December 18, 2007

December 18th Blog

Greetings!

Sincerest Greetings to each of you! I am absolutely delighted to present you with the 28th edition of our Entrepreneurial Alternatives Newsletter. Our theme for this edition is "The Power of Collaborations." I have been asked many times through the years about what is the secret to developing successful collaborations that work in the real world. And, I have been delighted to answer this question. I have had the opportunity to be involved in a number of very successful collaborations through the years, so for me, it is not about theory. It is about practice.

With this in mind, I am absolutely delighted to report that that our most recent collaboration with the Honorable Jay Williams, Mayor of the city of Youngstown, the Youngstown Mahoning Community Action Partnership, the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., which I oversee, and Youngstown State University to create the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy, has been a resounding success! In this edition, we provide a brief synopsis of the 1st Annual Graduation Ceremony of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy which was recently held in October of 2007. I want to personally congratulate all of the graduates who successfully completed the rigorous requirements to matriculate through the intensive business training classes offered by the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy. The Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy is an affiliate center of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., headed by Dr. Bessie House.

When I first created the Applied Business Curriculum that is now used in the NCE and its' affiliate centers, some individuals said that it would never work. Well, I am delighted to say that after having almost 400 participants to take our classes and helping to create more than 51 new business start-up companies, our system works very well indeed! We are delighted to welcome the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy's graduates into the exciting world of entrepreneurship. We are overcome with joy that they are now moving forward to start their own businesses and create new jobs and wealth in their communities in Mahoning County.

In this edition, we present information about the 1st Annual Graduation Ceremony for the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy and begin our series on the 10 Rules of Developing Successful Collaborations. We also provide a brief synopsis of my recent acceptance of the prestigious Oni Award from the International Black Women's Congress in Portsmouth Virginia and information about an upcoming Wealth Building Seminar being organized by Mr. Melvin Richardson in the greater Cleveland area; and last, we will share with you our Dear Dr. House letters for this week which come from the Chancellor at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis; the CEO of Kenyatta College in Kenya, East Africa; and Austin, Texas.

Quote of the Week

I want to say something very special to Dr. House because she reminds me of what we all must become as Black people in the 21st century.

She is a servant leader..... and our servant leaders are the most humble, they are the most relevant, they are the most open, they are the most teachable, they are the most respectful, and they are the most caring leaders in our community. And, we love you for that. Thank you for committing your life.

-- Mr. George Fraser --
President, Founder, and CEO, Frasernet
Best Selling Author and Entrepreneur


Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy Holds First Annual Graduation Ceremony
by Dr. Bessie House

The Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy held its' first annual graduation ceremony on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at the Chevrolet Centre Community Room in Youngstown, Ohio from 6:00-8:00 P.M. The creation of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy in Spring 2007 came about as the result of a creative collaboration between the city of Youngstown, the Youngstown Mahoning Community Action Partnership, the National Center for Entrepreneurship (which is headed by Dr. Bessie House), and Youngstown State University. The Honorable Jay Williams, Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, initiated the collaboration because he believed that it was vitally important to develop strategies to help citizens of Youngstown to become self-empowered.

There is no better way to do that than to embrace entrepreneurship for the 21st century. The Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy is modeled on the Cleveland Entrepreneurial Academy that Dr. House directs. The Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy is an affiliate center of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., headed by Dr. Bessie House.

Ms. Sharon Woodberry, Director of Economic Development for the City of Youngstown was the Mistress of Ceremonies. Mr. Herman Hill, Director of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy, welcomed all attendees to the great event. Opening remarks were made by the Honorable Jay Williams of the city of Youngstown. Dr. Bessie House, President, Founder, and CEO of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. provided a history and program overview for the event. Dr. House reiterated how very happy she was with the results of the 1st year of activities of the Youngstown Entrepreneurial Academy.

According to House, 'when I first created the model for these centers 12 years ago, people said that it would never work. Since that time, the NCE and its' affiliate centers have collectively trained almost 400 individuals and have helped to launch more than 51 new business start-up companies. I would say that the model works very well.' Mr. Herb Washington was the keynote speaker for the event. Washington owns the Youngstown Steel Hounds as well its' parent company, Blue Line Hockey. He is the very first African American to own a professional hockey team and is also the owner of several McDonald Franchises located in the Mahoning Valley and Western Pennsylvania region. He discussed many things that entrepreneurs need to know in order to be successful in business. He emphasized the importance of having honest people around you in the business organization. He also pointed out that "failure is not fatal and success is not final." According to Washington, one of his most important ingredients for success was the ability to stick to something over the long haul. Mr. Arnold Clebone, Regional Director for Economic Development for the Ohio Department of Development, made congratulatory remarks on the program.

Dr. House and Mr. Hill presented graduation certificates to the 16 individuals who fulfilled the rigorous requirements for graduation. Congratulations go out to the 2007 graduating class which include Sherry Berry, Gerald Beulah, Jr., Lori Beulah Mary Boyd, Antoinette Carter, Priscilla Colbert, La Shonda Cross, Tammy Duck, Sonya Harris, Kimberly Kitchen, Danielle Lazaro, Ina Madison, Faye Miller, Eddie Pierce, Jr., Marie Sinkfield, and Lynnise Wells.
Dr. House-Soremekun Receives Prestigious International Award

Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun was the recent recipient of the prestigious Oni Award from the International Black Women's Congress on September 22, 2007 at their annual conference held in Portsmouth, Virginia. According to the leadership of the International Black Women's Congress, "The Oni Award symbolizes the essence of all that is good in African people. The word ONI is taken from the Ife culture of Nigeria. It represents a spiritual force that protects the people. A recipient of the Oni Award has been identified as someone who protects, defends, and enhances the general well-being of African people. A recipient of the ONI is diligent, persistent, and noncompromising. We like to think of her as our unsung heroine. With the creation of the Oni Award, the International Black Women's Congress salutes those women in our communities who keep on working on behalf of African people. They are truly committed. Their vision is clear."

Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun is the Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI), where she holds dual Full Professorships in both the Department of Political Science and the African American and African Diaspora Studies Programs in the School of Liberal Arts. Her research and publications have focused both on African political and economic development processes as well as African American economic development and entrepreneurship. She is a nationally recognized leader, advocate, and expert on entrepreneurship and economic development. She is also an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and inventor. She is the President, Founder, and CEO of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., whose main objective is to promote entrepreneurial efficacy and economic growth all across this country. According to Dr. House-Soremekun, "the role of a scholar at an institution of higher learning is to produce and disseminate knowledge that can be used to solve real world problems. I am deeply honored to be the recipient of this wonderful award and am delighted that my research and outreach activities under the umbrella of my entrepreneurial training centers have led to the creation of more than 51 new business start-up companies by people of African descent in recent years. "
Building Effective Collaborations That Work
by Dr. Bessie House

As we move further into the 21st century and realize the point of diminishing returns in our everyday lives, the catchword of the day seems to be collaborations. Over the past decade or so, we have been involved in a number of collaborations and have become aware of 10 rules that can enhance your probability of achieving success. This week, we will provide rule numbers 1 and 2. Tune in for the remaining rules in upcoming volumes of Entrepreneurial Alternatives.

Rule Number 1: Do not enter into collaborations lightly and make sure that you develop your own criteria for the collaboration. We have developed three criteria to govern our own involvement in collaborations and partnerships through the years. First, make sure that you work with an organization that has a good reputation in the community. Second, make sure that the mission and goals of your organization are compatible with the mission and goals of the partnering organizations.

Third, the best collaborations take place when the skills and strengths of the participants do not replicate each other, but rather complement each other. In other words, work with organizations that have strengths in areas in which you may have perceived weaknesses.

Rule Number 2: All collaborations are not good collaborations. Be deliberative in your thinking and decision making process as you consider who the ideal partners for the collaboration might be. Make sure that you have clarity in your thinking process and that you get suggestions from the partnering organizations along the way to ensure their buy-in and support of the project.
Wealth Seminar To Be Offered in Beachwood, Ohio

The Seminar is entitled, "Wealth Beyond Measure". It will take place January 19, 2008, Saturday, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. The location is the Embassy Suites Hotel, located at 3775 Park East Blvd. Beachwood, Ohio 44122.

It's all set and ready to go. At last a seminar designed to help people achieve financial independence and start living their dream.

Matt Bacak, multi millionaire internet marketer will be there to show people how he became a multi- millionaire on the internet.

Matt's program is designed to help small business owners achieve great success by building a list of customers that they can sell to over and over again.

Matt will also show small business owners how to establish joint venture opportunities and create an abundance of cash.

Do you want to market your business on the internet? Great!! Matt's got the answer.

With the upcoming new year everyone will be ready to set new year's resolutions. Well I say don't set new year's resolutions, set goals instead. I will demonstrate, "The Power Of A Written Goal", and how the goal setting process can help you achieve the things in life you truly want and help you develop razor like focus.

You will understand how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

Establish balance by setting goals in all six areas of life, which include the mental, physical, spiritual, social, career, and the family.

Only 3% of the people in the world have written goals and they are by far the most successful.

Also speaking will be Joyce Hamilton Johnson the CEO of KAF, Kingdom Authority Financials. Joyce holds an Associates degree in accounting from Cuyahoga Community College. As well as a masters degree in Business Administration from Wesleyan University. You will begin to understand how to take back your rightful wealth utilizing kingdom principles. KAF also provides services which include financial planning and financial counseling.

The contact for this wealth seminar is: Mel Richardson, and he can be reached at 216-956-3640.
Dear Dr. House

Bessie,

This looks very good---thanks for putting me on the list-I'm sharing with some business colleagues-as well as VP Ed Marshall.

Charles R. Bantz
Chancellor - Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis
Executive Vice President, Indiana University

Dear Charles:

It was such a pleasure to get your lovely note. I want to thank you so much for inviting me, Monroe Little, and the other new public scholars to participate in your Diversity Cabinet Meeting a few weeks ago. It was a true honor for us to meet with you and the cabinet members to discuss ways in which we can jointly work to develop more civic engagement opportunities and promote closer ties between Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis and the business and civic communities in this great city. I am delighted to be a part of the IUPUI team. Thanks also for passing our Entrepreneurial Alternatives Newsletter on to other colleagues at the university.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Bessie House

Bessie,

Much congratulations. A distinct honor.

All best wishes.

Juliet.

Juliet E.K. Walker, Ph.d.
Professor of History
Founder and Director
Center for Black Business History
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas

Dear Juliet:

I hope that you are doing well and that you had a wonderful semester at the University of Texas at Austin. I want to thank you so much for your recent letter of congratulations regarding my speech and award from Tuskegee University. It was a wonderful opportunity and I felt humbled by the award. I want to thank you so much for your tremendous support of our efforts through the years. I truly enjoyed the spectacular documentary that you were a part of titled, "Where Wealth Lives". I must say that you were simply outstanding in your sections of the documentary where you discussed both African and African American involvement in business and commercial activities. You are truly the foremost expert and scholar on the history of Black business in America! I will be using this documentary in a class I will teach at IUPUI next semester on "Minority Entrepreneurship." We will also be using parts of your award-winning book on the History of Black Businesses in America."

Best wishes for a great holiday season and my husband also said to tell you hello.

Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Bessie House

Hello Dr. House:

May I belatedly congratulate you on your new positions at Indianapolis. I wish to also congratulate you for the two awards. Yes, you deserve all the accolades. You have and continue to uplift the lives of many directly or indirectly. I'm proud to have met you. In my last communication, I did inform you that our institution has been accorded interim accreditation by the Kenyan Government to be an independent university. We now have admitted our first undergraduate students (250 of them). They are either pursuing BCom or BScit. We have also moved ahead and established an Entrepreneurship Center very much in its' infant stages. I shall soon be requesting for some sort of formal linkage between this center and your center. I'm trying to convince my governing council for this formal linkage.

I will be presenting a conference paper on the Kenyan entrepreneurship at ARNOVA in Atlanta on 11/15/07. I shall contact you by phone in Atlanta.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Daniel Musungu Oruoch
Vice Chancellor Designate
Kenyatta College of Accountancy University
Kenya, East Africa

Dear Dr. Oruoch:

Thanks so much for your warm letter of congratulations and for updating me on your progress in establishing an Entrepreneurial Center at the Kenyan College of Accountancy in East Africa. We would be delighted to have a formal linkage between your Entrepreneurial Center and the National Center for Entrepreneurship which I created. As you know, the NCE is a national, international, and regional collaboration of business centers which use my very successful model of applied entrepreneurship. As you also know, much of my earlier field work and earlier publications, ie. books and articles, focused on economic and political development in Kenya. I look forward to coming back to Kenya in the future to work with you first hand as you seek to build and enhance entrepreneurial capacity in East Africa.

I will not be able to meet with your colleague in December as you had planned. I understand that you wish for her to tour our centers and learn more about our model. I will get in touch with you with a more suitable time for me in early 2008. We look forward to this great opportunity to develop a collaboration with your university.

Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Bessie House

President, Founder, and CEO
National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

Director, Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland

Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Professor of Political Science
Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies, Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis

Quick Links
# NCE
# E-Academy
# B. House Communications, Inc.
# The Dr. House Minority Business Blog

In Closing
Finally, we at the National Center for Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland want to make a call out to any former student of our Centers. If you move or have some other method of contact, please notify us! We love hearing about your new businesses, business plans, and any other successes that you might be experiencing. If you could send us a recent photograph and a small description of your success, we will include them in one of our upcoming editions of Entrepreneurial Alternatives.

Our demand pull is high, and we cannot conceivably get everything that we would like done without your aid. We are looking for volunteers for both of our centers. If you are interested in volunteering for us, please call our Cleveland center at 216.280-8081.

There are individuals in our class that we have not heard from since they stopped attending; keep in touch! Contact information is at the bottom of this blog.

Dr. Bessie House
Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
Professor of Political Science
Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies

Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis
425 University Blvd.
Cavanaugh Hall Room 504 A
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5140

Email: minoritybusinesses@gmail.com
phone: 216-280-8081
web: http://www.eacademy.biz

December 4th Blog

Greetings!

Sincerest Greetings to each of you! I am absolutely delighted to present you with the 27th issue of our Entrepreneurial Alternatives Newsletter. Our theme for this edition is gratitude. As we approach this holiday season, my heart is filled with joy over the numerous letters, emails, phone calls, and many other acts of encouragement and support that we continue to receive. We are overcome with happiness. We have found out that we have many supporters in near and far places around the globe and we are happy to continue to develop professional relationships and alliances that help us to promote more understanding and mutual respect and support mechanisms across time and space.

For those of you who have sent so many wonderful notes to my personal email address or to our gmail address for the newsletter, do not despair, I am working my way through each of them and am trying to respond to them individually. Please, bear with me as I have not forgotten about you. As many of you know by know, I am firmly entrenched in my new role as Public Scholar at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis and I can honestly say that I feel truly energized in this position. All of my colleagues over here have been extremely warm and gracious and I appreciate that very much.

In this edition, we conclude our discussion of the 10 personality characteristics of highly successful entrepreneurs; share information with you about my recent keynote speech at Tuskegee University where I was presented with a beautiful plaque award; provide reflections on my role as Public Scholar at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis; and present you with our Dear Dr. House letters for the week which come from Tuskegee University in Alabama; Chur, Switzerland; and Chicago, Illinois.

Quotes of the Week

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

-----John Quincy Adams-

"Always do what you say you are going to do. It is the glue and fiber that binds successful relationships. "

---Jeffrey A. Timmons---


The Ten Personality Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs, Parts 6-10 (of 10)
by Dr. Bessie House

Personality Characteristic Numbers Six-Ten: The following information is an excerpt from Dr. House's fourth book, "The Ten Personality Characteristic of Successful Entrepreneurs." This book is based on research findings of Dr. House's in which she examined the lives of hundreds of entrepreneurs and was able to isolate and identify ten personality traits that they shared in common which contributed to their ability to achieve entrepreneurial success).

Characteristics Number 6: Creativity

By creativity, I don't just mean developing goods or services, but rather bringing in some new twist that makes the product or service uniquely different in some way. A new millionaire is created every day in this country, and the reality is that there are so many areas of the marketplace that still have not been penetrated. But, creativity has another meaning as well: It means that you have the ability to see the big picture as well.

Characteristic Number 7: Risktaking

In order to be an entrepreneur, you must be willing to take risks. There are simply no guarantees in the world of business. Remember that when Michael Dell dropped out of college in the 1970s to start his computer company, he discussed his ideas and vision with his parents and when he finished speaking, his mother looked at him and said, "But Michael, why in the world would anyone ever want to buy a computer?" The rest is history.

Characteristics Number 8: Effective Management

Business owners must manage their own time effectively and their employees' time as well. It is not always how much time you have, but rather how effectively you use it to do the work and delegate tasks in a responsible manner.

Characteristic Number 9: Strong Work Ethic

In order to be successful in business, you have to work long hard hours to succeed and sometimes it can take years for a business to become a profitable enterprise.

Characteristic Number 10: Passion

The results of my data indicate that entrepreneurs who are very happy in their chosen profession as entrepreneurs are more successful than those who are not. This is intuitive and is certainly born out by my research.

If you would like a copy of Dr. House's audiobook, please e-mail minoritybusinesses@gmail.com for instructions on how to purchase a copy.
Dr. House Presents Keynote Speech at Tuskegee University and Receives Plaque Award

Dr. Bessie House recently presented the keynote speech at the Twelfth Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit held at Tuskegee University, October 3-5, 2007. The theme for this year's conference was "Asset Building and Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities and Best Practices, Programs, and Initiatives." The topic of Dr.House's keynote speech was "Prerequisites for Black Business Success in the New Economy of the 21st Century. In her speech, Dr. House discussed practical and insightful strategies that entrepreneurs can use to achieve economic success.

The idea of having the summit developed out of a major conference that Tuskegee University held in 1995 to celebrate the centennial of Booker T. Washington's famous address presented at the International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia in 1895. Washington and his supporters argued that economic independence is vital for African Americans to be able to participate equitably in American society. Dr. House was also presented with a plaque award at the event from Dr. Velma Blackwell, Chairperson of the Booker T. Washington Economic Summit.
Reflections on Dr. House's Role as Public Scholar

The term public scholar refers to an individual who is able to bridge the gap between academic institutions of higher learning and the real world. Public scholars are professors who perform teaching and research but they also add an additional unique dimension which is working with the larger world community in the real world which is often located beyond the mere confines and boundaries of the academic ivory towers.

When I first started out as a professor in academia almost 20 years ago, I was performing the traditional role of a faculty member which was to perform research and teach students at the university. I was also performing research for research's sake to get tenure. I had no desire to connect with individuals outside of my discipline, so to speak. Then, somewhere along the way, around 1995, I underwent a metamorphosis where I began to perform interdisciplinary research to solve real world problems. It was a major paradigmatic shift for me and I have never been happier. As I have said before, "the role of an academic at institutions of higher learning is to produce and disseminate knowledge that can be used to solve real world problems." That is why my work on entrepreneurship is so important and vital but it focuses critical attention on many factors that lead to success and failures for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. Being a public scholar allows me to do what I do best, to make critical connections, perform meaningful teaching and research and connect this important work to real world issues, problems, and dynamics. That is truly scholarship at its' best!

Shown left to right in above picture: Dr. Modupe Labode, Public Scholar in African American History and Museum Studies; Dr. Bessie House; Dr. Monroe Little, Chair, African American and African Diaspora Studies Programs; and Dr. Ronda Henry, Public Scholar in African American and African Studies and Undergraduate Research).
Dear Dr. House

Dear Dr. House:

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to you for taking the time from your busy schedule to be our keynote speaker at the Plenary Session of the Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit on Thursday, October 4, 2007. Preliminary evaluations show that your speech was very well received by the audience and highly rated. Your presentation was timely and relevant in helping us to meet the needs and expectations of our participants by giving essential information on business entrepreneurships and how to take advantage of networking opportunities.

Again, many thanks to you, and we indeed look forward to your continued support and involvement in the BTW Economic Development Summit and other Extension initiatives in entrepreneurial research and education in Alabama.

Sincerely,
Dr. Velma L. Blackwell, Chairperson
Booker T. Washington Economic Summit
Tuskegee University

Dear Dr. Blackwell:

Thanks for your lovely letter. It was a great honor for me to present the keynote speech at Tuskegee University, one of our great institutions of higher learning. Tuskegee has such a great legacy with such a wonderful history of the wonderful work of Booker T. Washington, the creative genius of George Washington Carver, and the wonderful legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

I look forward to collaborating with you and Dr. Barahanyi on developing a Center for Rural Entrepreneurship at Tuskegee University and surrounding counties.

Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Bessie House

Dear Bessie -

This is very good news. Please accept my heartfelt congratulations.

Over here, we recognize Purdue as a center of outstanding research and practice in the entrepreneurship field.

I am sorry to hear you can't make it to this year's ABEAI conference in Maui.

- Lutz

Dr, Lutz Schlange
Professor of Business Administration and Marketing
Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship
University of Applied Sciences
Chur, Switzerland

Dear Lutz:

It was simply wonderful to hear from you. Thanks for your lovely note. It has been a long time since we have communicated. I trust that you are doing well and that your semester has been good. It seems that this year continues to go by so quickly, that I can hardly catch my breath. (smile) Thanks so much for your congratulatory remarks on my new position at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis. Yes, Purdue has quite a great reputation and as you mentioned, they have a very well established and renowned entrepreneurship program.

Yes, unfortunately I will not be able to attend the International Applied Business Conference this year in Maui as I had hoped as I have been so busy getting used to my new post over here. I had really hoped to present a paper on technological innovation and the process that I underwent in going from idea to patent to prototype development to venture creation to commercialization. I may have mentioned to you that I have a patent pending with the U.S. patent office for an invention that I came up with several years ago. I am currently working on commercializing my invention. It has been a very expensive and exhausting process, but I am working with some very talented individuals on this project at the moment. I look forward to presenting my paper at next year's conference.

Es freute mich sie kennen zu lernen and ich werde mehr von ihnen zu horen.

Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Bessie House

Hello Dr. House -

Congratulations, on your new position!! I hope you and your family had a smooth transition to Indiana. I'm still working at the University of Chicago, but preparing to enter a doctoral program in Community/Social Psychology. When time permits let's plan a brief chat to catch-up

Best Wishes,
Ranada T. Harrison
Senior Research Assistant/Field Researcher
University of Chicago
School of Social Service Administration

Dear Ranada:

It was absolutely wonderful to hear from you and thanks for your warm congratulatory remarks. I am absolutely delighted to hear the great news that you will soon be enrolled in the Ph.D. program. What a great experience it will be for you. I enjoyed our last meeting at Kent State a few years ago.

I am settling in quite well over here in Indianapolis and all of my colleagues have given me a great hoosier welcome. Hopefully, you and I can have lunch next year in 2008 when I come to Chicago to see the off Broadway production of the Color Purple.

I will give you a call once our final exams are over and we can chat more.

Warmest Regards,
Dr. Bessie House,

President, Founder, and CEO
National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

Director, Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland
Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Professor, Political Science
Professor, African American and African Diaspora Studies
Quick Links
# NCE
# E-Academy
# B. House Communications, Inc.
# The Dr. House Minority Business Blog

In Closing
Finally, we at the National Center for Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland want to make a call out to any former student of our Centers. If you move or have some other method of contact, please notify us! We love hearing about your new businesses, business plans, and any other successes that you might be experiencing. If you could send us a recent photograph and a small description of your success, we will include them in one of our upcoming editions of Entrepreneurial Alternatives.

Our demand pull is high, and we cannot conceivably get everything that we would like done without your aid. We are looking for volunteers for both of our centers. If you are interested in volunteering for us, please call our Cleveland center at 216.731.4426.

There are individuals in our class that we have not heard from since they stopped attending; keep in touch! Contact information is at the bottom of this blog.

Dr. Bessie House
Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
Professor of Political Science
Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies

Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis
425 University Blvd.
Cavanaugh Hall Room 504 A
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5140

Email: minoritybusinesses@gmail.com
phone: 216-731-4426
web: http://www.eacademy.biz

October 29th Blog

Greetings!

I am absolutely delighted to present you with our 26th issue of Entrepreneurial Alternatives Newsletter. I send you warm greetings from Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis, where I now hold the position of Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship. For the past few weeks, I have been getting adjusted to my new environment in the great city of Indianapolis, home of the Indianapolis 500 and the super bowl championship team, the Indianapolis Colts. So far, all of my new colleagues have given me a great Hoosier welcome! We continue to get numerous phone calls and emails at our entrepreneurial training centers. The National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., is still located in greater Cleveland as is the Entrepreneurial Academy. My new email address in Indiana is beshouse@iupui.edu and the phone number for our Cleveland offices is 216-731-4426.

Our theme for this edition is change. All around us the world is changing and we cannot stand idly by. As Sylvia Robinson once wrote, "Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong. Sometimes it's letting go." So, we must be willing to embrace change if we are going to move to the next level, even if this change takes us into new, unchartered territories. We must also adjust our sails to respond to the new dynamics and demands of the 21st century global economy and all that this entails.

In this edition, we present the 5th personality characteristic of highly successful entrepreneurs; present information about my new position at IUPUI and new contact information for me; provide information about the new International Award that I received from the International Black Women's Congress; and provide our Dear Dr. House-Soremekun letters for the week.

Quotes of the Week

"There has never been a statue erected to the memory of someone who let well enough alone."

--Jules Ellinger

The Ten Personality Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs, Part 5 (of 10)
by Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun

Personality Characteristic Number Five: Frugality

The following information is an excerpt from Dr. House-Soremekun's fourth book, "The Ten Personality Characteristic of Successful Entrepreneurs." This book is based on research findings of Dr. House-Soremekun's in which she examined the lives of hundreds of entrepreneurs and was able to isolate and identify ten personality traits that they shared in common which contributed to their ability to achieve entrepreneurial success).

Frugality refers to the art of being able to sacrifice short-term gains for long term benefits. Many people are simply not able to do this. For some people, this may involve a major paradigm shift. This personality characteristic is particularly problematic for African American people because of our history. We have moved forward out of slavery, but for so long, many economic and political rewards have been denied to us. Some of us are still waiting for our forty acres and our mule.

If you are the type of person who has to have quick riches, entrepreneurship is not for you. Entrepreneurship is like being on a roller coaster ride, especially in the early stages. Few African Americans inherit multimillion dollar enterprises from their parents and sometimes it may take years to develop your business into a profitable enterprise. You must save more and spend less and be frugal as you start and expand your business operation.

If you would like a copy of Dr. House-Soremekun's audiobook, please e-mail minoritybusinesses@gmail.com for instructions on how to purchase a copy.
Dr. House-Soremekun Receives Prestigious International Award

Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun was the recent recipient of the prestigious Oni Award from the International Black Women's Congress on September 22, 2007 at their annual conference held in Portsmouth, Virginia. According to the leadership of the International Black Women's Congress, "The Oni Award symbolizes the essence of all that is good in African people. The word ONI is taken from the Ife culture of Nigeria. It represents a spiritual force that protects the people. A recipient of the Oni Award has been identified as someone who protects, defends, and enhances the general well-being of African people. A recipient of the ONI is diligent, persistent, and noncompromising. We like to think of her as our unsung heroine. With the creation of the Oni Award, the International Black Women's Congress salutes those women in our communities who keep on working on behalf of African people. They are truly committed. Their vision is clear."

Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun is the Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship at Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI), where she holds dual Full Professorships in both the Department of Political Science and the African American and African Diaspora Studies Programs in the School of Liberal Arts. Her research and publications have focused both on African political and economic development processes as well as African American economic development and entrepreneurship. She is a nationally recognized leader, advocate, and expert on entrepreneurship and economic development. She is also an award-winning author, entrepreneur, and inventor. She is the President, Founder, and CEO of the National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., whose main objective is to promote entrepreneurial efficacy and economic growth all across this country. According to Dr. House-Soremekun, "the role of a scholar at an institution of higher learning is to produce and disseminate knowledge that can be used to solve real world problems. I am deeply honored to be the recipient of this wonderful award and am delighted that my research and outreach activities under the umbrella of my entrepreneurial training centers have led to the creation of more than 51 new business start-up companies by people of African descent in recent years. "
Dear Dr. House-Soremekun

Dr. House-Soremekun -

Congratulations on your new appointment. Hopefully, you'll enjoy your stay in Indianapolis.

Have a pleasant weekend,

Dr. Kwaku Obosu-Mensah
Lorain County Community College

Dr. House-Soremekun -

Congratulations.

You receiving your new position is great!! I wish you all the best. It was a great pleasure to work with you. I learned so much from that experience. I'm very pleased just to have known a great African-American woman like you.

Much love to all your accomplishments in the future, I know you will have many many more, as this is only half time for you!!!!

-Bethany Green

Dr. House-Soremekun,

Congratulations! I wish you the best in your future endeavors. I wish I had had the opportunity to work with you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Necia Boone,
Olde Northfield Township Bicentennial Committee

Dr. House-Soremekun:

Congratulations on both your new position and receiving the first Marcus Garvey award. I'm planning to attend the International Business Conference, maybe we will have a chance to talk.

Evelyn Y Cleveland
Ohio Department of Development

Bessie -

Congratulations, and I am quite proud of you and hope you will keep me on the mailing list when you relocate to Indianapolis.

Love always,

Jeaneen Mcdaniels

Dr. House-Soremekun -

I read all of the news about you from so many colleagues who appreciate all that you have done for Kent State and the community. And I read, with delight, your account of your new position at IU-Purdue University. It sounds fantastic. I wish you & your family great happiness in your new home.

Abracos,
Dr. Doris J. Turner,
Kent State University,
Modern and Classical Language Studies

Dear Dr. Obusu-Mensah and others:

Thanks for your kind words and your notes of congratulations on my new job in Indiana. I am looking forward to becoming a Hoosier and, in my spare time, attending some of the football games of the Super Bowl Championship team, the Indianapolis Colts.

Hope your summer is going well.

All the best,

Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun
President, Founder, and CEO
National Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

Director
Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland

Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

Professor, Political Science
Professor, African American and African Diaspora Studies
Quick Links
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In Closing
Finally, we at the National Center for Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurial Academy of Greater Cleveland want to make a call out to any former student of our Centers. If you move or have some other method of contact, please notify us! We love hearing about your new businesses, business plans, and any other successes that you might be experiencing. If you could send us a recent photograph and a small description of your success, we will include them in one of our upcoming editions of Entrepreneurial Alternatives.

Our demand pull is high, and we cannot conceivably get everything that we would like done without your aid. We are looking for volunteers for both of our centers. If you are interested in volunteering for us, please call our Cleveland center at 216.731.4426.

There are individuals in our class that we have not heard from since they stopped attending; keep in touch! Contact information is at the bottom of this blog.

Dr. Bessie House-Soremekun
Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship
Professor of Political Science
Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies

Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis
425 University Blvd.
Cavanaugh Hall Room 504 A
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5140

Email: minoritybusinesses@gmail.com
phone: 216-731-4426
web: http://www.eacademy.biz