward. They have formed a group called Sister CEO Networking Group. It's a wonderful group of minority women (yes, I know it says sister...but I'm Puerto Rican and if you know your history- we do have African American running all through our heritage!) who get together once a month to teach and inspire each other to grow their businesses through positive stimulation and information. Our inaugural event had a wonderful woman who had my ear from the second I walked in the room. A beautiful Latina named Lorena Valencia, who owns a multi-million dollar company called Reliance Wire. I LOVE POWERFUL, SUCCESSFUL AND POSITIVE WOMEN, but even more... I love it when they are Hispanic. It proves that we can do it, and do it well. There have been many times where I have wanted to fold and it has always been the inspiration of a successful minority woman that has brought me back to my grind. Lorena caught me at a time when I was ready to push forward and gave me the stick of dynamite to shoot to the stars!
Lorena is the Chairperson for the Grand Canyon chapter of the Minority Supplier Development Council. It is a nationwide foreground for minority entrepreneurs to network and do business with large companies, as well as each other. It has the ability to get you in front of major worldwide corporations to promote your small, minority owned business. Whether you sell a product or service, you more than likely have a business that can benefit a little company like Staples or Walmart or one of the other 3,500 sponsoring businesses. And if you don't think you do, think again. These companies are full of hundreds of thousands of individuals. Maybe the corporation as a whole can't use your product or service, but several hundred of their employees can? The MSDC is the most accepted minority business association in the U.S. I tell you about it today, not only because it has impressed me, but because it can offer you and your business or potential future business the opportunity to grow, flourish and thrive in a market where we feel like the underdog.
The Latino community is trying to make a name itself and we have no choice but to continue to strive to be on top. We are rapidly becoming the majority of the world's culture. There are still many stigmas associated with our beautiful people and we MUST break through them to show the world that we CAN be successful entrepreneurs, inventive, creative, responsible, intelligent. There is so much more to us than what the masses read in the paper and see on the news. While so many are caught up in the immigration debate of our beloved Mexican amigos, we are designing superb clothing for our First Lady, we are building award winning architecture in Dubai, we are designing multi-million dollar mansions for athletes and wealthy business owners. With enough of us doing well, they will have no choice but to begin to see our value to society.
I encourage all of you to find a minority networking group. Yes, a plain ole networking group can work to boost your business, but there is nothing like meeting with like minded individuals who look and act and think just like you do. We are a people who protect and take care of our own and that should be encouraged every chance we get. Meet once a month- NO MATTER WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE GOING ON, it's not more important than trying to get ahead for just one day out of thirty. Let's build bigger, stronger companies that provide strong, stable income for our families. Help other Latinos and other minorities by looking to them for their services and products. It helps to reaffirm our worth. Look into the Minority Supplier Development Council. You can find them at www.nmsdcs.org/, to locate your local branch. The cost to join is minor, compared to the benefit. All of the information is on the website. I will begin my process to join this week, and will update you on all of the opportunities that I have found through the various events and connections I make with this group.
I am excited about the future. YO SOY LATINA Y YO SOY UN INTERIORISTA!
