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The State of Black Fives
by Claude Johnson
Special Report:
February 2007
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Please allow me to expand on the trendy "State of the Union" theme for a minute, if you don't mind. Many people ask, and I often ask myself, "Where we at?" In proper English, "What is our status?" Or, "Where are we relative to our original goals?" For that matter, "What are our goals?" More accurately even if improper would be, "Where I'm at?" That's more accurate because Black Fives still has just one employee, namely me.
Doing just about everything by myself worked for a long time without me realizing that I had no clear vision and that wasn't thinking big enough. Then one day I learned how to overcome my fear of success and my doubt about self-worth, obstacles I still work daily to overcome (more on that some other time). I learned how to think bigger. As a result, my vision got bigger, and naturally so did the opportunities not only for me but also for others. Now there are so many great opportunities that I am scared NOT to pursue them, but I cannot do it on my own. I need help. That is why I am actively seeking partners in all areas of my business.
I use the word "partners" on purpose and in the literal sense. Partners share in the profit. Partners build for themselves. Ideal partners would have their own visions for how to create opportunities and rewards. They would understand the powers of attraction and manifestation, that is, 1) why this Black Fives opportunity is for them, and 2) how to create something from nothing. These two points are so important because I created Black Fives from nothing, using little more than a library card!
In fact, all of the initiatives and opportunities that exist today were created from scratch the same way, with nothing more than an idea and a desire. I want to work with people who possess that same outlook and approach to their pursuits and their lives. I want to work with people who do things out of joy and purpose vs. fear and obligation.
Black Fives has come a long way since the days when I spent my vacation days, holidays, sick days, and probably even some days playing hooky in the basement of the Schomburg Library in Harlem, studying microfilm until I was bleery-eyed and it wasn't even lunchtime yet.
Now I have a license agreement with Nike and Converse, a foundation I am setting up, film projects in development, a traveling museum exhibit, a uniquely-positioned e-commerce business, multiple written works in line for publishing, lecture and seminar opportunities ...
Along the way I discovered my mission, which is to teach and inspire. In fact, it occured to me that I had been tutoring inner-city kids since I was a freshman in high school. I did it because I just thought that's what people did. I did it in college too, and in graduate school, and I continued to do it throughout my corporate career, and now that I have my own kids I teach them too. It turns out that Black Fives is just a vehicle for my mission! But I have to admit something. I noticed that the more people I teach and inspire, the richer the rewards. You understand when I say "rewards" I mean "inner" as well as "outer." Unfortunately, most teachers make far too little money, and most people with a lot of money make far too little time for teaching. Black Fives offers the opportunity to reconcile this phenomenon of the industrial age and do both. Ideal partners want both. Ideal companies offer both. I want both. In reality and paradoxically, truly fulfilling "outer" wealth can only result from the pursuit of truly fulfilling "inner" wealth.
So, where I'm at?
Well, below is a list of most of the opportunities I am working on these days, along with a few comments about the status and next steps of each:
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Licensed Merchandise
- Nike footwear, apparel, and accessory deliveries continue with new Spring 2007 program
- Converse has completed preliminary designs for a major collection of Black Fives footwear, apparel, and accessories to help it celebrate the company's centennial in 2008 and beyond
- Expansion of licensing program into additional product categories
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Film Documentary
- Letter of intent received from a prominent, Peabody award-winning producer
- Overall treatment completed
- Research completed
- Script in development
- Target completion late-2007
- Preliminary development funding stage
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Feature Film
- Letter of intent received from a prominent, highly visible, award-winning producer
- Story outline accepted
- Research completed
- Treatment and script in development
- Target completion 2008
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Traveling Museum Exhibit
- Preliminary discussions with Smithsonian Institute and others regarding operations and sponsor matching
- Includes important artifacts, documents, ephemera, memorabilia, vintage equipment, reproductions, and other items and materials from the Black Fives archive as well as from private collections, Converse, and Basketball Hall of Fame
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Large Stage Events
- Concerts/music
- School Seminars/Workshops
- Basketball games
- To coincide with Traveling Museum Exhibit
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Publishing:
- Kids Book Series
- Chronological History
- Greatest Moments and Lessons Book
- Photo and Ephemera Book
- Dramatic Book
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Public Speaking:
- Lectures
- Seminars/Workshops
- Motivational Speaking
- Schools, colleges, community-based organizations, corporations
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Website and eCommerce:
- Online store
- Nike, Converse footwear and related products
- Black Fives licensed products
- Branded merchandising opportunities
- Cross-promotional opportunities
- Digital media opportunities
- Growing customer base
- Rich content
- Advertising and sponsorship opportunities
As you can see, this is going to be a lot of work! However, imagine how many people will be touched and inspired by the messages and lessons offered by Black Fives! The rewards, therefore, will be rich. Therefore, I am committed to these projects and to getting them done by doing whatever it takes (so long as it is legal, ethical, and does not hurt anyone)! I am committed to building the team that it will take to make these projects succeed! I am optimistic that one year from now, I will give you a glowing report in which each of these projects is listed as a major success or well on its way to being one! If so, then you know I am going to celebrate! In fact, I am going to celebrate each success, however small, along the way!
If you are interested in working with any of these initiatives, please contact me immediately!
Meanwhile, thank you very much for your continued encouragement and support. I hope that Black Fives continues not only to live up to your expectations but also to push your expectations to new areas with results that go beyond what you thought was possible!
Sincerely,
Claude Johnson
Founder and President
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