Better Be In A Good Old Boy Network

You are the Good Old Boy Network. And if you are not, you need to start one. I am not saying that you are a member of the WASP-ish, old school form of the Good Old Boy Network, or that you need to be. You didn’t have to go to the right prep school, your spouse doesn’t need to be named Biff or Buffy, and no need for secret handshakes. I am saying that you need to be in a close knit network were 1). you can do no wrong (except go outside the network), and 2). everyone is looking out for you and vice versa. Point is you can start your own network.

Start Your Own
Start with your own organizations and stay loyal. Prioritize them. I am a member of a tips group and two minority business groups. When I am looking for a product or service, I look in the tips group first, business group A second, and business group B third. Same when recommending a product or service. I want to look out for my network, because I need them to look out for me. Once they begin to see me as another employee for them, they will act in kind. Then once real results (sales) start coming in, everyone will really be on board.

Plus some members of one group are members of the other groups. Out of that group some like me, some don’t. Those that do and those that give me business are now the inner-circle. Now I have myself a Good Old Boy Network. We talk and share business openly, knowing we grow together.

Stay Loyal
It amazes me how often minority businesses want set asides and preference for being a MWDBE, yet do little to no business with other minority businesses. Call it Karma, The Golden Rule, Law of Attraction, Paying It Forward, or Hot Jam On A Biscuit, the point is what goes around comes around. You are a minority business, you want business as a minority owned business, then you better start doing business with other minority businesses. Otherwise why should the government, the Fortune 500, or my grandma prefer doing business with you?

Stop Whining And Do Something
Stop whining about things being political and being outside the club. Start your own club. After all, the Good Old Boy Network started somewhere too, and guess what? They may have the inside track today, but you get your network rolling, I bet you can have the insiders position tomorrow. Why? Because that is the way of things, the new over takes the old. Resistance makes you stronger while complacency makes them weaker. Decide with your group that you are going to get the contracts at city hall, then start working it.

I know not of a city yet, that doesn’t have a strong minority population in municipal government. They may not be in departmental leadership positions yet, but it is coming. Besides, guess who does the real work? Many contracts and bids can be had by flying under the radar. Many municipal workers are tired of the old regime too and would love the opportunity to give work and contracts to new blood. Get your network to work, who knows who at city hall? Who can tell you why Old School Business, Inc. always wins the contract? If you can get that information out of them, they have the solution and will not only be willing but anxious to tell you how to win the next round.

But this can only happen if whining and complaining stops, and decisive action takes it place.

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