Dr. George C. Fraser is Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc., a company he founded some 30 years ago, to lead a global networking movement for people of African descent. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he was an orphan and foster child for 15 years. He spent 20 years in leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, United Way and Ford Motor Company before starting his business in 1987.
He has written six best-selling books to include: Success Runs in Our Race, Click and most recently, Mission Unstoppable: Extraordinary Stories of Failure’s Blessings, a book he co-authored with Les Brown. Upscale Magazine named him one of the “Top 50 Power Brokers in Black America,” and Black Enterprise magazine called him “Black America’s #1 Networker” and featured him on its cover.
Dr. Fraser has been featured on seven national magazine covers, and has received 350 awards and citations to include Induction into the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum, 3 Honorary Doctorate Degrees, a Chaplaincy and an *Ambassadorship. He has been named as one of the best speakers in America and five of his speeches have been selected for global distribution by the prestigious Vital Speeches of the Day magazine, a first for any professional speaker in America.
He has been married to Nora Jean for 44 years and has two sons.
Dr. Fraser is most proud of the two African-centered charter schools he helped founded which educate nearly 300 inner city Black children of which 70% are boys.
MHC-What are the most imperative characteristics that you believe makes a good leader?
GF-There are many characteristics that require being a part of one’s inner core some are learned organically and some are learned in the classrooms. Not only must you have a decent IQ, you have to be knowledgeable about life in the world and have a high emotional intelligence. You have to understand how to approach people. People come from different backgrounds and experiences and may have different needs. Having the ability to adapt and understand the people you lead is a good characteristic to have as well as having a positive attitude. The characteristics that are important in cultivating these relationships require the ability to:
Communicate
Inspire
Show empathy
Delegate
Build trust
Have self confidence
Furthermore, being able to think outside the box and be a creative thinker can also add value in being an effective leader. All of the great leaders that I have ever worked with also had good intuition and were visionaries.
MHC-How do you describe the most effective ways to network in the world of social media?
GF-We cannot get away from social media. If you are engaged in business in anyway, social media is a low cost tool to reach people. It is a way to build your reputation, trust, and brand. It is important to fully engage in all aspects of Facebook, Linkedln, Twitter, Instagram, or wherever people gather virtually. The most effective ways that I use social media is by using it as a way to educate, inspire, and empower. 98% of my social media post goals are to add value to followers; I want people to learn something. In addition, it is important in business to be consistent in your post, if possible post everyday also be responsive. Overall, social media can be an effective business tool overtime to communicate effectively a brand, product, or service.
MHC-With the new political changes is there anything that you recommend for minorities?
GF-Do not get fixated on Donald Trump. He is going to do whatever he is going to do and it is nothing you can do about that. You do not control him, who you do control is you. My advice for the interesting four years to come is to get focus, stay positive, and control your own life. Do not let the negativity or controversy occupy your brain or creativity. Spend more time on you, your product and your service. You have to chase excellence and never chase money. Money has a way to attaching itself to excellence. Focus on honing your skills and doing your thing repeatedly; constantly keep sharpening your saw. Do not be distracted by the noise, there will be plenty of it during this presidency, Trump will not put money in your pocket, you can do that by focusing on you and not on him. He already has his and is not thinking about you.
MHC-What motivated you to write Success Runs in our Race?
GF- I noticed that in 1994 there were 14 books on networking however none of the books targeted African Americans. I wrote Success Run’s in our Race 23 years ago. The book tells the history of networking in the African American community into modern times. I felt that the African American community needed a book that discussed effective networking strategies. The book is a runaway best seller and a required reading in over 50 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). It is a modern classic, which started the conversation of networking in the black community.
MHC- What is your life Model?
GF- “Give first share always and the getting comes later” Connect the dots. Leverage effectively your resources and intellectual capital. There are many people out here ready, willing, and able to support you. It is impossible to give and not get. You cannot take out of life what you do not give and when you give, do so without conditions. The purpose of life is to love, give, serve, and add value. Today you give your best tomorrow you must be better. The constant state of evaluating how you get better. Even after 2,000 speeches, I evaluate how can be better.
MHC-Tell me about the Power Networking Conference.
GF- The Power Networking Conference is a place to access business opportunities and networking opportunities where people can get the most brilliant training. Forbes called the Power Networking Conference one of the Top 5 conferences in America not to be missed. 16 years-people come to access powerful contacts.
The conference will take place on July 6-8 2017at the Prince George’s County, MD Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.
There will be unlimited start up opportunities. It is a smorgasbord, of building your business, improving your wealth, and improving your wellness. It is a place where people come to access powerful contacts and learn skills to build their business. There are over 50 workshops and power talks (similar to Ted talks). Unlimited start up opportunities.
www.Powernetworkingconference.com
More information on visit Dr. Georg Fraser website: www.Frasernet.com.
