Yesterday, I interviewed Alfred Edmond, Jr., the Senior Vice President and Editor-At-Large of Black Enterprise Magazine. Alfred and I have Tweeted each other on occasion since our paths first crossed when this blog was recognized as one of the Black Blogosphere's Best. Alfred's team invited me to interview him about issues facing entrepreneurs today. I jumped at the chance — you know I did.
I jumped even higher when I was told that in exchange for the interview, I could win a trip to the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs' Conference in Chicago in May 2012 if I got the most comments on my post. (So you know what I'm going to ask you to do.) But first, I'm going to treat you to Alfred's special insights.
Enjoy the conversation, and then scroll to the bottom and leave a comment at the blog to help me win the trip! (Please do not leave a FaceBook comment as they do not count for my entry. Thanks for helping an Indie Sister out!)
Interview Outline
- The “creative economy” (1:15)
- How small and micro-businesses can and should participate in the political process (2:26)
- How Alfred personally embraces new media and digital technology (relationships vs. transactions) (4:40)
- The importance of building your personal brand (6:39)
- Alfred's physical fitness advice (you are your most important asset!) (8:00)
Interview Resources
Alfred and I discussed the following resources in this interview:
- Black Enterprise Entrepreneur's Conference register by March 31 and save $200!
- Alfred Edmond, Jr., on Twitter
- Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Dawn Fitch of Pooka Pure & Simple on Twitter
- The Indie Beauty Network
Help Me Win The Trip!
OK, Indies! I've never asked you to do this before. I've been saving the privilege up for something I really want, and this is it!
Won't you please leave a comment in the comment section (not the FaceBook section) so I can have a good chance to win a trip to the Black Enterprise Entrepreneur's Conference. I promise I'll blog stuff you'll enjoy every day I'm there, and I'll bring you some fun videos and interviews to help you grow your business.
Please comment about anything Alfred shared: social media, health and fitness, personal branding, the creative economy …
I appreciate it! (I have also posted this super interview at Indie Social, so you can watch and leave a comment there too!)
Question: What in my interview with Alfred resonated the most with you?
This was a wonderful interview. I especially enjoyed Alfred’s comments about the importance of building a strong and healthy mind, body and spirit. In today’s fast-paced and hectic business schedule, it’s important that we invest in ourselves as business owners. The B.E. conference in Chicago in May is very appealing. I just visited the conference website page and I’m interested in attending.
He did mention the importance of being well-rounded. What good is physical fitness if we don’t have a healthy mindset? What good is a healthy mindset if the spirit is dying? What good is any of it if you’re dead? So, full circle. Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Marlon.
Great interview! I love Alfred talks about fitness and makes it a priority in his life.
Yes, and I see you doing the same. It inspires me, and so does lots of stuff I see you say and do.
Listen, respond and serve. Great advice.
So succinct. A great reminder about how we can get out of our own way — really!
Listen, respond, SERVE…as in customer SERVice. That’s where Indies can really shine. Great advice!
So true, this is our leverage!
What a great interview. I learned more than a couple of things. I loved his Listen, Respond and Serve comment. I also really understand now why it is important to be politically involved if you are a business owner. I immediately looked up when the next community board meeting is in my district so I can start making a presence. His words were powerful, your questions were on point and I am thankful to be a part of this industry!
Thanks Melissa. I love Alfred’s mix of friendly personality and business presence.
Great interview. It is indeed important for small businesses to take part in the political process.
Relationships are where it is all at. Every successful (big) businessperson I’ve ever listened to and/or read has said that listening to the customer is where it starts. Great interview, dM!
I have to agree with Angela, the Listen respond and serve really was highlighted for me.
What a nice and inspiring interview on our daily life. thanks for sharing it with me. Fitness is one we must have to give preference.
I didn’t realize the largest growing segment of entrepreneurs was black females. That’s awesome! Love that there are resources to help.
What an incredible interview! Great points and thoughts, I think that listening is such an important part of life and as being an entrepreneur!
I love what he was saying about keeping an entrepreneurial mindset! Such a great concept.
So glad to hear that Alfred recommends “The Thank You Economy”…it’s one of my favorite business books. And I love that Dawn of Pookalita (whom I adore) is held up as a positive example of small businesses using social media. Great interview dM!
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
This was a wonderful interview. I enjoyed listening to the part about social media’s impact upon small businesses. It truly isn’t just about the sell but about building respectful and caring relationships. As my colleague and I get ready to launch our business for literacy, I will use this interview along with the suggested resources to further the mission of our business. Blessings to you my friend!
Great interview Donna! I appreciate what Alfred said about the message change in social media to be “listen,respond & serve” our customers. I feel this is how we can impact on our customer relationships and grow our business. Thank you Donna!
Donna: I am reading The Thank You Economy right now. It sounds that Alex is touching on the main idea of Linchpin by Seth Godin with his statement: “entrepreneurial mind.”
I agree with Anita Campbell that you should put focus your health, it is a matter of mind and spirit. Personally, I will book time with a personal trainer in the near future. You have to invest time and energy in yourself as a valuable personal asset! 🙂 Have you read the 4 Hour Body by Tim Ferriss?Btw: Alfred is wearing a very cool bowtie! 🙂
Hi Donna! I wish more coaches and others focused on the need to take good care of yourself physically, as Mr. Edmond talks about at the end. It’s like old saying about being so busy working IN your business, you don’t work ON it. Same goes for yourself as the business owner — don’t be so busy working that you don’t work on yourself!
– Anita
Great interview with lots of food for thought & agree with Anita, taking care of yourself should be more of a focus for coaches. Well done to Alfred for giving it the attention it deserves.
I have to agree with Marge here. “I love the emphasis on relationships (not just transactions) with our customers. “Listen, respond and Serve”…” Trust is incredibly important in business and elsewhere in life. If you build a relationship with your customers, you’re also building trust. And when people trust you, they’ll do business with you – but they’ll also generate a lot of positive word of mouth for you as well. And in business as in life, your reputation can make or break you.
You are such an inspiration, so encouraging, personable & generous. You a powerful interviewer, dM. It is who you interview, how you interview & how you share it. Alfred’s message was clear & articulate.Listen, Respond & Serve, Make your own brand & Personal health & fitness are so key business & life.
Thank you for your generous efforts in constructing this Blog & sharing with everyone. It looks great, I really like the colors you have used. I was extremely happy to locate this blog. I certainly appreciated every little bit of it and I’ve gain more knowledge and good information from your post thanks.
Wonderful, well-rounded interview! Who knew to make sure you incorporate fitness and health into your business practics? It all makes sense. I have to admit, I feel and operate my best when I’m at my healthiest (mentally and physically). Invest in yourself and others will invest in you!
Thank you dear brother! You are a great example of self-investment and how what goes around comes around in that regard. Thanks for your input!
I enjoyed this interview. I too really like the stressing of Listen-Respond-Serve. It definitly re-enforced my main belief of the unique benefits of handcrafters, whether cosmetics and skincare or jewelry and clothes makers. As small and micro indies, we have that ability -right then- for our customers, without any walls and several layers of nay-sayers bewtween us and them.
What a great interview! I really enjoyed it and am glad I had the chance to watch the video. The words that really resonated with me are Listen, Respond and Serve. I think those are words to live by in our personal and business lives!
Listen, Respond, Serve is definitely the take-home message. The other point that resonated was that if you are not engaged in the legislative process concerning your business needs, you are not really in business. I actually had to rewind and play that again! It is really true that we can’t afford to ignore all that is going on politically concerning small business legislation. I’m not a political person and I avoid all the online fist-fights, but I do read the documents and sign petitions where my interests are involved. We do have to stay up-to-date and make our voices heard.
What a great interview. As always, dM provides such inspiring information.
Nice job the fitness portion I found to very truthful, I am an asset. Good luck enjoy the conference.
Great video! Thank you for all of the great content, guidance, community and support you provide to us as we begin and grow our handmade businesses. Thank you for always advocating for us! 🙂
The Structure and content covered in the short amount of time was exceptionally informative — However, the Listen, Respond and Serving Customers model was one of the high points second to a lifestyle of physically caring for our greatest asset-
OUSTANDING INTERVIEW!
This inspiring interview validates the idea that the health of the economy depends on small businesses to help create jobs. The listen, respond, and serve model is very powerful. Thanks to Donna Maria for understanding the special needs of the micro-business when it comes to regulatory issues. You have our collective backs!
Thanks for a thought provoking interview–especially the point about all successful entrepreneurs being involved in the political process. I don’t think I’ve heard it put quite that way before.
Donna, hope you win the trip. You’re doing more for entrepreneurs than any one individual I know in any sector.
I enjoyed this interview. My “take away” from this interview was that you need to listen, respond, and serve your customer (external & internal). The other was you are your greatest asset. This is true for business and home. Thank you for such a great interview!
Thanks on an felt invoking interview–especially the level concerning every effective owners being linked to your daily political handle. I do not think I’ve heard this can threw so which method before.