Let’s begin with some of the problems most micro-business aspirants have when they need funds for their business; problems that affect both men and women. Women are severely handicapped by how they answer questions and by their multi-tasking ability; but men have problems because of their laser-like focus and their inability to multi-task. If you want more on this subject, check http://www.tulenko.com/SuccessTips/X-01.html, where we discuss the differences in more depth.

LOAN BARRIERS
Women have a major handicap in soliciting start-up or expansion funds for a micro-business because they tell the absolute strict truth. Okay guys, I’m not saying you lie; you don’t. The two of you look at just about everything from different points of view.

For example, let’s suppose a man and woman each want to obtain funds for a formal business start-up or expansion. Both have been ‘doing’ the business in their home for twelve years, and both filed the paperwork with their local tax-guzzling bureaucrats to formalize their business two years ago. When asked by the credit-granting institution, “How long have you been in business?” the man answers: “Twelve years.” The woman answers: “Two years.” Both answers are ‘correct’, but the man will receive the credit or funding, and the woman won’t. Effective today, that’s going to change!

THE CHALLENGE
There are many organizations dedicated to helping women succeed in business. I especially want to compliment the Women's Business Centers. This Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach organization is dedicated to women’s success in business, and is a place where women can obtain excellent advice and caring mentoring. You can discover if this service is located near your town by checking: http://www.onlinewbc.gov, or by calling your nearby SBA office.

On the other hand, if a woman (or a man) only needs what we call a MICRO LOAN ($100 to $35,000), the cash doors that are open at the SBA to larger business opportunities are often shut to this small amount. And it does little good to go to your bank where all you will hear is: “Why don’t you fund that with your credit card?” Most women only have had a credit card in their husband’s (or ex’s) name, not their own, and have no personal credit history. When an attempt to access funds through the normal lending process is attempted; both men and women discover the highly discriminatory facts of loan analysis. That means they don’t get the money. That is changing as of today!

THE MONEY
THE MONEY American Express (AE) Small Business Services is issuing a new credit card called the Community Business (SM) Credit Card. At the end of each year (April 16, 2002, and subsequent years) they will donate one percent (1%) of cardholder spending for this one specific card to the three select groups named below to help them fund small businesses, both male and female owned. It’s not your money; it comes from AE’s profit. So I urge you to switch cards to this new card today (present limit of $50,000). This card has the same sign-up requirements as any other card, it’s just the vehicle AE is using to collect the money. Contact AE at http://home3.americanexpress.com/smallbusiness/communitybusiness/splash.asp to sign up or switch (They don’t make it easy to find them!)

In the past I have been critical of AE for their cavalier ‘We Care (but not that much)’ attitude; but this looks as if they are finally getting serious about helping the small and home-based businesses to get off and running. It probably has something to do with the fact that small businesses grow into big businesses, or something like that. Anyhow, I urge you to sign-up or switch today. Do it! You might tell your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or other card why you’re changing; it could penetrate that this might be a good idea for them as well!

THE PLAYERS
These organizations will be recipients of the money donated by American Express.

Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence has a new scoring system to ‘fix’ the problem of how women answer questions. What they do is ‘ask the question’ differently. For example, instead of asking, “How long have you been in business?” they might ask, “How long have you been doing this?” This would be answered by both male and female as, “Twelve years.” This MICRO-LOAN lending and mentoring service is 100% on-line, so you will need to make your contact at: http://www.count-me-in.org.

ACCION helps low-income, self-employed people work their way up the economic ladder with dignity and pride. Their forte is mentoring, MICRO LOANS, and training. ACCION serves people in both Latin America and the United States, and they will be expanding their network with the new funds. Check to see if they are in your city now, and how you can access their services by contacting them at: http://www.accion.org.

Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) is a national association dedicated to microenterprise development. Many of their members focus on improving opportunities in the African-American, Asian American, Native American, Disability, and other minority communities. The funds provided by AE will go specifically to: Abilities Fund (National Org. helping people of limited ability); Community Equity Investments, Inc. (NW FL & Southern AL); Detroit Entrepreneurship Institute, Inc. (Southeastern MI); Greater Newark Business Development Consortium (NJ); The Lakota Fund (Oglala & Lakota Nation in SD); Oakland Business Development Corporation (CA); Renaissance Economic Development Corp. (NY); and the Virginia Community Development Loan Fund (Richmond VA). To find out more about these organizations, go to AEO at: http://www.microenterpriseworks.org.

FINAL NOTES
I don’t want you to think these are the only people out there that care; there are many. I know of most, but if you are one, please email me at paul@tulenko.com with the details and I’ll add you to the list. Be ready to defend your position! Now … What’s keeping you from success?