Wisdom Perspective Be An Activist But Think Like A Businesswoman
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King Solomon once wrote, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”.
In order for an emerging African American nation to move from integration, disenfranchisement and oppression; practices and policies that liberated them will not be sufficient to cause them to have an enduring legacy. A wisdom perspective on the Donald Sterling matter suggests that perhaps, there should have been a variety of other options instead of the NBA and players demanding it sale. Yes, the league will get rid of a racially insensitive man but will the athletes benefit.
Here is one best practice and highest use option practiced by highly effective emerging cultures. If Donald & Shelley Sterling have kept the L.A. Clippers, the team would have lost value and the players could have petitioned the league to purchase it on the cheap. That’s being an activist and proactive thinker like an owner instead of an employee.
The Clippers have a strong minority fan base, unlike the L.A. Lakers. Because of this pending sale, the cost of products for the consumers will go up and ticket prices of the game will increase. The fans lose out.
It seems many stakeholders will benefit except the offended athletes, employees and fans. Prior to the pending sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, the Clippers were valued at around $500 million. Now the Sterlings and their family trust will get an extra $1.5 Billion because of their racial statements. Uncle Sam makes money from capital gains taxes and other sundry fees involved in the acquisition. The Association and it teams have increased its value as well.
No matter what activism you choice, at the end of the day, make it profitable.
The Cathy Hughes Story is a case study that illustrates my thesis.
In the 1980s, Cathy Hughes purchased WOL-AM, 1450, as the flagship station for her new company, Radio One Broadcasting. WOL-AM was the home of “tell it to the hot, tell it to the call,” Petey Greene, a former Lorton convict turned popular talk show host and activist. His story was featured in the 2007 film Talk To Me featuring Don Cheadle. In 1987, Hughes and her struggling radio station led a protest of the Washington Post when her listeners took offense to their perceived racial insensitivity in the Washington Post Magazine. Donald Graham, the publisher and editor went on her program to apologize. The political, financial and advertising community took note. This David took down Goliath and started a series of events that changed her financial landscape into the influential publicly traded powerhouse today of Radio One, TV One and her other enterprises.
When you know your history and employ every possible option available to you, consider profitable options that will benefit you.
Be an activist but think like a businesswoman
