If you are, I’m giving you permission to go back home and take the day off! The person next to you doesn’t want to be near you if you feel THAT WAY! Just go home.  Go to your room.  Shut the door and tell yourself that you are depressed!  

The best things of life are all around you….your spouse, your kids, your friends and your community need you!! When is the last time you told them that you need them and told them that you loved them?

You see: It’s not all that bad!  Where did you sleep last night?  In a bed?  At least you didn’t have to sleep on a box under a bridge like some homeless do!!

Your number ONE job is to be happy.  If you are happy everyone around you is happy!!

Then for god sakes—do not hang around people that will get you down!!! Get a new perspective in life! Don’t let fear and doubt create an obstacle in your life! Learn why you are here in this life!

Do not be afraid of tomorrow! Do not have a doomed and gloomed attitude!  Your thinking of life needs to change if you are afraid!  Just remember---being afraid is only in your mind. Think positive!!!

Why are we always stopping ourselves from doing what we want to do? If you want something risk it and act like it is going to happen!!!  It’s kind of like this I’ll tell you a story:

A couple of years ago I was feeling kind of crappy and was experiencing some chest pains.  I called out to my wife and she wanted to call 911, but I convinced her not to because by the time the ambulance would get to the ghetto where I live it would be too late!!! I would take my chances and let her drive me to the emergency room!

You know at that time I should have had that doom and gloom attitude, but no!  I said to myself:  “Think positive and don’t be afraid”!  “Think positive and don’t be afraid, Bubba!!”

If you want something risk it and act like it was going to happen!

So I asked my wife to pull over and stop the car and she asked –“Why?”  I said "Can I make love to you for the very last time".  She said "NO!!"

Right now you need to tell me where your will is and who your best six friends are!!

Well I survived that episode at the hospital and the doctor said that my heart was basically ok, but, at least I tried!  Think positive!!

I have vendors that come to my office wanting to do business with the TEXAS TECH and I can tell they are feeling depressed and stressed.  To me that's "Just NO BUENO!!

If you come to my office you better have some "Pepe in your step!!!!

You have to be like Pepe Le Pew!!!  You remember that cartoon of that romantic French skunk that wanted to go out with that beautiful cat? You have to be like him!

Pepe WAS POSITIVE!! Pepe WAS PERSISTENT! Pepe was AGGRESSIVE!! Pepe was enthusiastic and his enthusiasm had no bounds. His ego was taller than the state capitol!

I guarantee you that he will get that cat one of these days because Pepe is positive & persistent!!!

After a speech in Houston a lady came up to me and you have to love her attitude she came up to me and said "Hi Bubba, I’m Pepe’s cousin and I want to do business with Texas Tech".

I can recollect a precious moment in time when my Dad and the Bishop of our Catholic Diocese were arguing with each other about yet again another issue, and Dad suddenly stated, “You think that you are the only one who knows how to make hot sauce!”  Enough said, point taken!  It’s a bit scary today to acknowledge that I understand what dad was saying!

Dad was trying to teach a lesson that everyone believes they’re experts in an area out of their realm. As a youngster, I witnessed Dad in the heat of different political battles, serving as a champion for those who had no voice!  He was carrying the torch for education, healthcare and social services, and fighting for the poor or under-represented. My dad, Lorenzo Sedeno to me was a blend of Martin Luther King, Robert F. Kennedy, Saint Paul and Zapata. 

And as young and impressionable as I was when I attended barrio gatherings, marches, corporate and board room meetings with him, I still carry that same heartfelt endeavor and burning passion in my life to use these priceless educational examples in the continuing saga of Government Procurement equality and diversity.  While Dad’s talk in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s was far from today’s smooth rhetoric about diversification and equality, the essence is the same. 

Minorities and Minority Business is here ‘America’ and we are not going anywhere!

We do not want a handout!  All we want is for Corporate & Government America to create a fair and level playing field with business opportunities for all businesses to participate.

A couple of decades later, I find myself filling Daddy’s big shoes, from advocating for small business, to serving as a voice for the voiceless, and hopefully leaving good examples for my children and grandchildren!

The exchange, the development and the incorporation of different ideas from minority small businesses, procurement officers and other key partners is vital to creating a diverse plan that will make our country proud. 

Diversity is adequately defined in the Encarta Dictionary as “social inclusiveness”.  Diversity drives creativity.  A workplace can succeed when diverse ideas are put to work.  

In government procurement it is the right thing to do.  It is the right thing to do since all of us pay into the tax base.  It also brings an assortment of small minority businesses to the forefront of the “economic procurement pie.”

I’m a proud Stetson hat-wearing, boot-stomping, jean-wearing, Mexican Boy from Lubbock, Texas, with a twang that would make most people jealous!  But by God my state is a changing.  Texas is diversified by it’s changing demographics.

Government Procurement and Corporate America cannot take a snooze while the complexion and sentiment of our state changes.  American leaders at various levels must prepare and face challenges and changes that are thrust upon society as a result of awesome demographic changes. 

So, what are some of the solutions to achieving balance in a varied marketplace?  Here are a couple of basic ideas to consider.

(a) Supplier Diversity linking minority suppliers with large corporations and public institutions are only part of the answer.

(b) Minority and Women-Owned Businesses must take advantage of governmental procurement opportunities. 

(c) Earnest exchange of clearinghouse data to buyers and sellers.

I’ll give you five tips for effective business planning:

1.) Clearly define your business and be able to articulate it… know your mission!

2.) Make sure that you have a passion for owning a business.

3.) Be willing to commit to the hours of owning your business.

4.) Conduct a competitive analysis in your market that affect your business.

5.) Seek help from other small businesses, vendors, government agencies, trade associations and be alert of any changes that will affect your business.

Stick your head up above the trenches and do some reconnaissances work.  What are the areas that need improvement in your organization?  Do the best work you've ever done. Expect the same from your staff.

We created a motto in my office that says: 

“Get it done. Get it done right. Get it done right now"; AND "we are here to serve and not to be served!”  Bottom line: JUST GIVE us AN OPPORTUNITY!

To me there has never been a greater time in American History for Government Procurement officers to make right ‘what was wrong for the longest time!

Let me say that again:

To me there has never been a greater time in American History for Government Procurement officers to make right ‘what was wrong for the longest time!

DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO AND TALK TO THESE HUB COORDINATOR’S/PURCHASER’S! DON’T BE AFRAID OF TOMORROW… If you want something risk it and then act like it is going to happen! Listen to your conscience: When a impulse come and you feel its right, DO IT!! SUCCESS WILL FOLLOW!!

Last comments:

Have faith in yourself, Have faith in your business, Have faith in your family, But most importantly----have faith in god!!

Peace!!!