Good manners might not be considered a business asset, but their absence can become a huge liability, attendees of the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Week Conference at Jackson State were told Monday.
Civility is a competitive edge, said Marilyn J. Evans, owner of Miss M’s Finishing Touches Etiquette Consultancy, LLC, in Atlanta. And the rise of incivility is hitting corporations where it hurts — in the balance sheet. Ignoring it can be costly, including:
— Employee generated lawsuits
— Declining commitment to the organization
— Decreased effort
— Increased tardiness and absenteeism
— Poor customer service
— Physical violence
In addition to the high cost of incivility, Evans said, entrepreneurs should be aware of the image they put out to the public. “You have to have manners,” she said. “Manners have not gone out of style.”
How someone dresses, acts, even smiles, can “brand” the person — and organization — more than any company statements. She defined manners or company etiquette as simply “showing sensitivity toward others.”
Evans was one of several successful entrepreneurs who came to share their stories and the secrets to their success with students, faculty and attendees of the conference titled “Unleashing the Entrepreneur Within.
Earlier, Percy Wilson, president of PerWil Management Resources of Washington, D.C., a consulting firm with partnerships in Africa, spoke on creating international partnerships.
Access to capital it important, he said. “Look for parties who believe in what you’re doing, not what you believe in politically.” Don’t be afraid to reach out to others. Investors are looking for individuals with ideas and passion.
Asking how many people in the audience owned their own business, how many of them were students, and how many wanted to own their own business, Wilson said that ideas and passion drive success.
If a person has a passion to create business enterprises, then classroom lessons become even more meaningful, he said.
“I think what you think, what you talk about, you’ll do,” he said.
Don’t be afraid to fail. You will probably fail a couple of times,” he said, “but that’s OK. It’s part of the learning process.”
In introducing Wilson and welcoming attendees, College of Business Dean Dr. Ramin Maysami said entrepreneurship is central to U.S. business.
“Innovation is really what we want in our students,” Maysami said.
The three-day annual conference continues Tuesday with workshops on using mobile devices in business, media entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and business readiness for emergencies.
The conference will highlight women’s achievements at a Women Entrepreneurs Day Awards Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the JSU Student Center, Ballroom A.
Also on Wednesday workshops will be held on Mississippi Department of Transportation and Mississippi Development Authority certification.
The conference will also feature a global entrepreneur chat with Dr. John Calhoun from Morocco, North Africa, as part of the U.S. Delegation to the Fifth Annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Marrakesh. Another highlight will be the JSU Tiger Tank, a Social Entrepreneurship Student Business Plan Competition, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the College of Business Building.
The event is sponsored by the Department of Entrepreneurship and Professional Development in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation. The department, chaired by Dr. Mary M. White, interim vice president of institutional advancement, has offered courses on entrepreneurship since 1995.
Registration is $50 for non-students ($75 at the door) and $25 for students. To attend the awards luncheon only is $25.
For more information, call 601-979-2541 or visit https://www.jsums.edu/entrepreneurship/2014-entrepreneurs-conference/