Lots to do when you are risking everything you’ve done up to this point to go off on your own. In addition to forcing myself to writing these, I keep myself busy with a vast myriad of other things that just might be a little important for me to succeed: I am working with a web developer, getting some more government and tax forms filled out and sent in, working on recruiting a bit and then I started down the rabbit hole that encompassed much of my afternoon….
What Resources are Available to Minorities Starting Their Own Businesses?
Being Native American, I was told growing up that I was eligible for free education, healthcare and money from casinos and — in all actuality I received nothing. I was supposed to, I think, but tribal governments are poorly ran and corrupt and that’s all you really have to say about that. Very sad. Anyways, just on a whim I just started looking at what could there even be available for people in my situation.
Not expecting much, I start looking and I see plenty of diversity and inclusion stuff, names of marginalized groups, MBE, resources for woman, MBE again — yeah this is probably important.
Minority Business Enterprise — I read under it on a particular website and BAM. THATS ME! I am actually included! So I went to the front page and hot dog, I might even qualify???? I found the NMSDC, which is like a matchmaker for minority-owned businesses and other entities. I knew that there was something that some companies have to spend called “diversity spend,” so hey, this could be something, right?
So I’m reading and there’s a process that takes months and it costs money to join and while I can see where this, on paper, could be a really good thing — I am playing devils advocate, it’s my money! There’s a local chapter that has weekly info sessions, which is kinda interesting so I actually signed up… it’s a Zoom, of course. I hate Zoom. That being said, it’s later on in the week and I hope that it provides a good place to start networking. Oh networking, that’s a whole other conversation….