LETTERS.

GET ORGANIZED

As a subscriber to BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine and a business owner, I am always perusing the magazine for helpful hints--with much success I must say. However, this time, my search had a two-fold effect.

The question-and-answer piece, "The Paper Chase" (see Techwatch, February 2001) by Sonya Donaldson was very exciting to see, because I often get asked the same question [about how to get rid of office clutter and back up files].

As a professional organizer, I cannot help but mention that organization is truly the backbone of a successful business. I am currently preparing a seminar based on the fact that companies, and people in general, lose many dollars due to disorganization, and what can be done to change it.

In short, I hope there are more articles on this topic, and if you are ever in need of a professional source concerning the issue of office and personal organizing, consider me.

Leah Taylor Gibson Owner, Taylor Made Systems Ocala, Florida [e-mail]

ORDER YOUR OWN

I remember when I picked up my first BE magazine off the rack (December 1999). Since then, I've been reading every issue. If I forgot to purchase BE, I'd always order the back issue. I've since purchased a subscription.

My coworkers often ask to read my copy of BE; I've given them the subscription-card inserts so they can start subscribing themselves.

The passage of scripture in Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." I know that I don't want my finances in ruin because I didn't seek out financial materials [and information]. Mary Hunt has often been featured in your articles ("Exercising Self-Discipline," Shopsmart, February 2001). I have some of her books and I also receive her Cheapskate Monthly newsletter.

That's why I thank you, BE, for the wealth of knowledge and wisdom in this magazine.

Mark McClendon Detroit, Michigan 

WOMEN IN BIZ

Thank you so much for the terrific mention of the National Women's Business Council (NWBC) and WomenBiz.gov in the February 2001 issue of BE (see "WBE and the Government: Perfect Together," Enterprise). I headed the e-commerce subcommittee for the Interagency Committee on Women's Business Enterprise and designed and developed the Website.

When I first started this project, I went to each agency of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) asking for some money to help hire a professional Web designer. The OSDBU laughed in my face. So the NWBC purchased Frontpage and Photodraw and we hooked up with Ron Johnson in the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Disadvantaged Business program. Johnson has a home-based business designing Web images. Together, we learned HTML and how to download script and WomenBiz.gov [was the result].

The next hurdle was getting someone to host it. The SBA wanted to charge us up to $5,000 per year to host and maintain the site. That was impossible because there was no money. So, the General Services Administration stepped up to the plate and gave us a place on their server at no cost.

WomenBiz.gov is a true intergovernmental initiative that was done on a shoestring and a prayer.

Lynn Sheri King Deputy Director, NWBC Washington, D.C [e-mail]

POWERFUL INFO

Thank you for my two-year subscription to BE. When I applied for the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship, I didn't know I would receive such an educational magazine. None of the issues I've received have been wasted; the rewarding information has been used daily. It has greatly broadened my understanding of how to gain and keep financial wealth.

I really didn't know about finances until I started reading BE. I have learned to invest in stocks, build a personal budget plan, and even how to start a business. I'm really glad that it's a black magazine, which means I can depend on getting good advice from my own people. Black business owners don't mind sharing their secrets to success and feel good about helping their people. My parents like BE so much that they can't wait for the next issue.

Again, thank you for giving me a chance to read such powerful information. This will help me to achieve my goal of becoming a successful hotel-chain owner.

Nichele Nicole Mims Atlanta, Georgia [e-mail]

PROTECTING IDEAS

I found your small business news article in the Enterprise section of the February issue of BE of particular interest. The story of Mr. Russell and Mr. Stracick's dispute with Disney on the appropriation of their ideas for a sports complex (see "Hey, You Can't Do That!") does not surprise me.

AS an animation artist with more than six years in the industry, I've seen examples of questionable business practices that have taught me a few things, including how to read a contract. If the words "exclusivity" and/or "intellectual property" show up in the contract, then read that contract carefully. Check the fine print and make sure you understand the terms of that agreement. Any original ideas or concepts created, whether for that company or not, might become the property of that company if the origination was within the time period specified on your contract.

Also, make sure your written work, concepts, artwork, and if necessary, original music or sound effects related to your project are properly registered with the Library of Congress Copyright Office (www.loc.gov/copyright/) before you show anyone anything. It is also a good idea to learn the difference between copyright, trademark, and patent registration.

Just remember, that golden idea could be worth more than you think. Don't give it all away.

I also found the article "Call Your Own Shots" (February 2001) enlightening and inspirational. Bravo!

Jon LeMond Chandler, Arizona [e-mail]

WHAT'S WRONG?

I'm not at all surprised by the sale of BET Holdings to a white-owned company (see "BETting On Black," January 2001). Some black folks have a strong need to be a part of white society and it's from there they get a feel and a sense of social acceptance and inclusion in the white mainstream.

On one hand, [the sale of BET to Viacom] is a loss of another significant black-owned company. On the other hand, BET Founder Robert Johnson and others think it was a good business deal and will allow him more access to resources and growth.

A lot of black folks like to brag when a black-owned company grows large, establishes itself in a market, has an impact in an industry, and attracts the attention of white companies that want to buy it. Then we are willing to sell it, allowing another of our companies to go out of our hands, with a loss to our already small economic base.

We'll have to wait and see what Viacom will do with BET. We are selling our haircare businesses. What else do we want to give away? What's wrong with black people?

Randall Thomas Atlanta, Georgia

TEACHING WEALTH

I am a regular reader of BE; I have purchased it from the newsstand throughout the past two years, and I have found it extremely useful, as have the 15 others who regularly share my copy.

The BE Black Wealth Initiative couldn't have come at a better time. Upon receipt of my Wealth Building Kit, my friends and associates were eager to have copies of the same. As a human resources development practitioner, I find this kit and BE magazine useful in teaching people about personal finance and investments.

Kayode A. Ogungbuyi Manpower Development Manager Cadbury, Nigeria Plc. Ikeja, Lagos State Nigeria

THERE'S AN IDEA!

I really enjoy reading your magazine. Will there ever be a BE book? A book with all of the information you provide rolled into its chapters would be a great one!

I first discovered BE when I went back to visit my home town of Memphis, Tennessee. What I found was a magazine not just for blacks, but for anyone interested in business. I use BE as a source to achieve my goals as a writer and business person.

I would like to see more success stories of business owners and how they got started. Your offerings of the great key steps to success come in very handy for a young man, such as myself, trying to make it.

So please keep up the good work. I am now a subscriber and a supporter of this great magazine and I hope to see, if it hasn't happened already, a book in the near future.

Monolito Thompson Aurora, Colorado [e-mail]

Editor's note: Good news--it has happened. In fact, there are six titles now available at major bookstores (with more to come) from the Black Enterprise Book Series, including the most recent releases, Against All Odds: Ten Entrepreneurs Who Followed Their Hearts and Found Success by Wendy Harris and Take A Lesson: Today's Black Achievers on How They Made It and What They Learned Along the Way by Caroline V. Clarke.

ON BALANCE

Great magazine--but, I have found that the Letters section of BE lacks balance. Unlike other magazines, I rarely, if ever, see letters that critique a particular BE writer, article, or the magazine as a whole. Every month, there are 3-5 accolades ("I just love your magazine" ... "It's definitely the best for black business professionals"), but rarely are there less-than-glowing comments.

I personally give other magazine editors kudos for demonstrating that they are willing to publish the positive and the negative. While BE most likely receives an overwhelmingly positive response, please consider printing feedback from those who have something constructive to say as well--consistently.

Charles Quinn Washington, D.C. [e-mail]

Editor's note: Thank you for your comments regarding our magazine and our Letters column in particular. You are correct when you say that the overwhelming majority of the letters, e-mails, and faxes we receive are positive and supportive in nature. A rough count of the letters published in our magazine for the 12 issues ending with the January 2001 issue reveals that of the 54 sentiments published, only three were critical of the magazine in some way. (The Letters column is also where we acknowledge our own errors in the magazine, whether they are noticed by readers or not. We published six corrections in those 12 issues.)

We welcome critiques of the magazine and the articles that appear in it. When we get negative or critical letters, we do print 'em. As a result, while only a small fraction (less than 5%) of the positive correspondence we receive gets printed, close to 75% of the negative or critical letters (as few as they are) are published. For example, we printed a letter in our January 2001 issue from a reader who was critical of us not including any religious leaders in our "30 for the Next 30" feature in our August 2000 30th Anniversary issue.

Our publisher and editors are passionate about getting first-hand feedback (not to mention some of our best story ideas)from our clients and customers (subscribers and readers) about what kind of job we are doing and how we can improve. It is with that in mind that we thank you for the constructive criticism--and for helping to keep us on our toes.

GLOBAL IMPACT

Greetings from the Motherland. I must congratulate you on an excellent publication which not only informs, but inspires.

I have been a regular reader since 1997. My only problem is that the issues arrive on the newsstands a month later [in South Africa] and the rand/dollar exchange rate makes it difficult to purchase every issue.

The issues I have purchased have helped me in many ways toward starting my own small business ventures. Two articles in particular have been my guides: "Recipe for Success" (August 1997) and "Mad Marketing Skills" (December 1999).

The first article helped my family turn a 30-year-old herbal preparation into a viable business venture, and the second article led me into a venture involving T-shirts and sportswear geared toward the urban youth market. The fashion industry special report in your July 2000 issue (see "Fashionably Speaking") was also helpful [to my involvement in the latter venture].

To the editor and staff at BE, I wish you a new year filled with joy, peace, and prosperity. Keep on inspiring black people around the globe.

Timothy H. Canham Ladysmith, South Africa [e-mail]

Editor's Note: To order copies of the back issues cited in this or any letter published in this column, readers can call our Circulation Department at 212-242-8000, ext. 568.

HOW TO RETIRE

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! for such an informative article, "The B.E. Retirement Guide" (October 2000).

It was so refreshing to read an article you could understand in simple terms. I became discouraged from reading articles on investments, because I didn't understand what they were talking about.

Now that I've been "schooled"; it's time to see what I can put into action.

Sharon Pettiford West Orange, New Jersey [e-mail]