Every summer my brother, a Jesuit priest, takes a group of high school students and parents on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic for two weeks to help a desperately poor little town with the most basic of needs. The group, which averages about 100 people, includes doctors who run their makeshift medical clinic and engineers who oversee their yearly construction project. The high school girls generally work in the clinic or with the town children, while the boys are more than happy to prove their brute strength and exert their energy in the manual labor of construction. As you might imagine, this is quite an experience for these young men and women, most of whom have never seen real poverty, as they volunteer two weeks of their summer vacation to serve those most in need. For some the experience is life changing.

As this year’s group prepares to embark on their journey, a journey that will undoubtedly be filled with adventure and wonder and meaning, I’m reminded of a story that my brother shared with me after one of his recent trips which seems curiously relevant for those of us in the world of business at such a difficult time in the global economy.

If you find yourself in the position of having to look for a job, consider this: You are not alone. While there’s always something positive to learn from your experience, it’s probable that you weren’t the cause of your unemployment, as is the case for millions across the country. The problem is bigger than all of us. Your past, however, does not equal your future. The job market may be extremely competitive, but it’s not impossible to overcome. The key to finding your next job is getting in front of as many potential employers as possible, and to do that you absolutely must stand out in the crowd.

Over the last three weeks we have been addressing an issue recently reported on by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency regarding disparities in access to financial capital between minority and non-minority companies in the United States. This is my third and final part of this series where we not only address the problem, but offer potential solutions and an open forum to discuss your experiences, questions or concerns. Whereas last week we looked at various sources of capital, this week we will focus on the requirements typically sought by lenders of borrowers and the local and national agencies and resources available to assist business owners with the process.

Last week, in Part I of Disparities in Access To Financial Capital, I address the problem many minority business are facing as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency. This week I am addressing potential solutions to the problem by highlighting the various sources of capital available to small and minority-owned businesses. Next week we’ll focus on the requirements typically sought by lenders of borrowers and the local and national agencies and resources available to assist business owners with the process.

According to the MBDA’s report, if minority-owned firms would have reached parity with the representation of minorities in the U.S. population, these firms would have employed over 16.1 million workers, grossed over $2.5 trillion in receipts, and numbered 6.5 million firms. In other words, minority businesses in the U.S. aren’t as strong as they could be, and one of the main reasons is access to capital. We know that inadequate capital access is a problem for business across the board, whether minority-owned or not. But according to the report, “The latest nationally representative data on the financing of minority firms indicates large disparities in access to financial capital. Minority-owned businesses are found to pay higher interest rates on loans. They are also more likely to be denied credit, and are less likely to apply for loans because they fear their applications will be denied.” That’s a problem because today, when the strength of our nation’s economic productivity is more important than ever, the growth potential of minority-owned businesses is being hindered.

Information is as precious as gold. If you don’t believe me just look at how much money is spent on its dissemination through the internet, television, radio and print media on a daily basis. But if we truly live in an information age, why isn’t everybody cashing in on the bonanza? The answer is simple: because information obtains its worth when, where and how it is applied. It’s like earning a return on an investment. When you learn, you’re making a deposit into an investment account. To maximize your return on the investment, be sure you deposit into the right account by simply applying the information in a way that is relevant to achieving your goals.

What are the qualities of a good leader? This is one of the most important and enduring questions to occupy the minds of men and women since before the dawn of recorded history. From our prehistoric ancestors to you and me today, we look to our leaders for guidance, direction, balance, and even survival. Renowned French diplomat during the French Revolution, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, wrote, “I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep.” Effective leaders affect outcomes. They rally their forces together under a common flag to accomplish what others might consider to be impossible. Whether you’re talking about a nation, a company, or a non-profit organization, the importance of an effective leader cannot be overstated.

Today marks the end of an era with the passing of one of the most beloved men of our business community, Armando Llorente, at the age of 91. Many people may not be aware of the extent of this man’s contributions to our community – and that’s exactly how he would want it – but in one way or another, directly or indirectly, we have all been touched by his generosity and unselfish spirit of service. Actually, his influence extends far beyond the realm of business, and I’m sure that much will be written about him locally in the coming days, but I think it’s appropriate to focus my reflection from a business perspective because Llorente devoted his entire life to mentoring some of the most successful businessmen and professionals, first in Cuba, then in Miami. Ironically, though, he himself was not a businessman in the traditional sense. Though he was the consummate professional, an excellent manager, and master negotiator, he worked for a different kind of company, La Compañía de Jesus. Fr. Armando Llorente S.J., was a Jesuit priest.

It wasn’t as though I needed to be reminded of the power and importance of goal setting and goal achievement, I’ve always been a big believer in the process, but today my belief was renewed. The source of my inspiration is my eleven year old son who set a goal for himself to break a score of fifty in nine holes of golf, his favorite sport, by his next birthday. As far as I’m concerned, the score itself isn’t what’s important – that’s relative to the player. While breaking fifty in nine holes may not be anything to write home about for a well-seasoned golfer, it’s quite an accomplishment for an eleven year old boy who has his mind set on one day playing competitive golf in junior high school and beyond. (If I’m going to be honest, it would be quite an achievement for me as well.. What is important to me is that my son felt passionate enough about something to set a well-defined goal that he wanted to accomplish within a set time frame. What is it about goals that motivates us, even from a very young age?

Every other week or so, my 88 year old grandfather and I will jump in the car and drive an hour and a half each way to visit one of our oldest repeat clients in Palm Beach. I make it a point to include my grandfather in as many of these meetings as possible for two reasons. First, because his experience in this type of heavy agri-industrial design and construction is second to none. This is the kind of project my grandfather can design in his sleep. Second, because he takes a personal interest in this client in particular, and it’s easy to understand why. My grandfather has been designing and building for this same client since the early 1950s in Cuba, and he insists on taking care of them with the same attention to detail he has employed for more than sixty years. This professional relationship was interrupted for a time when in 1960 both he and his client fled communist Cuba in search of freedom. Years later their paths would once again cross in South Florida – where each was starting over in their respective industries, doing what they did best. It wasn’t long before my grandfather was once again designing and building for his client – only this time in the Unites States, and as a result, Lemartec was born.

As far as my grandfather and his client are concerned, it’s as though they never skipped a beat. What makes this story so meaningful to me is the fact that today my grandfather is 88 years old and yet he continues to approach his work , and his client, with the same professionalism, and respect, and attention to detail he did nearly six decades ago. I can’t think of a better model businessman or mentor than my grandfather, so I truly value the many hours we get to spend together discussing our business and life on those many long drives to and from our client’s job site in Palm Beach. On one of our recent trips I asked him to share with me his views on what it takes to be successful in business. Without a moment’s hesitation he replied as though he was ready for the question, “You need three things…”