“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
―
By Doni Glover, Publisher
(BALTIMORE – May 3, 2023) – Well, someone finally pulled a “me” on me. How fascinating!
Yesterday evening, after recognizing a couple of thousand other people since 2011 in about 9 cities mainly along the Eastern seaboard, someone had the audacity to make me an honoree. I don’t recall that ever happening before. I’ve looked around the office and cannot put my hands on another one.
It caused me to pause and reflect. Typically, I’m thinking of others – with respect to the honorees being recognized for either being an entrepreneur or a supporter. This time, however, Chad Williams felt it appropriate to lift me up. And you know what? I graciously accept.
Time has taught me that you do not get in the way of other people’s blessings. Sometimes, we want to be gracious and not allow others to bless us. Why?
Marianne Williamson’s poem comes to mind: “Our Deepest Fear”. I love this poem. Nelson Mandela used it in his inauguration speech many years ago when he became the first Black president of South Africa. I’m referring to the part where she writes that there is nothing great about us playing small so that others won’t feel uncomfortable around us; that we all were born to make manifest the glory of God that’s within us.
So, I share with you today: Be great! Think great! Act great!
This is not an urge to be arrogant or cocky, but instead a call for great confidence!
Marcus Garvey said that a person without self-confidence is a person twice defeated. That person first defeated themself by not believing in their God-given abilities.
Here’s another way of saying it: “… nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.” A fellow food runner named John shared that with me a long time ago when I was hardly living up to my potential. I worked at Ruth Chris and was foolishly selling myself short at the time.
I have since learned that John was quoting Calvin Coolidge to me; Coolidge, of course, was our 30th US President. A by-product is my good fortune to serve as host of my very own Emmy-nominated talk show.
STRATEGIC PARTNERING IS THE KEY
Peggy Morris and I came up with these business awards back in 2011 at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C. Peggy is the matriarch of Sisters 4 Sisters Network, Inc., a sisterhood organization that has consistently worked to make a difference in our communities for the past 20 years – just like BMORENews.
Years later, we still do events together from time to time just to keep the fire burning. Or, when we take the awards out of town, Peggy’s network is at our disposal. It is these kinds of strategic partnerships that help us to strengthen our businesses. To say the least, our Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards ceremonies are some of the greatest business networking opportunities in the State of Maryland and beyond!
Our aim is to help preserve little-known Black Wall Street history nationally and to inspire entrepreneurship, beginning in the Black community. As former MD Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford has said, nobody hires more Black people than Black people. We see from our ancestors what we can accomplish when we work together. And despite the multiplicity of challenges facing Black-owned businesses, we press on! We understand that we have $1.6 trillion in annual disposable income and if we can better channel some of those dollars to Black businesses, we all win.
I am grateful for the recognition because any attention put on Black businesses is always a plus for us!
