Playing the Game: An African-American Guide to Success in the Business World

By Leopole A. McLaughlin III

"Playing the Game: An African American Guide to Success in the Business World" is an empowering guidebook that navigates the path to success and survival while staying true to your values and integrity. Specifically tailored for African-Americans, this book reveals the strategies to triumph in the business realm by mastering the art of "playing the game" without compromising your principles. It serves as a roadmap for achieving remarkable success as a businessperson or entrepreneur, overcoming any obstacles that may arise due to racial or ethnic backgrounds.

Within these pages, you will unlock a wealth of knowledge and insights on how to flourish in the business world while maintaining authenticity and staying true to your identity. You will gain a deep understanding of the inner workings of corporate environments and entrepreneurial ventures, equipping you with the tools to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and rise above adversity.

"Playing the Game" empowers you to transcend limitations and make your mark on the business landscape. It provides practical advice on effective communication, networking, negotiation, and leadership skills—essential attributes for achieving remarkable success. Moreover, it delves into the unique experiences and perspectives of African-American entrepreneurs and professionals, shedding light on the strategies they have employed to thrive in the face of prejudice and bias.

This guidebook serves as a source of inspiration, highlighting the stories of trailblazers who have shattered barriers and achieved phenomenal success while staying true to their roots. It encourages you to embrace your heritage and leverage your unique perspectives as strengths, ultimately enabling you to overcome any barriers that may arise.

"Playing the Game" is not about compromising your values or conforming to societal expectations. It's about arming yourself with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to forge your own path towards extraordinary success. By harnessing your potential, seizing opportunities, and embracing your authenticity, you will prove that race or ethnicity is not a limitation but a source of resilience and strength.

Now is the time to embark on a journey of empowerment and growth. Let "Playing the Game: An African American Guide to Success in the Business World" be your trusted companion as you navigate the complexities of the corporate landscape, ensuring your success and leaving a lasting impact on generations to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leopole A. McLaughlin III
• Release date: Apr 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301868346

Leopole A. McLaughlin III

Leopole A. McLaughlin, III, is a serial entrepreneur with several ongoing business ventures and non-profit organizations. He is the founder and Chief Executive of Progeny Life which created child support insurance. The founder of The Venture Biz Kid Foundation of America which is an organization that teaches children entrepreneurship, and he is the founder of the Walk with Strength Foundation, which is an organization that helps young African American males expand mentally, emotionally, culturally, and physically.His other books include:Zero to a Million in 12: The 12-Step Guide to Making a Million Dollars in a YearPlaying the Game: An African American Guide to Success in the Business WorldAlpha Dads: The Most Ultimate Guide to Winning the Drama Without Hiring a LawyerTwo Strands of Light: A NovelWhen Dealing with Snakes become a MongooseThe Super Achiever

Book preview

Playing the Game

An African American Guide to Success in the Business World

by

Leopole Astonelli McLaughlin, III

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY

Elopoel Publishing on Smashwords

*****

Playing the Game

An African American Guide to Success in the Business World

Copyright 2013 by Leopole A. McLaughlin, III

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Playing the Game

An African-American Guide to Success in the Business World

Forward

I. An Analysis of Black Wealth

II. The Secret of Their Success

III. Change your Mindset

IV. Lead

V. Sell Quality

VI. Image – Dress White!

VII. Lose the Ghetto Vernacular

VIII. Change your Default Mode

IX. Timeline your Goals

X. Writing a Script of your Life

XI. Keys to Business Success

a. Belief and Faith

b. Sacrifice

c. Tenacity

d. Focus

e. Attitude

f. Compartmentalize

XII. Keys to Wealth

a. Investments

b. Business ownership

c. Real Estate

XIII. Business is Business

XIV. Debt Ratio Factor

XV. 5 Techniques to Getting Started in Business

a. Treat your job as your client, not your employer

b. Take advantage of all opportunities

c. Obtain Mentors

d. Network

e. Volunteer

XVI. Success is the Best Revenge

Forward

It is easily seen that if every member of the race should strive to make himself the most indispensable man in his community, and to be successful in business, however humble that business might be, he would contribute much towards smoothing the pathway of his own and future generations.

– Booker T. Washington

Playing the Game is a guide showing African-Americans how to succeed and survive in the business world by learning how to play the game without having to sell out or lose their integrity. It’s about knowing and learning what to do in order to become a very viable and successful businessperson or entrepreneur despite any obstacles which may arise because of one’s race, ethnicity, religion, or gender. This book teaches how to do business in a different way that’s not fully understood by many African-Americans. It shows a way where anyone can ascertain the same level of incredible amount of wealth and success as some of the world’s wealthiest people.

I came up with the idea and concept of the book several years before I even penned the first chapter after realizing the lack of black-owned businesses and the disparity in the quality of these black-owned businesses. Also, by questioning the proverbial glass ceiling that so many African-Americans seem to hit in corporate America.

Although this is a guide to help African-Americans learn how to play the game in order to elevate to a higher playing field in business, it is really more of a practical guide for anyone who wants to succeed at any and all costs.

There are many books out here that are written in theory, meaning that the author studied the subject then wrote on it without actually applying the principles themselves. Such as, an author who writes a book on success or how to become rich, yet their only success is the writing and publishing of a book and their wealth was derived from sales from the book.

The principles that I set forth in this book are everything that I have done in order to change my situation and break that glass ceiling. I have literally researched hundreds of very successful African Americans in order to discover how they have become successful despite the odds.

When I left the comfort of a plum corporate position in Washington, DC, in order to try to ascertain a higher level of success by heading out west to Los Angeles, California, I had become among the ranks of the homelessness living in my car for a year. I had to put all my skills and knowledge to work in order to pull myself out of homelessness and ascertain a certain level of success.

I have documented various experiences that I have gone through when I was homeless and tried to explain thoroughly as to how I had to play the game in order to become a viable player in the business world. One of the main components was looking the part of a wealthy person. Just because you are homeless or lack money doesn’t mean that you have to look homeless and broke. Look and feel where you want to be. If you want to be wealthy, look and feel wealthy. Perception is reality in business. If you want to be rich, act as if you are and take the right steps in life in order to be rich. Pretend that you are the person that you want to be and you will eventually become that person.

Knowing how to play the game is a key component to your success. Whether you are trying to advance in your career, improve the success of your business, or just get the things that you want out of life, learn how to play the game.

Just like any game, you must know the rules in order to win. You can’t expect to win a game at basketball or football if you don’t know how to play. The professionals are the ones who have learned the rules and mastered the techniques. That is why they win.

"Business is a game, played for fantastic stakes, and you're in competition with experts. If you want to win, you have to learn to be a master of the game."

― Sidney Sheldon, Master of the Game

Business is a game but unfortunately many African-Americans tend to go in it not fully understanding the rules on how to play or even how to play to win. We only go by the rules which are taught to us by universities in which in reality only teaches us how to work for someone and be a good employee, not a strong viable business leader and contender.

In order to become very successful at the game of business you must learn as much as you can from the top players. Study them just as you’ve studied the moves of Michael Jordan in his prime. Learn their characteristics and strategies at overcoming obstacles. Learn what made them great and emulate all their moves. However, don’t worship them, but surpass them.

In my first book called, Zero to a Million in 12: The 12 Step Guide to Making a Million Dollars in a Year, I have done much research in finding out what makes the wealthy person wealthy and how they had ascertained that wealth. However, one question that I had asked myself was why is it that there are so few African-Americans on that high caliber of wealth and how can we increase our net worth? What is the reason that African-Americans are one of the greatest spenders in this nation yet have one of the lowest net financial worth’s in the nation? Have African-Americans been conditioned to believe that material items are an indication of one’s wealth? Is the African-American mindset restricted by financial limitations? Is there a disparity in intelligence or education? Or, is it that we just don’t have the right connections or contacts in order to acquire that level of success in business ventures?

The goal of this book is to find the answers on how to be among the super wealthy and how to put those answers to practical use. Its goal is to find out how to even out the playing field so that many more African-Americans can command a nine-digit net worth and how do we play this game of business without selling our souls.

I. An Analysis of Wealth

We have become ninety-nine percent money mad. The method of living at home modestly and within our income, laying a little by systematically for the proverbial rainy day which is due to come, can almost be listed among the lost arts.

— George Washington Carver

The Great Recession produced the largest setback in racial wealth equality in the United States over the last quarter century. In 2009 the average white household’s wealth was twenty times that of the average black household. Despite the severe impact of the Great Recession and the economic collapse between 2004 through 2011, African-American’s economic clout continued to energize the U.S. consumer market. The Selig Center estimates that the nation’s Black buying power continued its dramatic rise from $316 billion in 1990 to $600 billion in 2000, to $947 billion in 2010, to $1 trillion in 2012, and a projected $1.3 trillion in 2017.

In 2009 the estimated expenditures by Black households were as follows:

Apparel Products and Services $29.3 billion

Appliances $2.0 billion

Beverages (Alcoholic) $3.0 billion

Beverages (Non-Alcoholic) $2.8 billion

Books $321 million (Spent the least amount on.)

Cars and Trucks – New & Used $29.1 billion

Computers $3.6 billion

Consumer Electronics $6.1 billion

Contributions $17.3 billion

Education $7.5 billion

Entertainment and Leisure $3.1 billion

Food $65.2 billion

Gifts $9.6 billion

Health Care $23.6 billion

Households Furnishings & Equip. $16.5 billion

House wares $1.1 billion

Housing and Related Charges $203.8 billion (Spent the most on.)

Insurance $21.3 billion

Media $8.8 billion

Miscellaneous $8.3 billion

Personal and Professional Services $4.1 billion

Personal Care Products and Services $7.4 billion

Sports and Recreational Equipment $995 million

Telephone Services $18.6 billion

Tobacco Products $3.3 billion

Toys, Games and Pets $3.5 billion

Travel, Transportation and Lodging $6.0 billion

Collectively African-Americans are the richest Blacks in the world. But, only three Black Americans were ever able to claim a nine-figure net worth. With this entire spending why aren’t there more African-American Billionaires? Yes, sure we may know about Oprah Winfrey, and Robert Johnson and his ex-wife, Sheila Johnson, who may have tipped