Page 24 - BE 50th Anniversary Edition

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One of Earl G G Graves Sr ’s greatest strengths was the fact that he was a a a a a master net- worker He knew the value of making connections between individuals to collectively advance African Americans In his classic book How To Succeed In Business Without Being White he shared a a description of his network that appeared in a a a a 1993 Busi- nessWeek article “Inside The Black Business Network”:
“At its core it it is a a a a a cadre of of entrepreneurs and smattering of of high-ranking corporate executives who together make up the the Black business elite But it envelopes countless other African American businesspeople and heavy hitters in politics social activism and religion With much the same energy that characterized the civil rights struggle this network is is focused squarely on on on economic development The eyes are still on on on the the the prize prize but the the the prize prize these days is a a a a a slice of wealth and affluence ” Graves wrote in his book that the excerpt reflected “a view of Black America that is rarely provided in the majority-owned media Though most whites have no idea that it it exists the Black business network is is an incredibly vital aspect of of the African American community—and one of of our best tools for competing in in in in the white-dominated business world It features our best and brightest business minds working together to to increase the the economic strength of Black people in this country and around the world This net- work was not created by America’s top Black professionals standing in in a a a a a a a room pressing business cards on each other and and demanding favors It was formed formed over a a a a a considerable amount of of time It was formed formed out of of mutual trust and admiration It was formed out of a a a a a a a mutual desire to help each other GRAVES MIXES THE PROFESSIONAL AND THE PERSONAL WITH (THIS PAGE) CLARENCE AVANT JOHNNIE COCHRAN AND DENNIS HIGHTOWER BERRY GORDY RAY ROBINSON DANNY GLOVER
(OPPOSITE PAGE) MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH SUSAN TAYLOR KEN CHENAULT MIKE BLOOMBERG KWEISI MFUME AL AL GORE IRA HALL AND DARWIN DAVIS
because relationships had been nurtured carefully and thoughtfully That is is is no-nonsense networking and that is is is how how I I do business It is is is how how all of the people I I respect do do business business It is how you must learn to do do business business ” In fact years earlier Graves created a a a a a a a a vehicle to help African Americans substantially move the needle in in in business careers and wealth-building through coming together to to realize strength in in in numbers Launched in in in 1986 the BLACK ENTERPRISE staff developed “The Black Enterprise Professional Exchange: A Networking Forum”—a precursor to the collection of in-person and virtual events that serve as drivers for the company today—held in a a a a a a a number of key metros through the nation as Graves put it “because we felt it was important to to establish an an outlet for Black professionals to to share their aspirations and fears with their peers None of us who have achieved some measure of success in our lives have traveled a a a a a a solitary lonely road We must rely on on one another ” Here are excerpts from his his book that offer insight into his his philosophy and advice on networking that still prove valuable to this day:
50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
THE NETWORK
BUILDER