GOOD BUSINESS IS ABOUT GOOD RELATIONSHIPS. Sure, it might sound a little cliché, but it's true. It's also true that good business relationships are built on a foundation of solid results by professionals who treat their clients and customers with thoughtful attentiveness.
The rules of doing business with the GLBT community aren't unique, but there are certainly some new twists that have arisen with globalization. Survival in the global economy involves more than understanding and implementing diversity. It requires businesses to be agile in adapting to the ever-changing marketplace. A niche market may very well be imperative to survival, but focusing on that market to the detriment of all else may work for the short term, but also be the veritable undoing of a budding enterprise.
Statistics consistently bear out that the economics of the GLBT market sector is not only significant and something big business courts, it is also a powerful influence. Think back a few months to Ford and Microsoft making an abrupt about-face on policy decisions when the threat of pink dollars and talent being taken elsewhere was invoked. Clearly, for a business to simply label itself as 'gay friendly' is not enough anymore. Good business relationships in the GLBT community engage resources to strengthen us all, not simply to step up the cha-ching of a cash register harvesting 'pinkbacks' from GLBT wallets.
Quorum exists to foster leadership for economic activity and its members are the leaders in strengthening our community. When one of us is strengthened, a beautiful thing begins to happen: a chain reaction of successes broadens the network of customers and infuses valuable revenue. The myth of finite revenue or customers is just that-a myth. Economic growth creates more of both.
The only limitations are those which we place on ourselves. Participation in Quorum is an opportunity to tear down those self-imposed limitations and discover the creative energy and entrepreneurial drive to become the success you strive to be.
Todd Park
Editor
