e tips to make the process a little less painful. Let me preface this with why I mentioned “pain”. If you are like me, deciding to become an entrepreneur was a decision that evolved from your life experiences. Perhaps you worked for many years in companies and were not satisfied with the people you reported to or the salary you were paid. Your decision to start your own business was built upon opportunities that came your way or that you were denied.

As you start to go through these very personal questions, you may feel a full range of emotions erupt including: Anger, Fear, Frustration, Mental Pain, Anguish, Sorrow, Doubt

Why do I mention this? Because I experienced these emotions when I wrote my narrative and I want you to be prepared. Creating this document is like opening old wounds, remembering “bad stuff” and reliving events you really don’t want to dwell on.

If you are a strong person, this can be even more painful, because if you are like me, you focus on the “glass that is half-full, not the half-empty glass”. You worked through these bad times to make a better life for yourself. And it is so frustrating to recount times that you did not win, those times you were bypassed

Background

Did you know that of the thousands of SBA 8a companies, there are only about 750 firms that are owned by caucasian women? Is is impossible to get certified? No. You just need to do your homework.

Here is what the Small Business Administration (SBA) has to say...
Who is considered socially disadvantaged?
According to the SBA Web site: http://www.sba.gov/8abd/indexfaqs.html

“Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as members of a group. Social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control."

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, individuals who are members of the following designated groups are presumed to be socially disadvantaged:
• Black Americans
• Hispanic Americans
• Native Americans (American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Native Hawaiians)
• Asian Pacific Americans
• Members of other groups designated by the SBA.” (this includes Caucasian women)

What evidence must an individual who is not a designated group member provide to show social disadvantage?
”At least one objective distinguishing feature that has contributed to social disadvantage, such as race, ethnic origin, gender, physical handicap, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or other similar causes not common to individuals who are not socially disadvantaged" - SBA Web site

What types of evidence can be used to assist in meeting the burden of proof?
Evidence which tends to show generalized patterns of discrimination against a non-designated group or statistical data showing that businesses owned by a specific non-designated group are disproportionately underrepresented in a particular industry may be used to augment an individual's case. Statistics and generalized patterns are not sufficient by themselves to establish a case of individual social disadvantage. “However, an individual's statement of personal experiences in combination with the generalized evidence may be sufficient to demonstrate social disadvantage.” – SBA Web site

You can write your own narrative!
Now that you know the fundamentals of the SBA 8a program, it is time to start thinking about writing your social narrative. Starting an extensive Internet research, I located several companies that would help me prepare the whole packet (which I didn’t need the whole service) or the narrative but, the prices were outrageous! My budget would not justify hiring these consultants for hundreds or thousands of dollars. After recovering from sticker shock, I was even more determined to complete this narrative as a personal challenge.

So I invested over 80 hours of in-depth personal research, interviewing recent 8a designees and compiling a list of criteria to include in my social narrative. Coming from a project management background, I kept notes on all of the processes, resources and tips. After organizing my materials, I produced a seven page narrative and submitted it electronically to the SBA. In about a week, my company received 8a status.

There are three areas the SBA wants to see evidence of discrimination: education, employment and business work history. You can put together a compelling argument for your cause, just like I did, by focusing on four areas in your life. They are:

• Family Background / Influence: It is relevant to start your narrative with a background history of your family and its influence upon your education, career and business endeavors. Describe the influence your family exerted on your career decisions. What were you expected to do with your life / career? What types of careers did your parents, siblings, grandparents or extended family members pursue? How did this differ from what you wanted to achieve later in life?

• Educational Background / Opportunities: Educational experiences directly influence your ability to make career choices. Describe your educational background. Did you complete high school? Do you have a college degree? Where did you attend school? How long did it take you to complete your education?

• Career Experience / Earning capacity: Career experiences directly influence your earning capacity and overall quality of life. Can you give an example of when you were subjected to harassment in your work environment that had a dramatic negative affect on your overall job performance?

• Business History / Your experience as a small business owner since applying for and receiving SBA 8a status can be a great boost to your company’s income.

Be prepared to live through some personal pain
Before you begin to write in your journals, here are some tips to make the process a little less painful. Let me preface this with why I mentioned “pain”. If you are like me, deciding to become an entrepreneur was a decision that evolved from your life experiences. Perhaps you worked for many years in companies and were not satisfied with the people you reported to or the salary you were paid. Your decision to start your own business was built upon opportunities that came your way or that you were denied.

As you start to go through these very personal questions, you may feel a full range of emotions erupt including: Anger, Fear, Frustration, Mental Pain, Anguish, Sorrow, Doubt

Why do I mention this? Because I experienced these emotions when I wrote my narrative and I want you to be prepared. Creating this document is like opening old wounds, remembering “bad stuff” and reliving events you really don’t want to dwell on.

If you are a strong person, this can be even more painful, because if you are like me, you focus on the “glass that is half-full, not the half-empty glass”. You worked through these bad times to make a better life for yourself. And it is so frustrating to recount times that you did not win, those times you were bypassed f

tinguishing feature that has contributed to social disadvantage, such as race, ethnic origin, gender, physical handicap, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or other similar causes not common to individuals who are not socially disadvantaged" - SBA Web site

What types of evidence can be used to assist in meeting the burden of proof?
Evidence which tends to show generalized patterns of discrimination against a non-designated group or statistical data showing that businesses owned by a specific non-designated group are disproportionately underrepresented in a particular industry may be used to augment an individual's case. Statistics and generalized patterns are not sufficient by themselves to establish a case of individual social disadvantage. “However, an individual's statement of personal experiences in combination with the generalized evidence may be sufficient to demonstrate social disadvantage.” – SBA Web site

You can write your own narrative!
Now that you know the fundamentals of the SBA 8a program, it is time to start thinking about writing your social narrative. Starting an extensive Internet research, I located several companies that would help me prepare the whole packet (which I didn’t need the whole service) or the narrative but, the prices were outrageous! My budget would not justify hiring these consultants for hundreds or thousands of dollars. After recovering from sticker shock, I was even more determined to complete this narrative as a personal challenge.

So I invested over 80 hours of in-depth personal research, interviewing recent 8a designees and compiling a list of criteria to include in my social narrative. Coming from a project management background, I kept notes on all of the processes, resources and tips. After organizing my materials, I produced a seven page narrative and submitted it electronically to the SBA. In about a week, my company received 8a status.

There are three areas the SBA wants to see evidence of discrimination: education, employment and business work history. You can put together a compelling argument for your cause, just like I did, by focusing on four areas in your life. They are:

• Family Background / Influence: It is relevant to start your narrative with a background history of your family and its influence upon your education, career and business endeavors. Describe the influence your family exerted on your career decisions. What were you expected to do with your life / career? What types of careers did your parents, siblings, grandparents or extended family members pursue? How did this differ from what you wanted to achieve later in life?

• Educational Background / Opportunities: Educational experiences directly influence your ability to make career choices. Describe your educational background. Did you complete high school? Do you have a college degree? Where did you attend school? How long did it take you to complete your education?

• Career Experience / Earning capacity: Career experiences directly influence your earning capacity and overall quality of life. Can you give an example of when you were subjected to harassment in your work environment that had a dramatic negative affect on your overall job performance?

• Business History / Your experience as a small business owner since applying for and receiving SBA 8a status can be a great boost to your company’s income.

Be prepared to live through some personal pain
Before you begin to write in your journals, here are some tips to make the process a little less painful. Let me preface this with why I mentioned “pain”. If you are like me, deciding to become an entrepreneur was a decision that evolved from your life experiences. Perhaps you worked for many years in companies and were not satisfied with the people you reported to or the salary you were paid. Your decision to start your own business was built upon opportunities that came your way or that you were denied.

As you start to go through these very personal questions, you may feel a full range of emotions erupt including: Anger, Fear, Frustration, Mental Pain, Anguish, Sorrow, Doubt

Why do I mention this? Because I experienced these emotions when I wrote my narrative and I want you to be prepared. Creating this document is like opening old wounds, remembering “bad stuff” and reliving events you really don’t want to dwell on.

If you are a strong person, this can be even more painful, because if you are like me, you focus on the “glass that is half-full, not the half-empty glass”. You worked through these bad times to make a better life for yourself. And it is so frustrating to recount times that you did not win, those times you were bypassed

veral companies that would help me prepare the whole packet (which I didn’t need the whole service) or the narrative but, the prices were outrageous! My budget would not justify hiring these consultants for hundreds or thousands of dollars. After recovering from sticker shock, I was even more determined to complete this narrative as a personal challenge.

So I invested over 80 hours of in-depth personal research, interviewing recent 8a designees and compiling a list of criteria to include in my social narrative. Coming from a project management background, I kept notes on all of the processes, resources and tips. After organizing my materials, I produced a seven page narrative and submitted it electronically to the SBA. In about a week, my company received 8a status.

There are three areas the SBA wants to see evidence of discrimination: education, employment and business work history. You can put together a compelling argument for your cause, just like I did, by focusing on four areas in your life. They are:

• Family Background / Influence: It is relevant to start your narrative with a background history of your family and its influence upon your education, career and business endeavors. Describe the influence your family exerted on your career decisions. What were you expected to do with your life / career? What types of careers did your parents, siblings, grandparents or extended family members pursue? How did this differ from what you wanted to achieve later in life?

• Educational Background / Opportunities: Educational experiences directly influence your ability to make career choices. Describe your educational background. Did you complete high school? Do you have a college degree? Where did you attend school? How long did it take you to complete your education?

• Career Experience / Earning capacity: Career experiences directly influence your earning capacity and overall quality of life. Can you give an example of when you were subjected to harassment in your work environment that had a dramatic negative affect on your overall job performance?

• Business History / Your experience as a small business owner since applying for and receiving SBA 8a status can be a great boost to your company’s income.

Be prepared to live through some personal pain
Before you begin to write in your journals, here are some tips to make the process a little less painful. Let me preface this with why I mentioned “pain”. If you are like me, deciding to become an entrepreneur was a decision that evolved from your life experiences. Perhaps you worked for many years in companies and were not satisfied with the people you reported to or the salary you were paid. Your decision to start your own business was built upon opportunities that came your way or that you were denied.

As you start to go through these very personal questions, you may feel a full range of emotions erupt including: Anger, Fear, Frustration, Mental Pain, Anguish, Sorrow, Doubt

Why do I mention this? Because I experienced these emotions when I wrote my narrative and I want you to be prepared. Creating this document is like opening old wounds, remembering “bad stuff” and reliving events you really don’t want to dwell on.

If you are a strong person, this can be even more painful, because if you are like me, you focus on the “glass that is half-full, not the half-empty glass”. You worked through these bad times to make a better life for yourself. And it is so frustrating to recount times that you did not win, those times you were bypassed

ess endeavors. Describe the influence your family exerted on your career decisions. What were you expected to do with your life / career? What types of careers did your parents, siblings, grandparents or extended family members pursue? How did this differ from what you wanted to achieve later in life?

• Educational Background / Opportunities: Educational experiences directly influence your ability to make career choices. Describe your educational background. Did you complete high school? Do you have a college degree? Where did you attend school? How long did it take you to complete your education?

• Career Experience / Earning capacity: Career experiences directly influence your earning capacity and overall quality of life. Can you give an example of when you were subjected to harassment in your work environment that had a dramatic negative affect on your overall job performance?

• Business History / Your experience as a small business owner since applying for and receiving SBA 8a status can be a great boost to your company’s income.

Be prepared to live through some personal pain
Before you begin to write in your journals, here are some tips to make the process a little less painful. Let me preface this with why I mentioned “pain”. If you are like me, deciding to become an entrepreneur was a decision that evolved from your life experiences. Perhaps you worked for many years in companies and were not satisfied with the people you reported to or the salary you were paid. Your decision to start your own business was built upon opportunities that came your way or that you were denied.

As you start to go through these very personal questions, you may feel a full range of emotions erupt including: Anger, Fear, Frustration, Mental Pain, Anguish, Sorrow, Doubt

Why do I mention this? Because I experienced these emotions when I wrote my narrative and I want you to be prepared. Creating this document is like opening old wounds, remembering “bad stuff” and reliving events you really don’t want to dwell on.

If you are a strong person, this can be even more painful, because if you are like me, you focus on the “glass that is half-full, not the half-empty glass”. You worked through these bad times to make a better life for yourself. And it is so frustrating to recount times that you did not win, those times you were bypassed

e tips to make the process a little less painful. Let me preface this with why I mentioned “pain”. If you are like me, deciding to become an entrepreneur was a decision that evolved from your life experiences. Perhaps you worked for many years in companies and were not satisfied with the people you reported to or the salary you were paid. Your decision to start your own business was built upon opportunities that came your way or that you were denied.

As you start to go through these very personal questions, you may feel a full range of emotions erupt including: Anger, Fear, Frustration, Mental Pain, Anguish, Sorrow, Doubt

Why do I mention this? Because I experienced these emotions when I wrote my narrative and I want you to be prepared. Creating this document is like opening old wounds, remembering “bad stuff” and reliving events you really don’t want to dwell on.

If you are a strong person, this can be even more painful, because if you are like me, you focus on the “glass that is half-full, not the half-empty glass”. You worked through these bad times to make a better life for yourself. And it is so frustrating to recount times that you did not win, those times you were bypassed for promotions and this negativity dredges up anger and self-doubt. But it is only temporary pain and think of it as a positive reinforcement that you made the right choice to build your own business.

With that said…. Here is another tip… I could only write and answer a few questions at a sitting. While you do need to set a time limit on getting this document prepared, give yourself a break and write on it until you start to feel too emotional. Stop and come back later to continue writing. Keep the tissues nearby and decide that when you complete this task you have earned a little reward: Starbucks coffee, new earrings, or a pedicure.

Here are the two key points to remember as you prepare the narrative:

1. Think of this as a writing exercise: Plan on spending at least 3-4 hours writing, editing and preparing the final narrative. This is just a paper, don’t stress!

2. Put on your Whiner Cap: This is the one time that it is OK to be a whiner. I know that this goes against all that you have taught, but in this case, to be a winner, you must be a whiner. You have permission to whine and write about it.

And finally.... be sure to add some quotes to your narrative. One way to add credibility to your narrative is to use quotes from studies what support your claims. The Internet is full of quotes that relate directly to your personal situation. I used eight quotes in my seven page narrative.

The best way to find quotes is to do a Google search www.google.com on key words that you want to emphasize in your narrative. For example I used the following descriptors:
• women salaries
• women education
• Texas women careers

I hope you are inspired to now begin writing your social narrative. If you need additional help, please refer to the Design2Train website: www.design2train.com/sba8a/index.html