I am a white man. I was born that way. Barring major surgery, I'll die that way. Because I did nothing to choose my skin color or my gender, I should not be proud of them nor should I be ashamed of them. I should not brag about them nor should I hide them. However, a funny thing is occurring that makes me wonder how my life would be different if I was not a man or if I was not white.
A few years ago, I had an itch. I've always had an adventurous mind, having dabbled in bold travel, creative writing and the performing arts. But I settled down after not too long. I got a stable job and established myself in a successful career with a large consulting firm. But the adventurous mind was still at work, and like I said, I had an itch. So, I left. I started a consulting firm, attempting to invent a new business model with a focus on extreme quality, modest margins and affordable pricing. And we got some momentum. I found my adventure, my calling, my passion.
As we've attempted to grow the business organically, we've encountered the obvious challenge any entrepreneurial venture faces, business development. And so, we've put on our thick soled shoes. We've networked the networks. And we've pounded pavement, looking to use our reputation, our resume and our references to land us new work. Companies have been impressed. But then they ask "the questions".
"Are you minority owned? Are you female owned?"
"Ahhm. No, we're not...I'm the owner", I state with a level of apology. Apology! I was born. I grew up. I learned my trade. I started a business, doing it the right way. And I'm apologizing. But wait, there's some good news. The companies that I'm calling on tell me, "don't worry, there's a way around it. We can set your company up as a subcontractor to one of our minority-owned vendors...they only take a 10% margin".
Is this really what we want for our country's version of "free enterprise"? Most economists will tell you, markets by nature weed out the bad and reward the good (government intervention of the US automotive industry notwithstanding). However, if law limits how successful the good can be based on skin color or gender, are we in a free enterprise system anymore? I believe the answer is obvious.
If I complain loudly, we risk losing the "privilege" of being a subcontractor and donating 10% of our service fees to someone who did nothing to earn our business. If I stay silent, I contribute to the growing demoralization of entrepreneurs.
Does anyone have the name of a good plastic surgeon?
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Once again our government has things backward. "Leveling" the playing field in the "free market economy" is a disaster - creating all the inefficiencies you allude to. They need to level the playing field by taking the monopoly away from the public school system. Give everyone equal access to a good education and they'll have equal opportunity to compete in the marketplace. Fairly obvious, yet they just pulled the plug on the DC voucher program which had already demonstrated success.
ReplyDeleteAhem. Today when I saw that Da Mare Richie Daley said he feels gay-owned businesses should also qualify for preferences on city government contracts, I thought of this blog. Then a puked in my mouth a little as I thought about the slippery slope we're heading down. The fact that any such reverse discrimination exists today is bad enough. However, in the end, it appears that the key to a successful enterprise in this city and country has less to do with selling the best product or the most competitive service. Rather, it has more to do with having the most perceived disadvantages. Someday, if you want to have the best chance of owning a profitable business, you'll want to be a hispanic, left handed, veteran, red haired, lesbian woman with crooked teeth and a lazy eye - each condition which would qualify you as a disadvantaged business.
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