Top Flight LLC

Why Business Development?

lionel spearman — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:18:17 +0000

Business development is the process of developing a vision and long term strategy for your company that includes marketing, sales, and development. All businesses need to focus on marketing and business expansion. We are committed to develop these strategies for you.

New opportunities should be identified as often as possible in order to expand and bring in more money.

Our focus is not only to identify opportunities for the business and/or stay up-to-date on current industry trends but also to ensure the appropriate team members are equipped with the tools they need to succeed.

Setting priorities is important. You must have recognize areas of potential growth and perform a risk and ROI analysis as well as forced ranking to decide what to do. Remember you cannot do everything nor can you be all things to all people that is a recipe for failure – figure out what you do and do it well.

Adapting your company’s business strategies to remain competitive is an important job in any company.

This is true or profit and not for profits alike!

Non Profits are businesses too!

lionel spearman — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:49:19 +0000

There is a myth many people believe! They believe that non profits are not supposed to make money – this is untrue. A non profit must run in the black in order to continue to exist. Make no mistake while its business is service a non profit is still a business with the expenses of a profit business. As such decisions should be made in a business like manner.

Some things to consider for a non profit are:

Who are you servicing?
What is your break even?
What is your core mission?
What are your core services?
Do you have a Board of Directors?
Do you have a Board of Advisors?

A classic example is that of a management regime.

What are the contracts
How are the vendors vetted
What process is used to determine fees
What are the requirements of the members
What terms does the board serve

There is much more to consider and we will be happy to help

Running a business is a challenge

lionel spearman — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:51:52 +0000

As a business owner we understand our focus is not like most. We are not afraid to work nor do we accept excuses from ourselves or others. We do not think like 99% of the people because we represent less than 1% of society.

Most people look for excuses of why they cannot do something, we tend to focus on the reason we can. We are solution oriented individuals and very driven. We also tend to not fit well into. Most of us see challenges as reasons to quit whole we see then as reasons to strive and grow and do more.

We tend to be focused and the hardest thing about running a business is learning to let go to allow it to grow to be something more than you – to become a living embodiment of your dreams!

Entrepreneurs Are Difficult At Best And Abrasive at Worst — Get Over It

lionel spearman — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:25:51 +0000

Editor’s note: Contributor Ashkan Karbasfrooshan is the founder and CEO of WatchMojo, he hosts a weekly show on business and has published books on success. Follow him @ashkan.

The greatest entrepreneurs follow their gut and as a result are perceived as difficult at best and abrasive at worst.

Most people who know me say I’m too diplomatic, but last week my advisor told me that someone asked him if I was “difficult”. His answer was “if Ash was difficult, I wouldn’t work with him.” I was going to write something on the matter, but felt that doing so would make me come across as, you know, difficult.

But after a recent brief discussion this week with a fellow executive ended in disagreement, I thought to myself: “well that guy’s definitely going to think I’m difficult”, even though only a fool would have accepted his offer.

It reminded me of that Chris Rock line: “What’s sexual harassment? When an ugly guy wants to get some?” Well, what’s being difficult? When someone doesn’t give you what you want?

A Different Kind of 1%

Even if 99% of people think you’re reasonable, there will always be the 1% that thinks you’re difficult. Personally, in my situation, it boils down to being a self-funded, bootstrapped founder who’s the company “CXO”, wearing many hats and not having the luxury of having a fellow C-level executive come in afterwards to play the bad cop. Ultimately, I have to deliver on my word, so occasionally this means I won’t say or do what someone may wish. This avoids larger problems down the road.

Equity Means Ownership to Others; Control to Entrepreneurs

There’s a fine line between being assertive and an ass. We’ve already touched on how you can get others to do what you want. This article isn’t about management of employees, it’s about negotiations with outsiders and others thinking you’re difficult when

i) you don’t offer them what they want and/or
ii) you don’t accept what they offer.

That might make you come across as difficult to them, but that really says more about them than you.

My philosophy on negotiations echoes Time Warner’s Dick Parsons: “When you negotiate, leave a little something on the table”, otherwise no one would want to deal with you in the future In fact, I try to avoid saying “I’m being reasonable”, because everyone thinks they’re reasonable: it’s more important how others perceive you in your wheeling and dealings.

There’s way too much envy and jealousy in the world and our industry, so part of what makes critics think that entrepreneurs are difficult stems from that, though no one will admit it. No one is “driven by money” until they realize that someone is about to make money or has made money, at which point everyone inherits a sense of entitlement.

Read full article: http://techcrunch.com/2012/03/10/entrepreneurs-are-difficult-at-best-and-abrasive-at-worst-get-over-it/

Global Business Perspectives: Risana Zitha

lionel spearman — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:55:35 +0000

Risana Zitha, Morgan Stanley’s managing director for investment banking, visited the Tuck School of Business to participate in Africa Highlight Week in February 2012. Co-coordinated by students from the Tuck Africa Club and Tuck’s Center for International Business, the event highlighted some of the risks, myths, and realities of doing business in Africa. In this video, Mr. Zitha shares his insights into the African landscape for investment banking, the role of foreign direct investment in Africa, some of the challenges of doing business in Africa, and Morgan Stanley’s plan for growth in Africa.

Managing Partner on Board of Directors of Black Card Circle Foundation

lionel spearman — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:25 +0000

Lionel Spearman II (our managing partner in charge of strategy) and the Chief Strategy Officer and partner in the Ethyrial Technology Group was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Black Card Circle Foundation effective March 27, 2012.

Lionel has spent many years in service of others. He has been a board member or leader in many non-profits ranging from Religious to Business Development to Abuse Shelters

Some of Lionel’s honors and awards include:

Marquis Who’s Who Science and Engineering – 1992
Marquis Who’s Who Finance and Industry – 1992
Marquis Who’s Who South and Southwest – 1991, 1995
Who’s Who Among Young American Professionals – 1993
Monsanto Achievement Award – 1991
Certificate of Appreciation – Greenwood Chamber of Commerce – 1994
Certificate of Appreciation – 15th Air Force – 1986
Certificate of Appreciation – Mu Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc – 2006
Certificate of Appreciation – Golden K Kiwanis – 2007
Certificate of Appreciation – Junior Achievement – 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
Volunteer Award – United Way – 2002
Regional Chair of the Year – NSBE-AE – 1991
CarolinasMSDC Council of the Year (as a director) – 1997

The Black Card Circle Foundation (Federal Tax Identification Number 26-2849618) is a global non profit that puts and spotlight on and empowers charities. Think of it as a charity to help charities.

Mission Statement:

The Black Card Circle Foundation (BCCF) strives to raise awareness for IRS recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that promote self-reliance and sustainability. BCCF unites volunteers and hosts charity events with strategic partners like the Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt Regency, Tiffany & Co., Microsoft, and many other socially conscious organizations. BCCF raises awareness for non-profit organizations that serve one of the following 5 core areas:

Education
Environment
Health Care
Community Development
Poverty Relief

Black Card Circle Foundation Background:

The Black Card Circle Foundation (BCCF) believes that society, as a whole, rises when those who have been marginalized are given the opportunity to thrive. Humankind benefits when each person fulfills his or her potential and contributes to his or her fullest capabilities.

BCCF serves as a clearinghouse for other not-for-profit organizations, by verifiying other non-profit organizations and raising awareness of these organizations through creative campaigns and awareness raising networking events.

BCCF develops strategic partnerships with organizations locally and around the world to create ongoing, sustainable change. BCCF believes that mobilization, networking and awareness are catalysts to facilitating change.

Doing Business with China – a Black Card Circle Event

lionel spearman — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:15:57 +0000

What: Executive Leadership Exchange

When: June 25, 2012 through June 30, 2012

Where: Shanghai, China

Why: To bridge business and government communities in America and China to foster directly beneficial economic and personal relationships.

Cost: $50,000.00 tuition ($16,750 for friends & members of Black Card Circle)

All costs covered while in Shanghai including:

General transportation
Lodging
Food
2 upscale networking events at the Ritz-Carlton & Waldorf-Astoria.

Registration / Enrollment

Ethyrial – An Overview

lionel spearman — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:48:00 +0000

Ethyrial Solutions Group

We were a solutions company before the buzzword was born. In 2011 we reformed and refocused because we recognized two unchanging truth in business and in life. People need answers and things change. Companies need answers and we have dedicated our careers to giving our customers those answers. EG is your personal R&D, marketing and web department.

Our mission is simple. Free you from your business to focus on running your business. We do this by providing the tools and support needed to run their day to day operations. We help you build your business because as business owners and technophiles we understand a simple truth, you did not start your business to sweat the details and technology done correctly should be a tool that adds value and works for you!

We need Veteran Business Owners

meemee12 — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:22:39 +0000

Have you served in the military?

Do you own a business?

Are you interested in growing your business?

Are you interested in resources for you or your business?

Please send us your contact information?

VEDI has some exciting resources and opportunities

Contact: Meta J. Mereday vedi@topflightllc.net

MBDA to shutdown Regional Offices

lionel spearman — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:34:01 +0000

The MBDA will close all of its regional offices by 2nd quarter next year.

This will mean that Minority Business Development Agency will be reducing direct access to its resources

Its plan is to use technology to fill the gap and void created

The mission to the MBDA is to help minority owned businesses grow

The closings are meant to reduce government overhead and costs

The closings are expected to provide a 5% budget cut for agency expenses

The five offices are in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York and San Francisco.

Minority owned businesses tend to have a greater need to access resources.

They tend more often than not to be first generation business owners.

Corporations are also following suit and pairing down or eliminating their programs.

If you need help navigating the changing business environment contact us.