Come on, get it together already!

I own and operate a small business. I don't think that is a surprise to anyone who has ever had a conversation with me, somehow "so what do you do" always comes up in conversation. It's really no secret and I don't attempt to make it one. It's also no secret how I operate my business, nor is my work ethics kept a secret. They reflect the goals and mission of my organization, as well as my business training and my Christian principles. I meet with different levels of clientele fairly regularly because I've done something for so and so, who has told so and so about me and now here they are calling me and "wanting a grant"..If I haven't heard that phrase a thousand times I haven't heard it AT.ALL. I'm a little peeved at myself I guess for this current situation that I unknowingly I suppose put myself into. I don't take on many new clients throughout the year because I don't want to, I don't have to and I just don't have the time a lot of them demand of me. That's real. Catalyst can operate anywhere from 3-6months out the year and I'd be ok with that. I'd be ok with it operating 0 months as well. I'm a mild perfectionist when it comes down to my work. Overly anal at times but there is always a method to my madness. A means to my end and I 'try' to make sure I'm not circumventing the processes and take a straight line to where I'm going but I'll be dog on if I don't get the same in return by those that I've been serving as of late.

I use the word serving because I feel like this is a gift I have and that I'm giving back by using this gift and not hording it. I always say information is free but the moment I have to "do" something, that's when I charge a fee. I never charge for an initial consultation, most times I won't even take a free cup of coffee at that point because I'm laying the foundation that I don't need you as a client to do anything for me. I don't want a client thinking that they can buy me, yes, even if it is just a white chocolate mocha or a vanilla latte, there are some that think that will "impress" me ..there are those that want to shower me with compliments, "oh you're so young to be this successful" "oh you are just so well spoken(da hell??? that aint no compliment) "oh you really know your stuff"(well, yea, do you think I would give you my real name and not give you correct information..hello!) I'm venting.

My people, my people, my BLACK people, we, yes, I'm claiming black today, have to get it together already. My servitude should not be taken advantage of! I'm no fool and I have enough discernment to know a sheep from a wolf. My vent tonight has to do with billing. My business does pretty well and helps me maintain and live my lifestyle. I would still function in my same lifestyle without operating the business but that's not the real point. I am by no means a rich/wealthy person (but you can't tell my 7yr old neice that, afterall I did buy 2 Nintendo DS systems for Christmas..) but I'm also not a poor person and I don't live check to check. I'm comfortable financially. That however doesn't give someone the right to try and play me! No you can not pay me in installments. No I will not "hook you up" I operate a business just like you're trying to get one off the ground and operating. Do you really not expect me to charge you for my services? Like seriously??? No, I will not give you the grant proposal that I've taken time to research and write UNTIL I am paid. In what world would you get something in return for nothing. No exceptions and No I will not take your personal check. I will take a check in your companies name, most business checking you have to keep a certain amount of money in the account. No, I will not be on your board of directors, nor will I work your program. Hello?? I have a business, why in the world would I want to go and work FOR you. I don't want to be this harsh, nor do I enjoy being this harsh when dealing with my "people", but the track record has proven that it is my people(some of them, not all are this way) who want preferrential treatment amongst other ignorant things. I've NEVER been a fan of affirmative action so I sure in hell am not about to operate it (by default) in my own business. I know this behavior is not indicative nor does it reflect on all black folks, I'm smart enough to not blanket us like that but, man, come on, get it together already and do better! If you want to be taken serious in the business world you're gonna have to do better.

Maybe my reading people skills are really off but I don't think they are. I'm a pretty good judge of character and can tell when someone is about their business or they're PLAYING like they want to be about their business. It is those that I don't have the time for and don't make the time for.

**Brown..stepping off the soapbox..out**