Real People?!
khrys's blog feed
My laptop was officially pronounced dead a few days ago. Even the data forensics expert couldn’t bring it back to life so thus begins my journey of recreating whatever I can.
Speaking of things that die, let's talk about a few attitudes that should but still prevail. My husband is a corporate trainer and travels periodically. He was out of town on business and happened to strike up a conversation with someone who owns a company. Things were going along just fine til the conversation turned towards families, sports, etc. Long story short, my husband told this guy about the work I do with women and a little bit about my company. The guy's response - "When is she going to work with real people? Doesn't she know that men exist?" Let's just say my husband ate him alive and went on to the next discussion. By the way, did I mention this guy has a wife and several daughters?
Let me guess. You're stuck at the real people comment. So was I, but let's put this into perspective. It's no wonder the proposed SBA rule came up earlier this year with language alluding to the fact that 'real people' just do not apply for government contracts. It's also no wonder that set aside and other such programs are still needed. If a person sees no value a particular group, their biases carry over into their business dealings and fairness cannot prevail. Am I making too much of this? Possibly, but businesses are made up of people, and people make decisions, and those decisions have the ability to impact both lives and other businesses.
Impact is one thing. Determination is yet another and often more powerful. I would have liked to ask this guy if he knew that Real People firms without employees generate more than $167 billion in annual sales. That Real People owned firms account for 41% of all privately held firms or that 2.4 million firms owned by Real people of color in the US employ 1.6 million people and generate $230 billion in sales annually. You see, in spite of the lack of fairness experienced at times or bias in decisions, Real People continue to thrive and do so in surprisingly innovative ways and in some of the most adverse conditions. Where there is a will, there is a way. We've obviously found it ladies so in spite of all, let's continue to thrive!
(C)2008 Khrys Vaughan, Her Startup, LLC
Member Comments
-
yana
-
Fabulous(( Online ))
-
-
-
Give a big hug to your husband for me, for telling this guy off.
As I was reading this I couldn’t help but notice the urge how I would have loved to have this narrow minded chauvinist in a room full of Real People answering questions about Real Life, and how miserably he would have failed. Of course this would of been recorded and the episode would of aired on Oprah making it all that much special.
-
-
-
PlatinumOffline
-
-
-
Thats right Yana, I couldn’t agree with youmore, what a great clip this would have made for Oprah!
I was def. stuck at the “real people” comment, how dare he!
You have a wonderful husband for standing up to such a rude statement.
I find these kinds of people naive individuals- and not your problem, his poor wife…
-
-
-
FabulousOffline
-
-
-
So I guess the women who work full time jobs, clean the house, feed the family, help kids with homework, put band aids on all the booboos, provide loving support for their husbands and still get up each morning and do it all again aren’t “real.” This guy needs to get real himself and burn his copy of Stepford Wives!
-
| Launch Notes© | View blog » |
- Women Abroad Posted on Friday, November 28, 2008
- Life is Interesting Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
- FYI - Press for Women Business Owners Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
- Doing Well by Doing Good Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008
- Any Woman Will Do Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2008