From: Ray Anderson ray -at- americanbusinessconcepts.net
Sent: Thursday, October 23
To: 'Bruce Camber
Subject: Getting out of this mess we are in...

Hi Bruce,
 
Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter to the former Chairman of the Bank of America.  You were on target.  A home run.

To pull through the financial crisis of our time, we need an informed citzenry that collaborates with government to make government and business more efficient, cost effective, and productive.

Nothing less will do.  To that end, we need a constant focus on small business  advocacy, collaborations, and aggregation..

First, advocacy.  We all must realize that the American experiment is the envy of the civilized world.  It is copied because our formulas have catapulted personal and business freedom into unimaginable innovation, freedom and wealth.  

Though small business seems to be a "minority" player, in fact we are all learning that small business drives local economies, national economies and even the global economy.  One of the key elements is that most small businesses under-promise and over-deliver.  Most small businesses are ethical.  Most small business owners push monies back into the company and do not rape and pillage their businesses.  

That is the foundation of capitalism that Michael Novak discusses in your episode of the show about the democratic capitalism.

In the collaborative model we all seek, we can get obstacles out of their way, promote  level playing field, and improve access to resources.We small businesses need advocates on Main Street, in Congress, and on Wall Street.   And, we need people who really understand and appreciate our problems.  

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) could play such a role.  I work with a several SBDCs in California and when  a group of SBDCs were recently convened for an initial strategy planning session, the question most on everyone's mind  was, "Who are the target customers and how do we best serve them?" 

We all have preconceived notions of the relationship between private enterprise and government; the dynamics were best captured by Dr. Ames of UC Fullerton in response to the 3 "partner" SBDC's who felt excluded.   If the Customer is King, then governmental oversight (contracts) are the Queen.   What we need is a Declaration of Interdependence.  

In my consulting context, that's bridging the gap between management and the frontline.   Sadly that "us" and "them" mentality is the poison we see in partisan politics, religious extremism, greedy capitalism  and social stratification.    So, if we are to truly succeed in this declaration of interdependence, we have to think "collaboratively and work toward our collective strengths."   

The government can play a vital role in this global economic game if only to be a referee so that all sides play by a mutually beneficial set of rules.  Even Ultimate fighting became legitimized when the Fertita Brothers took the mayhem out of the bloody free for all, and successfully got it "regulated".    That "collaborative" decision took their $2 million dollar investment into the "billion" stratosphere.   A former client, TapouT (the official UFC apparel company)  went from selling t-shirts out of a van to a $100 million business as an offshoot of that decision.
 
The point here is that competitive mindset --  government versus business -- They can either drive teamwork and collaboration or independence and isolation.   The danger of this thinking us-versus-them thinking was best expressed by Alfie Kohn  in his book "No Contest: the case against competition:  “The simplest way to understand why competition generally does not promote excellence is to realize that trying to do well and trying to beat others are two very different things:

• One is about accomplishing the superior, the other about making another inferior.  
• One is about achievement, the other about subordination. 
• One is about moral authority, the other is about position in the hierarchy."

We are on the cusp of another extraordinary opportunity to collaborate in the 21st century.  Like you, we believe entrepreneurism can be a beacon of hope in this battle of wills.   Particularly, when we can reach out with a helping hand to the small business community that finds itself assailed on every side.    The more we do that as an orchestra of different players with different roles (Business-government-Society), the more like we will have music rather than noise.   So I think a collaboration with government is essential.  

The American experiment is the envy of the civilized world and copied because its formula has catapulted personal and business freedom into unimaginable innovation, freedom and wealth.   As you said, our small business brother and sisters are "minority" players who drive the economy here and in the world.   In the collaborative model we all seek, we can get obstacles out of their way, promote  level playing field, and improve access to resources.  To us that's a high calling, whether its SBS, aggregation or others who see the need for greater collaboration.  This vision d like to conclude with this excerpt from the time honored presentation by Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg in the midst of that crisis of "us and "them."
 
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
 
Thanks
 
Ray Anderson
American Business Concepts
909.794.0232 office
951.634.6714 cell
909.794.9299 fax
ray@americanbusinessconcepts.net

Editor's Note:  Ray watched the show on KVCR-TV way back in 1995 when it began airing in Calfornia's Inland Empire (also known as Riverside County and San Bernardino County).   He has called and written to us over the years.  More recently Ray wrote to congratulate us for the New York Times syndication of the Small Business School streaming video.   He has since called on us in many ways.   He has become a trusted adviser.

He is also offering tools and advise for business owners.  Here is one of  the pages where he begins his work.