From Reisha's Desk

8(a) Certification?

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:29:29 +0000

This blog entry is in response to a request from a ventureheart.com visitor for my view of 8(a) certification. 8(a) is a certification, http://www.sba.gov/8abd/ provided by the SBA (Small Business Administration), designed to help small disadvantaged businesses compete for federal government contracts. Some federal contracts are an 8(a) set-aside, which means that only 8(a) certified firms may compete for that particular contract. A business may only remain in the 8(a) program for a maximum of nine years.

I have heard of stories where small businesses were really able to leverage the 8(a) certification and launched into successful enterprises because of their 8(a) status. I have also heard of 8(a) businesses that have been in the program for years without obtaining one 8(a) contract. Because of the latter story, I have come to realize that 8(a) is not a clear-cut solution to building a government contracting business like so many believe. Taking the nine year time limit into consideration, I believe that 8(a) is more of an option that should be used strategically, at the right time, and not without forethought.

I do not feel that it is the right time for my business to join the 8(a) program. Once we join, the clock will start ticking on our nine years. Before the timer begins, I feel that we should have several key things in place such as a prior performance record- (something that is required when bidding on a contract) so working with our current customer (Department of Defense), is helping build this record. We should also have experience doing federal bids and proposals on RFPs, RFQs, etc…instead of learning the ropes once the clock starts. Furthermore, we need to get a few other housekeeping items in place, such as organizing our accounting systems according to federal contracting standards and obtaining our facility (security) clearance. I also think that it is important for us to establish a niche, ..

National Minority Supplier Development Council

Tue, 8 Aug 2006 21:21:28 +0000

I promised that I would write about the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) National Conference that I attended last October in Dallas, TX. I have been delinquent in my writing because I have been busy growing my company and doing projects for my friends and family. First, I need to say that if you own a minority business and you should join NMSDC http://www.nmsdc.org . The organization is comprised of Corporate Members (such as Fortune 500 companies) and Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs). The main focus of NMSDC is to encourage the Corporate Members to buy goods and services from the MBEs. NMSDC is also a certifying organization- which means when a Corporate Member is looking for a certified minority business, they will expect you to have a NMSDC certification. My company has been a member for a few years and I have attended seminars, conferences, and matchmaking events sponsored by my local chapter. I have found these events to be very useful for regaining energy as an entrepreneur more so than for landing contracts. However, revitalization is key. I have read that the number one obstacle for entrepreneurs is isolation. The NMSDC events help me overcome that isolation by putting me in touch with other entrepreneurs- where we end up sharing our success stories and lessons learned. The national conference, held annually, is particularly motivating because people attend in mass. I thought I heard that it was larger than the NAACP conference- all that I know is that it is HUGE. It is awe inspiring to see the awards given, when categories go from $1 million in revenue $25 million and above. Bull riding at NMSDC Conference- Dallas, TX Another plus are the social events at the National Conference. At one party during the Dallas convention, they had mechanical bull riding. All ..

The Color Line Online

Fri, 28 Jul 2006 01:24:19 +0000

How crossing the color line plays out online is an interesting topic. In my last blog entry, I focused on crossing the color line in general- per the request of a reader. However, I think it may interesting to explore how interracial dating plays out online. From my personal experience, I have found that I was less likely to consider dating outside of my race online than offline. Speaking from the perspective of a woman, I have two reasons: 1. Online dating is already nerve racking enough. Not only is there the unknown about the other person’s true personality, but there is also the unknown about his background. A lot of what I call “smart” dating online is using sound judgment. What is judgment? I define judgment as making decisions based on past lessons learned or personal experiences. Most of my close relationships and experiences have been with black men- from growing up around them (i.e. my father, my brother, uncles) to dating them. Although I have had relationships (personal and business) with men of many different races, clearly I am most knowledgeable about black men. So, it stands to reason that I am better able to discern when a black man is acting abnormally. One could argue that each man is different regardless of race, which is absolutely correct, however, each culture has particular nuances and I would have a better chance at knowing when something was up with a brotha. 2. It is my opinion that a great deal of men dating online are looking for something “different”. Furthermore, I believe that some of those men are using the internet to hide their exploits for fear of being caught dating someone that others in their immediate circle may find unacceptable. I am not limiting this to race. It could include a man hiding a relationship with a much younger woman, with a woman that has 20 body piercings, etc….whatever he feels may not fit into his world. It is a fact that some may find interracial dating unacce ..

Crossing the Color Line

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 22:25:58 +0000

A visitor to ventureheart.com recently asked my opinion of crossing the color line in dating. She says she loves brothas but is considering a change out of boredom. To her, I say:

I do understand where you are coming from. However, this could be a good or bad move. Good because if you are dissatisfied in your current search then taking a different path might actually lead you to a hidden treasure or confirm that the way you were headed in the first place works best for you. On the other hand, if you just cross the color line to fill in time, you may end up hurting someone that falls for you- and that would create bad karma.

With that said, my general thoughts about crossing the color line vary according to the situation. Some people do it for:

THE WRONG REASONS:

Denial: Dating outside of your race because you do not accept your own- meaning you do not accept yourself.

Validation: Feeling that another race validates you in some way- such as raising your societal status or making you seem more cultured.

(I used to get angry at “deniers” and “validators” but now I feel sympathetic because I realize that they are not happy inside and are looking outside for completion.)

Thrill seeking: Crossing the color line for a temporary thrill. Much like I stated before, unless the other person is in it just for a thrill also, he/she may end up getting hurt.

Exoticism: Being drawn to the unknown or so-called exotic. I say “so-called” exotic because exotic is hard to define since that same person would most likely be considered ordinary in their own community. Eventually, the novelty of the unknown will wear off and the reality of the relationship will set in. Then how much fun will it be?

Cop-out: Dating another race because you feel that you will be able to get away with m ..

Myths, Lies & Stupidity

Sat, 13 May 2006 12:41:13 +0000

Last night I saw myself in a commercial for a 20/20 special called- Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity. Actually my brother saw the commercial earlier in the day and then called me saying that it showed a clip from “Hooking Up” in which I was dancing at the nightclub with Acie while John Stossel, from 20/20, was doing a voice-over about dating or love. So, I turned on ABC for the rest of the day hoping to catch it- all the while wondering what it was about. I knew that since I had signed the release for “Hooking Up”, ABC had the right to use my image and footage in any way they pleased. So, rightfully I was a bit worried about what they were using it for in a show with a title like “Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity”. It didn’t seem like it was going to be anything good! Particularly since John Stossel was the host. He usually does the 20/20 segment “Give me a Break” and I really like his thought provoking yet cynical attitude when he analyzes how ridiculous some people or situations can be… but now was it time for him to do the same about me? Finally, the commercial aried. I was at my mother’s house and she was watching with me. My clip came on while John Stossel said that they would be uncovering myths and asking, “Do opposites really attract?” I kind of felt relieved at that point. That didn’t seem too bad. So, then I wondered whether they would be focusing on my dating tactics- since I did remember that while filming “Hooking Up”, ABC reviewed my online dating profile which states: “I really don't believe that opposites attract but just usually clash.” or would they be just using my image as “stock footage” – meaning flashing it across the screen amongst images of other couples simply to have a visual to go with their story. Since I didn’t know, I only called a few close friends to tell them about it. After 20/20 aired, I was glad that I didn’t tell more people- because they didn� ..

As Good as the First Time

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 03:57:29 +0000

Watching Log In for Love on TLC last night was as good as watching Hooking Up on ABC the first time, but in a different way. This time there wasn’t the fan fare surrounding the debut of the original show. With Hooking Up, there came anxiety about the footage since I had not seen any of the show prior to it airing. I wondered how I would be portrayed, whether my actions or statements would be taken out of context, and what I looked like on camera. Then there was also the excitement of watching it with friends. I hosted a viewing party in my apartment and my closest friends and family living in New York came to share in the moment. We even had Chef Slade (seen in my final episode) cater the food. The room was thick with anticipation- most my friends were ready for a good laugh. They all thought it was very funny that I even signed up for the whole thing. They all said that they would have never done the show. So, this time the experience was very different. Most of my friends had seen Hooking Up so I knew that they would not be watching the encore. I also knew what to expect since TLC was using the same footage shown in Hooking Up. The night was very quiet as I watched it silently in my living room (although I live in a studio, I still name my spaces- hence, I have a bedroom, an office, and a living room). This time I was able to more closely observe. Also, since it has been a year since I finished filming, I had time to reflect. Although I have the Hooking Up DVD (which is on sale at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Shopping/?gma=true ), I haven’t watched it. Therefore, I was able to look at Log In for Love with fresh eyes. With new found clarity, I was able to see more about the men I dated. I noticed little things that were not as apparent as before, such as the way they walked, their posture, and the look in their eyes. It told me more about where they were at that moment in time. I also noticed the look in my own eyes and learned more ab ..

Log In for Love

Sat, 4 Mar 2006 01:33:56 +0000

So, last night I got a bit of a surprise. I had the TLC show What not to Wear on in the background when I noticed that the new show, "Log In for Love" was coming on next. I had seen commercials for the show and knew that it had something to do with online dating, but I had not made the effort to remember when it was coming on. Well, I figured that since I happened to be tuned in for the first episode that I might as well watch it to see how close it was to “Hooking Up”. Particularly since I know that cable stations like to spoof network shows. As soon as the opening began, I heard the music and saw myself sitting on the subway with my name displayed on the screen-- it was “Hooking Up”. Although I was unaware that it was going to air- I wasn’t surprised. I say that because the producers of “Hooking Up” produced another show called “NYPD 24/7”. It aired about a year before “Hooking Up” on ABC, and while I was beginning to film “Hooking Up”, I saw footage from “NYPD 24/7” on a cable station (it was either Discovery Times or TLC). Actually it seemed as if they added extra the footage that wasn’t shown on ABC. In this case, seeing “Hooking Up” packaged as “Log In for Love” on TLC just caught me off guard because the commercials do not use any footage from the show, as was the case for (the original) “Hooking Up”. I remember watching the “Log In for Love” commercials over the past couple of weeks, pleasantly reminiscing about the whole “Hooking Up” experience. Filming the show was such as departure form the ordinary and lately I have been looking for more departures. So, the airing of “Log In for Love” is actually quite timely. As I watched the first minutes of “Log In for Love” last night, the first few things that ran through my mind were, “Are they going to expand the footage and show scenes that didn’t air on ABC? It would only make sense since the original show was so condensed ..

Oh Skeet Skeet!

Thu, 5 Jan 2006 01:01:01 +0000

Ok, I know I am all late since I was in Texas back in October, but maybe you will enjoy a warm weather story. A couple of blogs ago, I mentioned that I tried to do everything to entertain myself while in the middle of nowhere. Well, I stumbled upon skeet shooting. I admit that I have terrible hand eye coordination so I didn’t expect to hit anything, particularly a flying clay target! I was so naïve when I walked up to the range. I had never fired a real firearm before, just an air pistol that looks real, but only shoots bb’s, pellets, and darts- actually I asked for it for Christmas when I was about thirteen and my dad was cool enough to get it for me. I thought we would be using some type of “pseudo” gun such as my air pistol. So, when I grabbed this big long gun at the skeet range, I didn’t think that it actually was a real weapon. Two mid twenty something brothas that worked with me at my client’s site came along. This was the first time skeet shooting for all three of us. Luckily, there were some experienced skeet shooters there that showed us the ropes. We were there on a lunch break and really only had about twenty minutes to try it out. I just knew that it wasn’t enough time for me to get it right and actually hit a target. I took the gun, scared of a fierce recoil and took a shot. Nothing. I hit nothing….but after several more tries, I hit one! I couldn’t believe that I actually hit a target not to mention a moving one! The recoil wasn’t bad at all and I liked feeling the power in my hands. So I was hooked…almost. Being the naturalist that I am at most times, I asked if the targets were biodegradable or recyclable and they said that they were not. They stated that those types of targets often jam the machine because they break easier. Anyway, the brothas that came with me each hit a target as well and we walked away proud of ourselves. Only after we got in the car did I learn that I was using a real w ..

2005 in Review

Sat, 31 Dec 2005 22:12:48 +0000

2005 was one of the busiest but also exciting years of my life. Early in the year I was in the final stages of filming Hooking Up. (I can’t believe that it has already been a year since I filmed the last episode that aired! ) While filming, I landed a systems engineering subcontracting deal for my company with the Department of Defense; my first government contract. I had a steep learning curve since government contracting is very different than contracting in the private sector, as my company had done before. No sooner than the excitement had set in, I learned that the prime contract was up for recompete- meaning that the contract was at risk since it was open for bidding by any company. All in one month, as I was working with my client (the prime contractor) to write the contract bid proposal, I had to also juggle working on the project for which they had hired me, securing business liability insurance required for the contract (a challenge because my company is small, technology based, and has a government client), developing ventureheart.com, hiring a programmer for ventureheart.com’s online professional community, and doing television appearances such as the View and ET. Hands down, it was the busiest month of my life. After that, the pace didn’t slow down much. Hooking Up aired and there was the associated launch party and viewing parties. I had about a month to catch up with life (things I had put on hold during the year) then it was off to Texas for nearly two months to test a system for my client. While there, I went to the National Minority Supplier Development Council Annual Conference to network for more business opportunities and attend workshops (I promised to write a blog about it! I will…soon.) As soon as I got back from Texas, I uncovered an opportunity for more business with my client which required hiring another person. I had established my business as family owned and basically only had my brother and father worki ..

On Horseback with Ken

Mon, 28 Nov 2005 23:02:03 +0000

While I was in the middle of Texas, I learned to be very creative while trying to entertain myself. I figured that there had to be something to do on all of that land so I found a place that offered horseback riding. I had been once before in the north Georgia mountains on a perfectly sunny, warm, fall day with bright autumn leaves but with a distraction caused by my ex-boyfriend. On that ride, the leader told us plainly to steer the horse around any unexpected objects on the path because the horse may not see it...and if the horse hits it, it will become spooked and take off running. Well, lo and behold, there was an empty water jug on the path. I, along with everyone else, steered the horse around it. My ex-boyfriend decided to not take any action so he could see what the horse would do. Well, the horse kicked the jug, it got spooked, and took off running. My ex-boyfriend went flying one way off of the horse, while his shoe went flying off the other way. All of the horses in the group reacted and also started running. We eventually got them to stop and he wasn’t hurt, but the experience made me a little hesitant about horseback riding with just anyone. Ken Meeks (picture taken from atop my horse "Shot" ) So, I found a ranch in Texas with a stable that happened to be owned by a Black man, Ken Meeks. He offered the cheapest rates in the US. Just $15 per hour! $15! I, along with two coworkers, went riding with him one day. As you would expect, the terrain was very different from the north Georgia mountains. It was very interesting to see the dry flat land without trees but with large shrubs. The ground was made of white dirt called caliche (a hard form of limestone) and some of the shrubs had white branches with no leaves. At times, it almost looked like we were in a Lord of the Rings s ..