Is Diversity Good for Business?

The Gherkin, London

The Voice Online reports that the Lord Mayor of London warned that the city risks falling behind its competitors if it fails to embrace diversity in its business culture.  

Click here to read her comments.  Apparently, Fiona  Woolf is only the second female Lord Mayor since 1189.  She was speaking at the launch of the Power of Diversity programme.

So remember that the next time you sit through a presentation by a team made up entirely of white men - as I did last night.  There is a business case for diversity.  Or, to put it another way, diversity is good for business.  

What do you think?  Is there enough diversity in London and UK businesses?  If not, why not?  And is there a business case for increasing diversity?  Please leave your comments below.  

And click here for my Black Success audios.  Click here for more advice from Black business experts.  Because positive representation is important to me.


Here's to your success! 

Social Media Strategy: Revamp Your Online Marketing

Melinda Emerson is someone who is always hot on ways to build your business.  For my interview with her, see below.  

In Tonya R. Taylor's latest blog, Tonya shares valuable tips and powerful social media strategy ideas.  Did you know that you can use social media to research a product or niche?

Click here to read more.

Plus click here for my interview with Tonya R. Taylor.

And for more social media strategies, see How to Get 16,000+ Twitter Followers.  Find out how Melinda Emerson tweeted her way to a bestselling book.

Here's to your success!

Soul Survivors: Slave Narratives

In the light of 12 Years a Slave, I have re-purposed this blog.  

Soul Survivors is a collection of what are commonly termed "slave narratives".  

Like Solomon Northrup, the author of 12 Years a Slave, many of the authors were descended from people who had been born free in the United States but kidnapped and sold into enslavement; and several had been freed by their owners but still found themselves enslaved and sold.  

One woman even took her owner to court to sue for her freedom and won. 

What is unique about this collection, edited by Marcia Williams, is that it contains only narratives by women.

The stories in Soul Survivors cover a wide historical range, from the Revolutionary War in 1776 to the end of the American Civil War in 1865 and beyond.

This collection also contains Incidents from the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs, which many of us have already read as a separate volume. This is one of the rare texts which portray the sexual harassment and abuse which enslaved African women and young people must have commonly experienced.
 
Click here for details of, and a short film based on, my choreopoem, Harriet, which examines the life of Harriet Jacobs.

Jacobs shares her own experiences as a way of depicting the immorality that was inflicted upon enslaved women, and to which they were often forced to submit. I can't help thinking that many women probably did not write of these experiences, either because of embarassment or because they feared being labelled "immoral" or "loose" themselves.

African American women, during and after enslavement, were often at pains to prove that they were not sexually "immoral" because our women were commonly labelled as such by their enslavers, who used this as a justification for raping or prostituting African American girls and women.

Jacobs describes having to hide in a small attic for seven years to escape from her libidinous 'owner' who was so obsessed with her that he scoured the country trying to track her down. She also depicts how, prior to her escape, her white mistress heaped scorn and abuse on her and other enslaved women because of her husband's licentious behaviour and her own intense sexual jealousy.

Many of the women describe the horrendous physical abuse, including beatings, whippings and heavy labour, that they continually experienced.  Many of these personal histories were recorded in order to support the abolitionist cause.

In fact, one of the authors, Mary Prince from the Caribbean, states, "I am often much vexed and I feel great sorrow when I hear some people say that slaves ... do not need better usage and do not want to be free. They believe the foreign people who deceive them and say slaves are happy". She continues, "There is no modesty or decency shown by the owner to his slaves".

The authors all describe their great sorrow and grief at having been sold away from their own children, partners, parents, brothers and sisters, and their attempts to reunite with their family members. They also relate the enslaved African people's constant attempts to gain their freedom by any means necessary, either through escape or through purchasing their own or their children's freedom, sometimes saving up for years in order to do so. 

My one criticism of this collection is that it could have done with better editing. There are no historical or bibliographic notes or indications as to the sources of these narratives. The table of contents does not even contain page numbers. The narratives sometimes jump around in time and I found this confusing. 

Having said that, Soul Survivors is an important addition to any collection of African diasporic history. 

Click here to order Soul Survivors.

Black Success: How to Grow Your Customer Base

Richelle Shaw 

Richelle Shaw is a brilliant African American business expert who built a million-dollar business partly by using her existing customers to build her customer base.  

Richelle is the author of The Million Dollar Equation.  In the audio below, I talk about some of the things I learned from Richelle Shaw, and about how you can grow your customer base.  

If you would like to ask me a question, please post it in the comments section below.  

Success Strategies for Black People  

Success Strategies for Black People on Facebook 

Click here for details of how how you can win a free business consultation with Zhana. 

Click here for more Black Success audios with Zhana. 

New Books Internet Radio with Zhana21 on BlogTalkRadio

Film Review: Long Walk to Freedom

Idris Elba as Mandela

I recently saw the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, loosely based on Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.

Mandela was obviously a world-renowned figure, but there was a time when he was all but forgotten. In the wake of Mandela's recent passing, this film celebrates his life and his contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle.  

Long Walk to Freedom is a true African story of the heartbreak and devastation caused by the apartheid system, two people caught up in the fight against apartheid, and Mandela's long struggle which ended in triumph. 

Black Success: How to Build a Successful Online Business

Tonya R, Taylor

How can you start and build a successful online business?  
How can you tell if your social media strategy is working for you?   

How can Black business owners get fast results in creating an online presence?  

I was joined by online business specialist Tonya R. Taylor, founder of SavvyBizBuilder.com

Tonya is known as the “Savvy Online Business Builder” for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners who need more time to focus on running their six figure business and want fast, proven results ensuring potential customers can find them online. She believes without traffic, what’s the point of having a website to begin with!  

Listen to the audio below for Tonya's suggestions about how to build a successful online business.  

SavvyBizBuilder.com 

Click here for more Black Success audios.

Plus click here for details of how you can win a FREE Black business consultation with Zhana worth $300 (£200).  

Discover Books Internet Radio with Zhana21 on BlogTalkRadio

Win a FREE Black Business Consultation

Are you a Black business owner?  Are you a start-up, a budding entrepreneur and/or in need of help or advice on growing your business?  If so, you could win a FREE business consultation worth $300 (£200). 

Click here for details of how to enter the competition to win a FREE consultation on how to grow your Black-owned business.  

Black Success: How to Attract a Steady Stream of Customers

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of customers who want and need what your business is offering. 

We often get distracted by silly things.  But when we focus, we can come up with a never-ending stream of creative ideas and strategies to have customers banging on our doors. 

Please listen to the short audio below to find ways to grow your business.   

If you would like to ask me a question about how to grow your business, please post it in the comments section below.   

Click here for more Black Success audios.  

Current Books Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Zhana21 on BlogTalkRadio

12 Hot, High-Paying Jobs to Look Forward To In 2014

The new year can be a great time to look for work.  

Want to find a new job or a new career?  Click here for my Online Jobsearch Resources.  I have links to loads of articles and other resources, including 


12 Hot, High-Paying Jobs to Look Forward To In 2014.  

Plus click here for lots more help with your job search. 

Here's to your success!  

Orin's Worldwide Abundance Meditation

If you have been reading my articles and blogs, you will know that I have used and recommended the work of Orin and DaBen for many years.

They have recently posted new guided meditations, including this one for abundance. Click here to download it now.  

This audio helps us to open up to receive new ideas, creativity, and energies of abundance.  

We can use the energies of the universe to eliminate blocks and obstacles, and bring us new inspiration which we can share with anyone on the planet who is ready for it.

Click here for information on Orin and DaBen, and lots more free downloads.

See also:  Change Scarcity to Abundance.

Please share this with your networks, and leave your comments below.  Thanks. 

Here's to your success!