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Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success cover

Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success

Chapter 113: Opportunity for Business Life
By Kelly Miller
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History - AmericanHistory - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

The text surveys the social, educational, economic, and moral advancement of Colored Americans since emancipation, combining narrative chapters on leadership, labor, business, religion, health, and physical training with a detailed compendium of institutions. It presents statistics and government-sourced reports, profiles of schools and agencies (more than three hundred institutions described) and numerous photographs and portraits (over sixty illustrations), and offers practical advice on self-improvement, professional development, and community organization. Chapters address education, vocational and professional training, entrepreneurship, public employment, and civic life, aiming to document achievements and to guide further progress.

Opportunity for Business Life

Become a merchant, if that is your inclination, but begin in a small way and build up. You have children, then the business will be for them when they grow up and are able to help you.

The way is easy if you look around for the best opening. Pick out your neighborhood and study the wants of the people. There is always a law of demand and supply, for people want things of every description every day and every hour.

Now what does a particular neighborhood need? That is the first thing to learn. Next, what do they want? That is the second. Thirdly, how many people are there needing and wanting things? There you are with the elementary knowledge ready at hand.

Talk with a few of them and find out how they feel about a business among them within reach and with accommodations of supply and delivery.

Then begin quietly without a splurge or plunging. Go slowly, except when there is a sudden demand, then work quickly to supply that demand. Generally, however, you should work up, and put yourself in a position to be liked. You treat everybody as if you wanted to accommodate them, and they soon realize that.

You never can tell what a small beginning will lead to. If you keep your eyes open the future will unfold itself. In every locality in our cities and settled country districts, the population is increasing, in many cases by leaps and bounds. You are there and with the proper kindliness and affability you will grow with the place, and the more the population increases the greater will grow your business.

There you are, a business man, grown to be such by the force of circumstances and tact with good judgment. The business will grow still more with the help of your children.