NEWSLETTER CELEBRATING 14 YEARS ON THE AIR!

MINORITY SUCCESS STORIES Volume 14, No. 3 MAY/JUNE 2003 SCARING OURSELVES by Nelson Davis INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Bits N’ Bytes...... Page 2 - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

On March 21st, about three days into the You and I may live for many more Top 10 Tips for Better Iraqi conflict, I turned on a radio to get the decades and never know anyone who dies Business Letters...... Page 2 news, but found a talk show host of SARS, has their car taken at gunpoint, or interviewing a biological terrorism expert loses their house to a mudslide. But, instead. Within 90 seconds I turned it off. electronic media news gathering What Viewers Say About Why? I didn’t want to be scared into a stupor. organizations seem to base their business ‘MAKING IT!’...... Page 2 Fear seems to have become a national model on teaching Americans to create a pastime. culture of fear. Most things they describe Listening to someone speculate about will never happen to 97% of us. What’s Coming Up on the worst thing that could happen wasn’t my Dr. Charles Mayo (The Mayo Clinic) ‘MAKING IT!’...... Page 3 idea of good thing to do on that day. My said, “Worry affects the circulation—the thought was that worrying and fretting heart, the glands, the whole nervous Livening Up the wouldn’t support the things I need to do if system. I have never known anyone who success in business is what I want. died from overwork, but many who died Workplace...... Page 3 I found myself becoming angry with the from doubt.” reporters and anchors that were filling the Doubt is certainly the enemy of Secrets of Success...... Page 3 airwaves with pure speculation and rumors. success in any business. Carrying that Like many other Americans, after the long heavy mantle robs one of the desire and buildup to war I wanted to know what was energy to create, sell and lead a team of Calendar of Events.....Page 4 happening… really people to greater happening. accomplishments. It is the What I found were antithesis of ‘making it.’ people who had to fill time My greatest fear is whether they had anything “I am an old man and have useful or inspiring to say or that we are being a great many troubles, but not. Hard facts were a taught to expect the most of them never minuscule part of anything worst, rather than to happened.” I heard or saw during the seek out the best. -Mark Twain first 5 days of “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Too many For most of us, broadcast stories began fear is not grounded in the with the phrase “new real possibility of fears.” catastrophe; but it does bring My greatest fear is that we are being a state of emotional uneasiness. While taught to expect the worst, rather than to slogging through many years of war in the seek out the best. We are learning doubt 1940s, President Roosevelt and British rather than confidence. Years ago, I Prime Minister Winston Churchill were right produced a TV program that featured a when they repeatedly expounded that fear smart, affluent and very tough convicted was their nations most insidious enemy. criminal who described certain people as Of course, there was not the hungry “selling Wolf tickets,” and he didn’t mean maw of 24-hour news channels and local Wolf Blitzer. He was referring to the broadcasters who specialized in fueling a wholesale use of fear as a tool and tactic to fear machine. Not only that, it is one that get attention or garner support for an action. we voluntarily invite into our homes, cars Most of what passes for news on and lives. Order tapes of ‘MAKING IT!’ television and radio today could be exhibit That’s the part that really scares me. “A” in how to “sell Wolf tickets.” at our website! www.MakingItTV.com BITS N’ BYTES NEW MARKETING MANAGER SUPERCOMM 2003 IBM “SUCCESS PANEL” FOR ‘MAKING IT!’ The annual big event for the A “Success Panel” was Jocelyn Wang is the telecommunications industry is ‘SUPERCOMM’ assembled by Nelson newest addition to the which is being held in Atlanta on June 1-2 this Davis specially for a Black CEO Executive Nelson Davis TV year. Nelson Davis is moderating a special Forum. Sponsored by Productions team, “Supplier Diversity Summit” called “View From the Top” in a session featuring nine IBM and titled “From Good to Great in 2003,” joining us as our new the event hosted business owners from all over Marketing Manager. CEOs. They are John Chambers of Cisco, Patricia Russo from Lucent, John Schofield of Southern California. The title of Nelson’s Formerly a Manager of keynote address “What I’ve Learned From 800 AFC, Gerald Parsons of CTDI, Dennis Strigl of National Accounts at Entrepreneurs.” CBS/Westwood One Verizon Wireless, Richard Notebaert from Radio Networks, she Qwest, Ed Whiteacre at SBC ‘MAKING IT!’ AT HOLLYWOOD HIGH graduated from UCLA Communcations, and Duane Ackerman from With the help of LAUSD board member Marlene with with degrees in Asian American Studies BellSouth. With only CEOs in the group, it truly Canter, we will be donating a & Sociology along with a Specialization in promises to be a view from the top. library of our award-winning Business & Administration. Jocelyn joins us program to Hollywood High so with prior experience from the Museum of students can be inspired by the success stories of the Television & Radio, KABC/KLOS Radio in L.A., the Office of Arianna Huffington, and entrepreneurs from our show. the Office of California Governor Gray Davis (in Washington D.C.).

For more resources, log on to our website at www.MakingItTV.com Top 10 Tips for Better Business Letters by Derek K. Miller (excerpted from http://www.penmachine.com/topten.html) WHAT VIEWERS SAY entirely. Remove "there is," "it appears," "are ABOUT ‘MAKING IT!’ Business writing has only done," and similar phrases by rebuilding two goals: passive sentences as active ones. “I love the MAKING IT! show and have been watching it every Sunday morning at 1. To make people understand you. 5. Be Specific: Use words to paint pictures 6:30 am for years. Each story differs, but 2. To get them to take some action. in your reader's mind, not to ask him or her to the one thing they all have in common is dissect abstract concepts. If you have perseverance. Keep these 10 rules in mind: numbers, use them. Avoid abbreviations not Although enduring struggles, each

everyone knows. business owner has the determination to 1. Write Concisely: At every stage of writing your letter, look at it and decide what 6. Write Interesting Sentences: Vary make it and not give up.” to remove -- there will always be something. the length of your sentences to -Barbara Kimber, Bakersfield, CA Remember that you want your reader to avoid lulling your reader to sleep. understand you and take action. Anything Make some short and sharp. Draw “Your show needs to be on prime-time — that does not help him or her do that is others out by linking two or three it’s the type of reality show people unnecessary. Avoid repeating anything, other together: clip with commas, stitch should be watching!” than for specific emphasis. with semicolons; even staple with -Gabriel A. Ibarra, Los Angeles, CA dashes -- if you like. Don't make all 2. Be Complete: Don't take conciseness your sentences the same. too far. Make sure that you include enough background for your reader to get what you 7. Write to Your Readers, Not Down mean, and that you come across as tactful to Them: Even if you are writing to tell your Reference books, such as style guides and and polite, not terse and unfeeling. readers something they know nothing about, dictionaries, will help you write with proper think of them as intelligent but uninformed, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting. 3. Use Nouns & Verbs: Adjectives and not dumb. Your reader isn't stupid and Letters serve as records of what you say, often adverbs can enhance sturdy nouns and doesn't like being talked down to. spending years in filing cabinets for later verbs, but they can't rescue weak ones. reference, so your facts must be correct. Instead of "I definitely believe that the 8. Use a Positive Tone: Use negatives performance will be a very successful one," such as "don't," "won't," and "not" only to 10. Be Clear: Good business writing is all about write "I know the performance will succeed." deny, not to evade or be indecisive. Instead being clear. It should not be open to interpretation. The second sentence is both stronger and of "We can't decide until tomorrow," write Every word should mean one thing, each sentence shorter. "We should decide tomorrow," or, better yet, should say one thing, and together they should create a tool for achieving your goal. If your reader understands "We will decide tomorrow." 4. Write Actively: The active voice is you, then does what you intend, then your writing -- vigorous and brief, showing who acts and 9. Be Correct: Good writing is correct in whether a letter, e-mail, memo, fax, or report -- how. In passive sentences, things are done -- two ways: in technique and in facts. succeeds. people are acted upon or, worse, disappear

Volume 14, No. 3 2 May/June 2003 WHAT’S COMING UP ON ‘MAKING IT!’

May 18, 2003: TOP TIER TASTES June 1, 2003: IMPORT/EXPORT

Dr. Taryn Rose, an orthopedic surgeon, Noritoshi Kanai has been called “The Culinary was aware of the foot problems many of Ambassador of Japan to the U.S.” for his pioneering work her female patients suffered from due to introducing Japanese cuisine to the ill-fitting shoes. Armed with this American palate. TOKYO MUTUAL knowledge and her surgical training, TRADING COMPANY introduced Taryn decided to design her own shoe Japanese foods such as sushi, line. See how Taryn launched TARYN edamame, sake, and miso to ROSE INTERNATIONAL, a line of shoes Americans. Today, Kanai is in his that is sold in Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, eighties. His company employs 200 and other upscale stores. people and grosses more than $100 million a year in sales. Kanai shares his story of decades of hard work & success. Chris Aire grew up in West Africa surrounded by miners Ishwinder Brara leads the U.S. branch of MANTEC and the jewelry industry. When INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, while his Chris started his company 2 father Arvinder leads the Indian branch, AWESOME INTERNATIONAL MANTEC CONSULTANTS. This family- in 1996, he was fulfilling a owned business is dedicated to exporting dream from his childhood. Chris and importing between the U.S. and India. tells the story of how he Their driving force is love for both struggled to get the capital he countries and a passion for connecting needed to start the business, them. The company focuses on helping and how he even used his own U.S. businesses penetrate the large Indian savings to get his foot in the door. Today, his business caters to market. Ishwinder discusses the creation the rich & famous, with jewelry that costs up to $3.5 million. His of their company and the road to success for Mantec. clientele, includes Halle Berry, Will Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal.

CUT OUT FOR YOUR FRIDGE! LIVENING UP THE WORKPLACE Secrets of Success No matter how much we love Themes. Every once in a while, create a our jobs, we all get stressed and theme for the day. Simple examples from ‘MAKING IT!’ sometimes fall into a rut. Stress range from wearing a specific color to and lack of motivation can easily work, to “Meditation Minutes,” where overtake your business, especially people who are feeling stressed can take some time out to meditate and collect “I don’t care if you’re starting a pet store or a McDonald’s in the times we are living in now. franchise. If you want to start a business and get it to the their thoughts and priorities. Perhaps What can be done? Sometimes level where it’s making you $1 million plus in personal the littlest things can make our lives one of your employees has a great idea. income a year, you’d better get ready for a hard ride full of more exciting, and that can also Encourage creativity and be open to new trials and rewards. They don’t hand out big trophies for ideas. small efforts.” apply to the work environment. Special Events. Perhaps - Rich Harshaw, CEO, Y2Marketing

Here are a few ideas: your team would enjoy an “In the end, all business operations can be reduced to Awards & Recognition. It could be for appreciation party. Take three words: people, products, and profits.” anything: most organized, best attitude… some time out to - Lee Iacocca, Ex-CEO of the Chrysler Corporation compliment your team’s be creative! If you’re an Not everything that can be counted counts, employer, remember that admirable qualities and make a toast to everyone and not everything that counts can be counted. letting your staff know - Albert Einstein, legendary mathematician on the wonderful things they that you appreciate their ———————————————————————————————————————————————- hard work is important contribute. Though it’s important to work For more inspiration, visit us at www.MakingItTV.com motivation. hard toward your goals, don’t forget to celebrate your achievements & success along the way. Volume 14, No. 3 3 May/June 2003 CALENDAR OF EVENTS For a complete calendar listing, visit our website at www.MakingItTV.com

ELECTRONIC ENTERTAINMENT EXPO 4TH ANNUAL U.S. HISPANIC MARKET BOOM Where: L.A. Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA Where: Omni Hotel, Los Angeles, CA Date: May 14-16, 2003 Date: June 5-6, 2003 Contact: 508-875-EXPO or www.e3expo.com Contact: www.srinstitute.com

STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION SMALL BUSINESS FAIR AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS SUMMIT Where: Oakland & Los Angeles, CA Where: Irvine, CA Date: May 16, 2003 Date: June 19- 22, 2003 Contact: 510-622-4055 or 310-342-1080 Contact: www.turningpointmagazine.net www.boe.ca.gov

Where can you see ‘MAKING IT!’ in your area?

LOS ANGELES SAN DIEGO SACRAMENTO SAN FRANCISCO KTLA - Ch. 5 KSWB - Ch. 5 KSPX - Ch. 29 KKPX - Ch. 16 Sundays 6:30 am Sundays 5:30 am Saturdays 6:30 am Saturdays 6:30 am

‘MAKING IT!’ NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 14, NO. 3 MAY/JUNE 2003

MINORITY SUCCESS STORIES is brought to you by: ‘MAKING IT!’ MINORITY SUCCESS STORIES NELSON DAVIS TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS • AMERICAN HONDA 5800 Sunset Boulevard • Los Angeles, CA 90028 • BOEING Ph. (323) 460-5253 • Fax (323) 460-3907 • CALIFORNIA LOTTERY Email: makingitTV@aol.com • HILTON HOTELS Website: www.MakingItTV.com • SEMPRA ENERGY • THE WALT DISNEY CO. ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED ...... Nelson Davis Executive Producer Kimberly Holmes-Lamar Producer Lecia Van Horn Segment Producer Jocelyn Wang Marketing Manager Eric J. Moore Production Assistant Crystal Murphy Administrative Assistant

Volume 14, No. 3 4 May/June 2003