Monday, October 13, 2008
Social networking
We all know that networking is important to grow our businesses and our personal contact lists - but are you aware of the new buzzword on the internet - "social networking?" Social networking includes such things as Linkedin and twitter. It allows you to increase your network with people you may never actually "meet" and yet they may still be of help to you. Most "social networkers" understand the need to not only have a website, but to also have a blog on your site that allows people the opportunity to communicate with you and for you to offer more personal help than a website might allow. Are you a social networker?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I received this message from Mick Fleming, President of American Chamber of Commerce Executives, and I thought it would be good to share with all of you:
"Onward.With varying degrees of success, I have attempted to make a one-word slogan the driving force in my professional life and - I like to think - in the life of this organization.The last ten days, I admit to more than a few moments of self-doubt and anxiety. How could anyone not have such feelings in the face of nearly unimaginable changes in the economic life of the nation and the world? Wouldn't it be nice if you and I had the luxury of succumbing to despair? Wouldn't a full-blown abdication and escape to a bar, a beach, or the fetal position feel good about now?Well, that's not an option. Never before has my one-word mantra been more relevant for me personally and, I suspect for some of you. Of course we will need to adapt and avoid going blindly forward as if changes aren't going to affect us. But we must continue the critical work, carry the messages of hope, and fight for the principles and goals we know to be right with whatever resources we have available. It's what we do.Think of it this way: Everything you have ever learned . . . every skill you've developed, every network you've nurtured and every experience you've stored in your personal and organizational arsenals must now be put to use in the most important challenge of our time. The chamber of commerce movement (regardless of what monikers we attach to our entities) has obligation to push, pull, steer and drive the economic recovery of this country. Others will weigh in too, of course, but can they succeed without your regional and street-level leadership? Impossible."
Our local economy relies on us shopping, dining and using local services - now is not the time to despair!
"Onward.With varying degrees of success, I have attempted to make a one-word slogan the driving force in my professional life and - I like to think - in the life of this organization.The last ten days, I admit to more than a few moments of self-doubt and anxiety. How could anyone not have such feelings in the face of nearly unimaginable changes in the economic life of the nation and the world? Wouldn't it be nice if you and I had the luxury of succumbing to despair? Wouldn't a full-blown abdication and escape to a bar, a beach, or the fetal position feel good about now?Well, that's not an option. Never before has my one-word mantra been more relevant for me personally and, I suspect for some of you. Of course we will need to adapt and avoid going blindly forward as if changes aren't going to affect us. But we must continue the critical work, carry the messages of hope, and fight for the principles and goals we know to be right with whatever resources we have available. It's what we do.Think of it this way: Everything you have ever learned . . . every skill you've developed, every network you've nurtured and every experience you've stored in your personal and organizational arsenals must now be put to use in the most important challenge of our time. The chamber of commerce movement (regardless of what monikers we attach to our entities) has obligation to push, pull, steer and drive the economic recovery of this country. Others will weigh in too, of course, but can they succeed without your regional and street-level leadership? Impossible."
Our local economy relies on us shopping, dining and using local services - now is not the time to despair!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bailout or corporate welfare?
Is the government's bailout of Wall Street really corporate welfare? Given the news that some CEO's walked away from their failing businesses with millions of dollars in pay and that many folks knew the mortgages they were writing and taking were worthless - is using taxpayer money to help prop up the market really just a new kind of welfare. What do you think? Weigh in with your opinion.
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