Central Florida Christian Chamber

Examining our profit motive

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

We sometimes maintain a medieval, monkish idea that wealth ought not be part of our Christian mindset. That money is worldly and therefore beneath our consideration.

Nonsense.

It is not money, but the love of money that is the root of evil. We must consider money carefully if we are to be good stewards of it.

What we must not do is fool ourselves into thinking money will solve our problems or meet our needs. God solves problems and meets needs. Sometimes he uses money to do so. Other times he does it by providing smarts, stamina, or people to help us.

Here's a popular passage from stewardship season: 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

We are not asked to forgo wealth. We are not told to avoid profit-making. But we are warned against putting our hope in wealth and profit. We are told to be generous with what has been given us. And to know that what we have is given "for our enjoyment."

As we embark on this new year, we encourage you to enjoy what you have been given, and we pray the chamber can be God's instrument in connecting you to the resources your business needs to succeed. May your new year be happy...and prosperous.

Mark and Brodie's Christmas Message

2011-12-24T15:13:00.000-05:00

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We look forward to serving you in 2012 as we continue to build business, build community and build the Kingdom!

12 trends to watch in the coming year

2011-12-19T05:30:00.001-05:00

Photo by Frank Hermers • sxc.hu

The website trendwatching.com released its free year-end Trend Briefing. The company’s head of research and analysis, Henry Mason, said, “Even with the backdrop of nations defaulting, we see more opportunities than ever for creative brands and entrepreneurs to deliver on changing consumer needs.”

Here’s a summary of the 12 trends. You can find the full report at trendwatching’s website.

1. Red Carpet
Many firms, including Hilton, Starwood and Harrods are providing tailored services for Chinese visitors. Travel from China is up 20 percent from 2010, and The World Tourism Organization estimates the total number of outbound tourists from China will reach 100 million by 2020.

2. DIY Health
Consumers are taking advantage of technology to track and manage their personal health. Apple’s App Store already offers 9,000 health apps.

3. Dealer-Chic
Deals are now about more than saving money: it’s the pursuit, the status, and the perceived smartness. Consumers are looking for more personalization and more loyalty schemes, and are putting more pressure on brands to deliver brilliance.

4. Eco-Cycology
Companies are increasingly taking back their products for recycling, and do so responsibly and innovatively. Nike, for example, recycles rubber from its shoes into artificial track surfaces.

5. Cash-Less
Coins and notes won’t disappear completely, but cashless payment systems have gone mainstream, with MasterCard and Google working on a system of payments, rewards and offers around mobile technologies.

6. Bottom of the Urban Pyramid
The majority of consumerism is urban, yet in much of the world city life is chaotic, cramped and none too pleasant. Low-income urbanites look for innovation tailored to their unique circumstances, from health issues to lack of space to the need for durability. Opportunities for brands catering to such needs are unprecedented.

7. Idle Sourcing
Making it simple for consumers to contribute will be more popular than ever in 2012. Smarter mobile device sensors will let consumers broadcast information about where and what they are doing, to help improve products and services. For example, Boston now has an app that uses smartphones’ accelerometers and GPS to detect potholes.

8. Flawsome
Consumers think brands that behave more humanly, including exposing their flaws, are awesome. Brands that are honest about their flaws, that show some empathy, generosity, and humor will win over consumers. Domino’s, for example, mounted a news scroll in Times Square showing both compliments and complaints from its customers.

9. Screen Culture
The proliferation of touchscreen devices is bringing about a culture that is not only more pervasive, but more personal and immersive than ever. Companies taking advantage of this trend range from those who make screen-friendly winter gloves to a restaurant chain that installed teleconferencing capabilities.

10. Recommerce
It’s never been easier for savvy consumers to resell or trade in past purchases, unlocking the value in their current possessions. Car dealers aren’t the only ones who can take an old product and offer credit toward a new one.

12. Point & Know
Consumers are used to being able to find out just about anything that’s online or text-based, but 2012 will see instant visual information gratification brought into the real and visual world with objects and even people. Some of these technologies, like face recognition software, are already in the market.

11. Emerging Maturialism
Yes, we’re out of order here, because this one … at the risk of editorializing, it’s hard to address to Christian businesspeople. The folks at trendwatching tell us that, “While cultural differences continue to shape consumer desires, middle-class and/or younger consumers in almost every market embrace brands that push boundaries.” If you read the trendwatching report, you’ll find some of those boundaries might have been better left alone. This idea will be harder for Christian businesses to adopt. But we’d love to hear your ideas about it.

View all 12 full trend descriptions, including examples of brands from around the world already implementing them, at www.trendwatching.com/briefing.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T16:36:00.000-05:00

A business lesson from Steve Jobs

2011-10-09T20:35:00.001-04:00

By Kristen Stieffel

The last lesson Steve Jobs had to teach us wasn’t about technology, or industrial design, or following your heart and intuition. His final lesson was about plain boring old succession planning.

Steve Jobs. Photo by Matthew Yohe

Many businesses fail after the death of their founders simply because not enough thought was given to that big, ugly “what if?” Steve and his colleagues at least had the advantage of not being taken by surprise.

At my company, we were not so lucky.

As hard as it must have been for Tim Cook to write that Oct. 5 memo, how much harder was it for Whit Shaw, now the head of American City Business Journals, to write a similar memo one Monday morning two years ago, informing his employees of the weekend death of founder and chairman Ray Shaw.

His father.

Ray died suddenly, unexpectedly, almost stupidly — of complications from a bee sting.

We all felt great sadness at Ray’s loss, even though most of us had never met him. And uncertainty about the future goes without saying. But there was no fear, despite the abruptness of the change, because we trusted in the succession plan. We trusted Whit and the other leaders to be wise. And they have been.

Apple shareholders must now trust that Tim Cook and Jonathan Ive and the company's other leaders will be wise.

As a business leader, do you know whether, if anything were to happen to you, the leaders you leave behind would lead wisely?

It is vital for any businessperson with more than a few employees to have a succession plan. If you’re a one-person operation -- a freelancer or consultant -- then you are the business. But if the business can and should survive you, plan for that. It won’t happen by accident.

Steve’s succession plan was in place because he’d been dealing with cancers since 2004. But even though Ray’s death was an unpredictable fluke, the company leadership was nevertheless able to move forward because a plan was already in place.

Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding, yes. But also use the brains He gave you. To be good stewards of our businesses, we must consider those big, ugly “what ifs.”

Because someday, whether through retirement or illness or death, you will no longer be there to lead your company. You, or someone else, will write a memo to inform your employees.

What will happen after that?

5 keys insights for working with digital natives

2011-09-19T07:09:00.002-04:00

By Michelle Manafy

Neustockimages — iStockphoto

Between all generations lie gaps. Yet today many individuals and businesses face a massive one. The digital native generation -- those who grew up immersed in technologies such as computers, mobile devices, and social networks -- are becoming our dominant employee and consumer base. That means digital immigrants -- those of us who didn’t grow up plugged in -- must navigate an altered landscape to successfully work with them. These insights will help you understand how to leverage the digital native worldview to achieve your business objectives:

1. They live publicly online.

Businesses must address the expectations of those raised in social networking environments, in which they routinely share activities and opinions with a potentially limitless group of friends.

Tip: Capitalize on digital natives’ openness. Understand their inclination to live publicly, and guide those activities so they are consistent with business objectives. Structure employee activities and customer interactions to put this openness to good use.

2. They share knowledge.

Despite much hyperbole about social media and marketing, many organizations limit or ban the use of social networks on the job. This shows a fear of exposure and a lack of understanding of how to channel this generation’s knowledge-sharing inclination.

Tip: Craft guidelines for appropriate use of social networks. Social media and collaborative ways of working can help companies capture otherwise transient knowledge. The old adage was “knowledge is power.” For digital natives, “knowledge shared is power.”

3. They believe transparency yields trust.

Because digital natives live publicly and value knowledge sharing, organizations that demonstrate transparency will attract and retain them as employees and customers. Digital natives make new friends, followers, and fans every day. Remember that it takes a lot of work to maintain a genuine relationship. If digital natives dislike your brand, they will make it publicly known. Luckily, the reverse is also true. Ultra-connected consumers look for organizations that listen, respond, own up to mistakes and maintain authentic relationships.

Tip: To attract and retain this generation as employees, recognize that the best of them monitor opportunities and discuss employers online. For recruiting, this can provide insights into who are the best, brightest, and most social-media savvy. For retention, employers can leverage these same tools to ensure they are competitive in the market.

4. They are timely, not time-managed.

While most people are painfully aware that the line between "at work" and "off duty" is increasingly blurred, digital natives will move beyond work-life balance to a new sort of work-life integration. Work and social activities are with them anywhere, anytime. Digital natives may log more hours at their computers during the course of a day than those in previous generations, but switch back and forth between work and leisure in short bursts. Though this may strike some managers as inappropriate, it helps to realize that while an older worker might head to the break room or a co-worker's desk to clear their head, natives are more likely to catch up on a quick burst of Facebook updates.

Tip: Companies that emphasize collaboration, learning, and socialization will see benefits in comparison to those that focus solely on productivity. Work can be constructively influenced by the expectations of younger workers.

5. They believe in interactions, not transactions.

With all this socializing, one might begin to wonder how any business gets done. But it does. Organizations that develop good social skills will have a competitive advantage over those that don’t. One essential quality is recognizing that this generation is not interested in transactions -- exchanges of money for goods and services. This generation is interested in interactions.

Tip: Unlike a transaction-based system, an interactive one is based upon social currency. Businesses will need to embrace interaction, from marketing to product development and content creation. This generation wants to do business with companies it views as friends and expects to see its ideals and objectives reflected in the companies it chooses to do business with.

While many digital immigrants whole-heartedly adopt digital tools, it is not simply emerging technologies that must be mastered. Lifelong immersion affects the mindset, behavior, and expectations of digital natives. To succeed in business with them, we must understand and build models based on this native culture.

Michelle Manafy is director of content for FreePint Ltd. and co-author of Dancing With Digital Natives: Staying in Step With the Generation That’s Transforming the Way Business Is Done.

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

A Labor Day Prayer

2011-09-05T16:06:00.000-04:00

Father, thank you for blessing us with talents, abilities, spiritual gifts, passions and drive so that all of our efforts may bring glory and honor to You. We thank you for those who have maintained employment through these tough economic times. We pray that You give us the privilege to reflect Your character to our employees, employers, co-workers, clients and customers.

For those who have lost their jobs and are seeking employment, Father please give them the peace that passes all understanding. We ask that You meet the needs of their families and encourage them to seek to open doors of opportunity.

For all of us Father, may we never see our worth and identity in the jobs or careers that we have, or don't have, but in Your sacrifice and love for us. Finally Father, we pray that You continue to use our chamber to be a catalyst for encouragement and commerce as we desire to reflect You as we build business, build community and build the Kingdom. Amen.

Tips for Launching a Startup

2011-09-01T05:42:00.005-04:00

By Cynthia Kocialski

gunnar3000—Fotolia.com

I love startups and all the wonderful gadgets they make. The problem is, most of these wonderful things never make it because the entrepreneur is in love with the technology and lacks an understanding of the business. It’s one thing to develop a product that does something cool, but entrepreneurs need to ask whether it actually solves a problem. Ultimately, the business determines the ultimate success or failure of the product.

Here are some tips for anyone considering launching or financing a startup:

It’s Not About the Product

The product may be the heart of the company, but the product no more makes a company than a heart makes a human being. There are many components to a company that all have to work together harmoniously to succeed.

Have the Courage to Discover

The early-stage startup process is one of discovery, not step-by-step execution. Many first-time entrepreneurs believe you come up with a great product idea, then a detailed business plan, and finally hire people to execute the plan. Discovery is the starting point from which the product and business will evolve, iterate, and be refined as the concept meets the customers, the market, and the investors.

Retool and Revise

The first idea is never the final product. The worst work you will ever do is the first work you do. Press forward past the first iteration, and make use of the lessons you learn along the way.

Build Your Team

You need a team, but not just any team. You need the right team for that stage of a company's life. You wouldn't hire a college professor to teach kindergarten. For that, you need early elementary teachers. Startups also need to find the right people for the right jobs. Those people need to have the right attitude and need to be at a stage of their careers that makes them a match for a startup.

Think Like an Investor

Investing in a startup is risky. If investors wanted a moderate return, they'd invest in public companies like IBM and Coca-Cola. What entrepreneurs don't get is that, to an investor, the company is the product. Entrepreneurs need to understand the investor's perspective. Entrepreneurs create end products, but they also need to create the company. Investors buy companies, not products. For an investor, the best-case scenario is a tested, proven business with a market poised to grow rapidly.

The spirit of American business is embodied in the startup. Innovation and guts are the foundation of the startup, and those qualities also happen to be characteristic of the most successful mega-firms. Let those qualities form the dynamic of your startup. and you’ll be off to a good start.

Cynthia Kocialski has founded three high-tech companies and now is a consultant for startups. She is the author of Startup from the Ground Up.

C12's 2011 Leaders Conference back in Central Florida

2011-08-26T21:08:00.000-04:00

Kzenon — Fotolia.com

C12 launched here in Central Florida in 1992. Now, after hosting its national conference in cities across the U.S., the 2011 Leaders Conference: Standing in the Gap will be held here, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee Oct. 27-29.

This event is a time of targeted, practical equipping for both superior business performance and workplace ministry. Attendees will also experience rich fellowship with like-minded peers from across America and from abroad.

The conference kicks off Thursday with a keynote dinner featuring Kris Den Besten, an Orlando Christian CEO and author of SHINE: Five Empowering Principles for a Rewarding Life.

Friday features a full day of conference and breakout sessions, wrapping up with a fellowship dinner.

The conference concludes Saturday morning with a plenary session, followed by the C12 Open golf scramble at Celebration Golf Club from 1-6 p.m.

Special room rates of $129 are available. Early registration discounts expire Sept 15. Details are on the C12 website.

The C12 Group of Central Florida is a personal advisory board of Christian business owners and CEOs, all committed to your personal, business and eternal success.

Kris Den Besten to speak at next Chamber luncheon

2011-08-16T19:42:00.000-04:00

Kris Den Besten

Kris Den Besten, president & CEO of Vermeer Southeast and author of the book SHINE, will be our keynote speaker at the Sept. 8 Business-Building Lunch. At our November 2009 lunch, Kris shared how God brought him, his family and his company through some very dark times; now Kris returns to tell the rest of the story!

SHINE is not simply a how-to formula to make you employee of the month or salesperson of the quarter -- although that could happen. Rather, it is a Bible-based, Christ-centered approach for transforming your attitude about work: from that of making a living to that of making an eternal difference.

Join us Sept. 8, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando. The doors open at 11 a.m. if you want to get in some extra chat time. Cost: $25 for chamber members and first-timers, and $40 for nonmembers. Registration deadline is noon on Sept. 6. Register online, or call the office at (407) 814-1124. Table sponsorships are available to members only; a table for eight people is $200. Sponsorships are sold only by phone.

Here's a sample of the wisdom in Den Besten's book:

Credible workers get things done. They do not make excuses but always come through by meeting or exceeding expectations. They are prompt, they meet deadlines, and they can be counted on at all times. They do not take shortcuts or skimp on quality. They do not grumble and complain. Rather, they display an eagerness to model Christ with positive words and actions.

Please join us for what is sure to be an inspiring session.

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

2011-08-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

endostock — Fotolia.com

Ken Sande, president of Peacemaker Ministries, will give the keynote at the Aug. 11 Business-Building Lunch. Too often we hear about Christian brothers and sisters using the judicial system to solve disagreements. Mind you, that’s not a new problem. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about it. You would think we’d have learned by now…

Sande is passionate about bringing the life-changing power of the gospel and God's peacemaking principles into the lives of Christians and their churches to solve this ancient problem. Over the years, he has ministered to parties in hundreds of conflicts ranging from simple personal disputes to complex church and legal conflicts.

Ken Sande

Sande is a consultant to churches and Christian leaders and has written numerous resources about conflict resolution. He has co-authored two books: Peacemaking for Families and The Peacemaker Student Edition for teens.

Come hear Sande speak about solving conflict Biblically Aug. 11, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando. You can register online.

Preventing Everyday Conflicts

2011-07-25T05:30:00.000-04:00

Conflict seems to be everywhere: in our homes, our workplaces, and especially lately, in our government. But it doesn’t have to be a part of your daily life, according to Tim Scudder. His firm helps companies and executives handle workplace conflict.

Dan Tero — iStockphoto

He says conflict anywhere can be an opportunity to resolve long-standing issues and can help us lead more productive lives. It’s not just about resolution. It is also, he says, about learning to have nicer conflicts.

Scudder is CEO of Personal Strengths USA and co-author of Have a Nice Conflict: A Story of Finding Success and Satisfaction in the Most Unlikely Places. “As one set of conflicts is resolved,” he says, “others will take their place, so it’s important to learn how to make conflicts productive and positive, instead of allowing them to distract us from our goals.”

Scudder shares five keys to conflict:

Anticipate. Know who you’re dealing with. Consider how differently others might view the same situation. When people see things differently, there is potential conflict. Keeping that in mind can give you a good shot at steering clear of it.

Prevent. Use deliberate, appropriate behaviors in your relationships. A well-chosen behavior on your part can prevent conflict with another person. But sometimes, you also need to prevent conflict in yourself. That might have more to do with choosing your perceptions than choosing your behaviors.

Identify. There are three basic approaches to conflict: rising to the challenge, cautiously withdrawing, or wanting to keep the peace. When you can identify these approaches in yourself or others, you are empowered to handle the situation more productively.

Manage. This has two components: managing yourself and managing the relationship. Create conditions that empower people to manage themselves out of the emotional state of conflict. It’s also about managing yourself out, which can be as easy as taking time to see things differently.

Resolve. To reach resolution, we must show others a path back to feeling good about themselves. When they do, they are less likely to feel threatened and are free to move toward compromise and resolution.

“Unresolved or poorly managed conflict costs companies in ways they can’t even calculate,” he adds. For example, recent research shows the top reason people leave jobs is poor relationships with supervisors. “Lost institutional memory, low productivity, bad morale, high turnover all cost real dollars.” But well-managed conflict can not only prevent those losses -- it can also promote higher productivity and a stronger bottom line.

Maybe Scudder should visit Washington, D.C.

Tim Scudder is a CPA and president of Personal Strengths Publishing Inc. Since 1995, he has focused on helping clients improve relationships.

For more about resolving conflict, join us at the August luncheon,
where Ken Sande will talk about peacemaking.

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

Helping people find their purpose

2011-07-08T07:56:00.000-04:00

If you heard Kevin McCarthy speak at the chamber luncheon last September, you know his mission is to help others be on-purpose.* Many of us have been through the On-Purpose Leader Experience, a transformative seminar that helps people focus on their purpose, vision, and mission.

Kevin is looking to broaden the On-Purpose reach with a small group study, and has applied for a grant from Intuit, maker of Quicken and Quickbooks software. To get the grant, Kevin's company, On-Purpose Partners, needs votes: http://bit.ly/khwhji.

If On-Purpose Partners wins the grant, it will fund completion of the small group materials for his book The On-Purpose Person. This would be a great resource, so I encourage you to support the endeavor.

* If you didn't hear Kevin speak at the chamber, here's a link to a replay.

Listening to Your Customers

2011-07-01T20:42:00.000-04:00

By George F. Brown Jr.

Successful business strategies build upon shared successes. When your strategy creates value for your customers, your firm also gains value.

Photo by Carl Dwyer | sxc.hu

One tool critical to such strategies is customer-based insight. Many businesses have some kind of Voice of the Customer program to gather insight from customers. There are three primary goals for such a program:

Gain customer input.

Learn the customer’s perspective on the future business environment and their most pressing needs. This brings insights about product innovation, critical services, trends, and more. These insights can help you get ahead of opportunities and strengthen your value. The key is to keep looking forward, rather than focusing on past performance.

We’ve all had “Duh!” moments—when an insight that should have been obvious was overlooked. One of my Duh! moments (and I admit to many) occurred in a company I was running some time ago, when we faced major challenges keeping up as our customers expanded globally. The Duh! moment came when a colleague asked, “Have we ever asked our customers about their expansion plans?” We started to do so, and the problem never resurfaced.

Effective listening doesn’t stop with direct customers. It’s necessary to listen to all of their customers. Pay attention to the entire customer chain: the path that leads from your customers all the way to the final users of their products. Perspectives vary at each stage, with implications that ripple backwards and forwards. Remarkable insights can be gained simply by asking customers at each stage what they would like to know about the other stages.

Learn what makes a best-in-class supplier.

Identify the metrics customers use to evaluate their suppliers, then develop internal action plans to meet those targets. Blue Canyon Partners identified three clusters where such metrics are concentrated: relationships between suppliers and customers, the suppliers’ ability to meet customers’ expectations, and suppliers’ ability to deliver high-value innovations.

Two things make this a challenge: First, while the three metrics clusters almost always apply, actions to be implemented differ from one customer to the next. Customize your program to gain insights about individual customers. Amalgamated data can yield an outcome that is right on average, but missing the mark with each individual customer.

Second, it takes insights from many people to get an overall picture. A customer’s perspective is shaped by the experiences of many people: designers, engineers, salespeople, and so on. Rarely does any individual know all the details relevant to every dimension of the supplier’s relationship with their company. It takes a lot of listening to understand what matters to a major customer, but that effort is required if a solid portrait is to be developed.

Fix what’s important to the customer.

Too often, this is the only goal addressed by the Voice of the Customer program. It is important, but is third in terms of long-term impact. It requires focusing on what can be improved along all the dimensions of customer interaction. There are three keys to doing this without focusing on the past:

First, topics should only be brought up after discussions about the future environment and the characteristics of best-in-class suppliers have been completed.

Second, distinguish between generic wishes for “better” and situations in which current performance is bad compared to competitors or a meaningful benchmark.

Third, learn whether customers will reward a supplier for improvements in metrics where they say they want “better.”

Select a few targets in which to invest management attention. Narrow the focus to action plans where improvement will provide a payoff. Learn what the customer would do differently if a certain change were made. If the answer is “nothing,” then the change should be reconsidered. On the other hand, if the customer can explain with clarity how the change would leave them better off, then the change has the potential to create value for both firms.

George F. Brown Jr., along with Atlee Valentine Pope, is the co-author of CoDestiny: Overcome Your Growth Challenges by Helping Your Customers Overcome Theirs, published by Greenleaf Book Group Press. Brown is also CEO and co-founder of Blue Canyon Partners Inc., a strategy consulting firm.

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

Support team for elder care needs

2011-05-20T11:35:00.000-04:00

By Mark Goldstein

If you were at the chamber Business-Building Lunch in April, you heard me tell how Cathy Crossman and her staff at Transition Options not only helped us find the assisted living facility that best suited my parents, but negotiated with them to save us $1,500 up front and another $800 every month.

Andrejs Pidjass
Fotolia.com

Transition Options has helped not only Rhawnie and I, but also my parents, during their transition into assisted living. I must admit, we were woefully unprepared for the challenges of the past few months. As most of you already know, my mother has Alzheimer’s disease and my father is in very poor health. Cathy and her team have been there for us every step of the way.

When my parents moved, my mother had difficulty adjusting because of the disease. Transition Options gave additional personalized care, and they continue to provide much-needed services, allowing Rhawnie and me to focus more on chamber needs. It’s said that the biggest concern for caregivers ends up being the quality of their mental health. In our case, we are at complete peace knowing we have our “back-up plan” in place with Transition Options.

The bottom line: If you, or anyone you know, are having to care for the ever-increasing needs of your parents and have not already created a “back-up plan,” I strongly and enthusiastically recommend that you contact Cathy Crossman at Transition Options. She will custom-tailor a plan that will meet every care-giving need. You can contact her at 407-629-5233.

If someone has gone “above and beyond” to provide you with outstanding service, please let us know.

Go also the second mile

2011-05-11T19:14:00.000-04:00

By Mark Goldstein

Kotangens - Fotolia.com

I’ve been trying to help my mother and father through their transition into assisted living. They have both reached a point where they need special care in every aspect of their lives. Needless to say, this has put an extra burden on me. Fortunately there are many caring people who are helping greatly.

An example of this happened when I was washing my parent’s car and realized that the registration expired in February. Checking further, I found the insurance had lapsed also. After going online to re-register the car, I immediately called my friend Angie Martinez, principal of Florida Chartered Insurance Group in Oviedo, and explained the situation. She contacted Jacqueline Eiermann, a senior agent who specializes in auto and home insurance.

Within one hour, on a Sunday afternoon, Jacqueline had secured an insurance policy for the car. But here’s the best part: Since my parents had let their insurance lapse, they should have had to pay a large penalty. However, Jacqueline was able to add me to their policy, and the company accepted this as continuous coverage. What’s more, she had already gotten me a quote with that company, and even though I hadn’t switched yet, that company still offered a multi-car discount. Talk about going the extra mile for a client!

The bottom line is that when you approach the renewal date on your home or auto policy, I would strongly recommend that you first contact Jacqueline Eiermann. She will not only get you the best value, but as you can see, she never stops working for her clients. You can reach her at 407-278-0423 or by e-mail.

…and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.—Matt. 5:41 NRSV

Have a great story about one of your fellow chamber members? E-mail Kristen.

Sabbaticals: A Strategic Tool for Improving Bottom Line Results

2011-05-05T22:30:00.000-04:00

by Rita Foley

Corporations that offer sabbaticals don’t do it as a nicety. They do it because it’s good for employees, for the company, and for customers.

Laurent Hamels -- Fotolia.com

Most of us have worked since we were in our late teens or early 20s, so of course it’s natural to crave some time off. Here are six reasons more companies are implementing sabbatical programs:

Employees return rejuvenated: Close to 100 percent of sabbatical takers return to their companies with higher levels of engagement, loyalty, motivation and appreciation for their employers. Research shows a high percentage of promotion and improved performance levels among sabbatical takers. But companies that provided sabbaticals only by exception, rather than as policy, had more sabbatical takers who did not return to work or remain employed with the company.

Clients will allow it: Some companies, especially professional firms, say the intense one-on-one relationship with clients prohibits sabatticals. The reality is many such firms offer sabbaticals. One law firm partner told me that sabbaticals actually help neutralize the ego factor. “It’s not healthy for the firm if a client gets too dependent on just one person.”

It can be cost efficient: This is another one that is especially hard for lawyers or other firms who share profits. But if everyone takes a sabbatical, then, at one time or another, each will cover for another and the profit washes out. Some companies offer only partial pay for sabbatical takers, but even for those who offer full pay, a sabbatical program shouldn’t cost you. Maybe at a clerical level you might have to hire a temp, but with careful preparation and juggling, work can usually be covered by existing employees.

Implementation is essential: It’s all in the preparation. The companies I spoke to have a very simple and effective system. Upon approaching the sabbatical year, an employee writes a memo to their boss requesting the specific time off. They then meet and outline coverage.

Stagger sabbaticals: In a formal program, one of the main concerns is how to start the implementation with tenured employees who have passed the five- or seven-year mark -- some many times. Most companies simply stagger leaves over a three-year period.

The bottom line: Our nation will lose its innovation and creativity if we don’t invest in our most important asset: our employees. We tune up our PCs, our cars, and our home heaters. Why not encourage people to give their minds and spirits a tune-up? Time and time again, sabbatical takers return as more interested and engaged employees, more loyal and more creative. Sabbaticals broaden a company by bringing in new ideas.

Loyalty alone should justify implementing a program. The cost of hiring and training a new employee can be 1.5 times a departing worker’s salary. Sharon Allen, Deloitte’s chairwoman, said her firm’s sabbaticals and flexibility policies had saved more than $45 million a year by reducing turnover.

A sabbatical program is a wonderful tool for checking an organization’s depth and breadth. Managers must proactively focus on developing their staff, complete succession planning, and provide training and exposure to teams. Sabbaticals promote teamwork and better decision-making.

Twenty per cent of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For offer fully paid sabbaticals. If you want to be a workplace of choice while still adding to the bottom line and the company’s future, consider implementing a sabbatical program.

Rita Foley is an adviser with Crenshaw Associates and is a co-author of Reboot Your Life: Energize Your Career and Life by Taking a Break.

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

Five Common Sales Team afflictions

2011-04-29T22:26:00.000-04:00

by John R. Treace

Problems in sales teams can be found to some degree in almost every organization. Smart managers are aware of this and work to avoid the potential reduction in morale and performance. Any one of these problems will not necessarily hurt sales efforts, but multiple conditions at once can be extremely harmful.

Affliction 1: Wasting time

Endostock -- Fotolia.com

Forcing salespeople to perform non-sales tasks such as making accounts receivable collections, managing product recalls, or filling out reports unrelated to the sales process may be a waste of their time. Consider delegating these tasks to non-salespeople. If you divert five percent of a sales team’s time to collections, you effectively reduce the number of feet on the ground by the same amount. The reverse is true as well. It’s worthwhile to audit processes to see whether non-sales tasks can be re-assigned. Relieving the sales team of such tasks will result in increased sales.

Affliction 2: Poor sales meetings

The objective of any sales meeting should be to increase sales. Period. Every high-performing salesperson in a meeting thinks, “Is this meeting making me money, or is my time being wasted?” Powerful salespeople are self-motivated and intuitively know if their time is being wasted. If it is, management is hurting morale -- and sales. To ensure effective meetings, develop a strategic intent that includes clear success metrics. Define in specific terms what metrics are needed to determine whether goals are met. It takes a deep understanding of the business, the market, and the competition to do this. Powerful sales meetings produce sales and keep morale high.

Affliction 3: Poor strategy

Ineffective marketing or sales strategies will always hurt the sales team. This is especially true for teams selling commodity products or services. A player with small market share who enters a commodity market without a well-defined and well-implemented strategy can be assured of certain death. These types of companies usually say, “It’s a huge market, and we can grab some of it,” but it’s not that simple. The sales team will recognize ineffective strategy and will lose faith in the managers who developed it.

To compound the error, companies often try special promotions to save sagging sales on ill-conceived products. Some promotions can be effective, but managers should never call for a pointless charge of the light brigade. Sending the sales team to support a poor product or service is a severe tactical error. A successful sales effort hinges on good strategy. Companies that fail in this regard severely handicap their sales teams.

Affliction 4: Capping or reducing income

Powerful companies have managers who do not envy large sales force paychecks. Managers who resent highly paid salespeople often respond by reducing commissions, capping earnings, reducing territories, or removing products. Avoid these practices. They destroy morale. Powerful salespeople want to leverage today’s efforts into greater sales and income for tomorrow. If their earnings are limited, they will feel that ability has been taken away. High performers will soon look for employment elsewhere.

Affliction 5: Favoritism

We all have favorites in life, and that’s normal, but playing favorites on a sales team is destructive. Salespeople want to work for companies that keep the playing field level. If select salespeople are given extra incentives, benefits, or favors not available to others, management is creating a privileged class. Managers can’t build loyalty by strengthening a small political power base. Keeping the playing field level will pay big dividends.

Wasting time, poor sales meetings, poor strategy, capping income, and playing favorites are, with few exceptions, situations to be avoided. They are destructive to morale and lead to poor performance. Effective managers avoid these situations, and astute salespeople will bring these practices to the attention of management for correction.

John R. Treace is the founder of JR Treace & Associates, a sales management consulting business. He is the author of Nuts & Bolts of Sales Management: How to Build a High-Velocity Sales Organization. Website: www.treaceconsulting.com.

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

A Culture of Trust Boosts Employee Performance

2011-04-16T15:46:00.000-04:00

If employees don’t trust a company’s leaders, they won’t feel safe—and when they don’t feel safe, they spend all their creative energy covering their -- selves. They don’t take risks. And where there is no risk, there is less innovation and less “going the extra mile.”

John Hamm, author of Unusually Excellent, says “Without trust, people respond with distraction, fear, or paralysis.” This produces behaviors like sandbagging quotas, hedging on goals, and avoiding commitment.”

He says leaders become trustworthy by building a track record of honesty, fairness, and integrity. Cultivating trust isn’t just a moral issue; it’s a practical one. Most employees have been hurt or disappointed at some point in their careers by a leader. That’s why leaders are often in “negative trust territory” from the start.

Hamm offers these tips on building trust:

Model trustworthiness. This doesn’t mean you must be warm and personable if that’s not your personality. On the contrary, many trustworthy people can be harsh, tough, or socially awkward. But promises must be inviolate and decisions fair. People who can be trusted are more likely to gain the respect of others than the nicest guy in the room, says Hamm. “You can be authentically whoever you really are. As long as you are fair, as long as you do what you say consistently, you will still be trusted.”

Reveal vulnerability. Allow others to see authentic (not fabricated) weakness or emotion. This helps people relate to one another.

Be transparent. Tell the truth, match your actions with your words, and match those words with the truth we all see in the world: no spin, no justifications, no revisionist history.

Allow good failures. Hamm says punishing failure is one of the stupidest things organizations do, and it happens all the time. “Good failure” is a term used in Silicon Valley to describe a business or initiative that is well planned, well run, and well organized—yet for reasons beyond its control, fails. Good failures occur when you play well but lose. Punishing employees for good failures instills a fear of risk-taking, and stifles innovation.

Instead, says Hamm, strive for a “digital camera” culture. There is no expense associated with an imperfect digital photograph. Just hit delete, and it disappears. No wasted film. So people take many more digital photos than they would with film. If failure is “free,” we take chances, and can get that one amazing picture that we wouldn’t have if we were paying for all the mistakes.

Allow people to bring bad news. Shooting the messenger results in messengers who won’t bring the information you need. They’ll protect their -- selves. Instill confidence that leaders value facts, truth, and speed of delivery over judgments of good or bad.

Beware shortcuts. When victory or failure is in sight, there is a vulnerability to abandoning values in the name of expediency. That can set a precedent and lead to corner-cutting even in operations that aren’t at a critical stage. Plus, when employees see you betraying your values, they see you as less trustworthy.

Recognize whom to coach and whom to let go. You cannot “fix” a thief, a pathological liar, or a con artist. “There are three failure modes that I will decline to coach: integrity, commitment, and chronic selfishness—manipulating outcomes for individual gain,” says Hamm. These are character traits, not matters of knowledge.

But that doesn’t mean we can doubt or distrust someone because their performance disappoints, he adds. “Performance problems should be managed fairly and with little judgment of the person’s character, unless that is the root of the trouble.”

“Everyone fails to achieve perfection,” Hamm says. So a leader’s goal is to make wrong choices rarely; admit them quickly, completely, and with humility; fix them quickly; and make full recompense when possible.

In a working environment of trust, Hamm says, teams stay focused, give their utmost effort, and do their best work.”

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

Seeking great entrepreneurs

2011-04-05T19:53:00.000-04:00

Byryo — iStockphoto

Entrepreneur magazine looking for business owners to enter its Entrepreneur of 2011 contest sponsored by The UPS Store. The contest seeks small business owners who can share how their business makes a difference in their industries and communities and to their employees.

The criteria for the three award categories is as follows:

Entrepreneur of 2011: No more than 100 employees; gross sales revenue of at least $3 million in 2010

Emerging Entrepreneur of 2011: No more than 12 employees; at least $350,000 in gross sales revenue in 2010.

College Entrepreneur of 2011: Entrants must be either an undergraduate or graduate student between the ages of 18 and 25 during the time of submission. College students may pitch their business ideas for a shot at $5,000 in startup capital.

Last year's winners included Entrepreneur of 2010 Daniel Lubetzky of Kind Healthy Snacks, Emerging Entrepreneur of 2010 Derek Zobrist of Enovative Kontrol Systems, and College Entrepreneur of 2010 Allen Kim of Bebarang. Learn more about their businesses, read their stories and watch videos about their experiences at the magazine's website.

Judges include representatives from Entrepreneur's editorial department and Mail Boxes Etc. Inc., franchisor of The UPS Store. The panel will base its decision on several criteria, including business growth, effect on industry, community, employees, and customers.

All three winning entrepreneurs will receive two round-trip tickets within the continental U.S. and a profile in the January 2012 issue of Entrepreneur magazine. The three winners will also be honored at an awards luncheon and ceremony in January at Entrepreneur's fourth-annual Growth Conference. In addition, the winners will receive a gift certificate for $500 in free services at The UPS Store, a three-year subscription to Entrepreneur magazine and a selection of Entrepreneur Press books.

Entry criteria and the complete rules can be found on entrepreneur.com/e2011/rules, or for the college contest, entrepreneur.com/e2011college. The deadline is June 15.

Advisors for women business owners

2011-03-21T10:39:00.000-04:00

Francis Black • iStockphoto

The Center for Advanced Entrepreneurship at Rollins College seeks applications from women-owned businesses who wish to participate in a year-long program designed to increase growth and profitability.

The AthenaPowerLink Program provides guidance to female business owners whose companies are ripe for growth. Each advisory panel is hand-selected based on the needs of the business owner. Over 12 months, each volunteer panel serves as mentors and advisors at no charge to the owner.

Application Criteria:

Must be 51% owned and actively managed by a woman or women
Must have been in operation at least two years
Must have at least two full-time employees (including the owner), or a number of employees whose total work hours add up to two full-time positions
Annual revenue of at least $250,000 for retail or manufacturing or $100,000 for a service business
The owner must have clearly defined objectives and specific reasons for seeking an advisory panel

The application period is April 1-30, 2011. Applications available at the AthenaPowerLink website.

Doing your brother’s dishes

2011-02-25T11:06:00.000-05:00

The principles of the office kitchen are well-known:

Don’t eat other people’s food.
Clean up after yourself.
When you take the last cup of coffee, make another pot.

Michal Zacharzewski | stock.xchng

They are also widely violated. Someone working late will “borrow” a sandwich or soda to get through the evening. Someone late for a meeting will leave dirty dishes in the sink. And someone who thinks she’s the only one who could possibly be drinking coffee at this time of the afternoon will leave an empty pot for that fella who’s working late.

Any time one of these things happens, it spurs a round of grousing and, often, a terse e-mail from the human resources department about respecting the kitchen rules.

But a servant mindset allows us to take things to another level.

What if, upon finding our soda missing, we said a prayer for the one who was so desperate (or absent-minded) to have taken it?

What if, on finding dirty dishes in the sink, we were to wash and dry them so the owner finds them clean on his return?

What if, when two cups of coffee are left in a 12-cup pot, you put in enough grounds and water for 10 cups? (Or, if it’s really late in the afternoon, just 4 or 5 cups.)

Jesus was called to serve, and so are we. It's tempting to vent our anger when someone violates the kitchen rules. But preserving relationships with our co-workers is more important than venting anger, which does not bring about the righteous life God desires (James 1:20). A servantlike approach redirects our anger into service for others. And that, in the long run, is much more satisfying.

Four ways to accelerate cash flow

2011-02-19T19:30:00.000-05:00

© Okea - Fotolia.com

"Traditional methods to increase cash flow are not working," said Lisa Anderson, founder and president of LMA Consulting Group Inc. "When customers demand increased service and value, innovative strategies are required to succeed."

There are countless ways entrepreneurs can increase cash flow through supply chain improvements, but it's important to prioritize in a way that will drive results. "Resources are lean, so it’s vital to focus on what provides the best return on investment," said Anderson.

Here are a few strategies she says drive the bulk of results:

1. Inventory management

Anderson said the key is not only to reduce inventory but to do it while improving customer service. Otherwise, you lose valued customers. Each company requires a different approach, but, said Anderson, "After reducing inventory levels 40 percent or more in multiple companies in various industries, I've found that big picture areas were identical: people, processes, and systems."

2. Supply chain collaboration

Anderson shares some collaboration case studies: “We implemented vendor-managed inventory with a key customer, improving not only our cash flow but also the customer's. In another example, we partnered with suppliers and customers to develop innovative product and packaging that reduced cost -- increasing cash flow -- and improved performance. Lastly, we partnered with key customers and carriers to develop a transportation model that reduced freight costs -- increasing cash flow -- while improving service."

3. Know when to fire a client

Not all customers are good customers. "Negative profitability customers should be reviewed in detail. Is there a compelling strategy to keep them? Focus efforts on profitable customers," said Anderson. Similarly, if a few customers are tying up significant amounts of cash, try to improve the relationships.

4. Cost cutting isn’t everything

Even Anderson admits that cost reduction can’t be the sole focus in improving cash flow. “If you spent the same amount of time and energy on increasing revenue, you could be one of the companies to leapfrog the competition in the new normal."

Do you have expert advice to share? E-mail Kristen.

How I learned to stop working

2011-02-11T20:58:00.000-05:00

A counselor once taught me three important things.

Photo by magurka | stock.xchng

Stop multitasking. It doesn’t help.

Many studies back her up in this, and it’s a frequent subject of time management and productivity articles like this one: “10 Ways to Multitask Better,” which is really about how to not multitask.

When we try to do several things at once, we just wind up doing them all poorly and taking more time than if we had done each in turn. Now, this does not stop me from tossing a load of clothes in the dryer before I sit down to write this. But instead of jumping up in the middle of my writing to see if the shirts are ready to hang, I will finish this first. Then I will get the shirts from the dryer and hope I don’t have to iron them.

Moving other things to the back burner -- especially if you’ve written them down so as not to forget -- lets you focus on the one thing that needs doing right now. And focus improves results.

Spend the last half-hour before bedtime doing something relaxing.

The counselor pinpointed my insomnia as the result of going full tilt until well after the last minute. Work a day job, come home, wash a load of clothes, cook the dinner, pay the bills, edit something, put a load of clothes in the dryer, write write write until my husband says “isn’t it bedtime?” and then remember the laundry and go hang it up.

Then I would go to bed with all the undone items on my to-do list banging around in my head, and wonder why I couldn’t sleep.

My counselor advised taking a half-hour to wind down. Have a cup of tea, read a book, knit -- OK, she didn’t say knit, but that’s what I do. It relaxes me. To make myself feel better about it, I include my knitting projects on my to-do list.

Some people call this building in margin. I call it Rest. Just as we need a Sabbath day once a week, I think we need some Sabbath time at the beginning and end of each day to Be Still. It has made my life slightly less stressful, and improved my sleep tremendously.

The third thing I learned from her: It’s not a disaster if the laundry doesn’t get done.

2011-02-04T20:41:00.000-05:00

One of the many great things in Kris DenBesten's book SHINE is the account of how he surprised his employees one year by giving bonuses even though the company had posted a loss.

I thought of that this week because of two very different news stories. First, my colleague Adam O'Daniel at the Charlotte Business Journal reported that Bank of America's board awarded its CEO, Brian Moynihan, a $9 million stock bonus, even though the bank posted a $3.2 billion loss for 2010.

Then, Bloomberg reported that Lockheed Martin's CEO, Robert J. Stevens, asked the board to keep his pay where it's been for three years. The company won't award raises to any executives at the level of vice president and above, because although it did have a profit last year, the profit margin was too narrow.

Lockheed Martin's bonus policy "accounts for individual performance and the performance of the company, or business unit."

Lockheed Martin's policy makes sense. I, too, work for a company where bonuses are not issued unless financial goals are met. And BofA? What a crock. How do you award a bonus when there's a loss? If there's no profit, there can be no bonuses.

Then I remembered SHINE.

Mind you, there's a big difference between DenBesten's company and Bank of America, and it doesn't only have to do with how many digits follow the dollar sign.

BofA paid its executive bonuses because, as we have seen so often lately, that's just what banks customarily do. In the world of high finance, you don't withhold an executive's raise or bonus. It's part of that culture. Defense contractors and newspapers have a different culture.

And so, I think, do equipment companies.

When DenBesten handed out those bonuses, he was acting on his own principle of serving others. It's exactly the kind of radical step of faith we're called to take, especially when times are tough.

Six lessons for building successful virtual teams

2011-01-26T21:51:00.000-05:00

The office of the future is no office at all. Many of us work from our homes, hold client meetings at coffee shops, and have a business address that’s a post office box. Without an office, we frequently rely on phone and e-mail to communicate with collaborators.

But Darleen DeRosa and Rick Lepsinger warn that the vision often falls short of reality. “Virtual teams” may be popular, but they’re not always successful.

spekulator | stock.xchng

DeRosa and Lepsinger wrote Virtual Team Success: A Practical Guide for Working and Leading from a Distance to help businesspeople create teams across distances. They say too many companies treat virtual teams the same as teams that share the same location.

“Frankly,” says DeRosa, “that just doesn’t work.” Leaders who understand the different needs of virtual teams are the ones whose teams succeed.

DeRosa and Lepsinger’s company, OnPoint Consulting, studied 48 virtual teams to find the success factors of top performing teams. Surprisingly, 27 percent of the teams were not fully performing. The authors identified these pitfalls:

Lack of clear goals, direction, or priorities
Lack of clear roles among team members
Lack of cooperation and trust
Lack of engagement

The authors identify these points of success:

1. Focus on people. Compensate for the inherent lack of contact by supporting team spirit and trust.

Develop a team web page where team members can get acquainted.
Use communication tools like instant messaging, Facebook or Twitter to create a virtual water cooler.
Build a collective online “resource bank” to share information and experiences.
Create ways to virtually celebrate successes as a team.

2. No trust, no team. Task-based trust is one factor differentiating top performing teams. In virtual teams, trust seems to develop more readily at the task level than at the interpersonal level. DeRosa says trust “doesn’t simply develop because a team has been working together for a while.”

Make sure teams meet face-to-face at least once early on to build relationships and learn about one another’s capabilities.
Empower team members to make and act on decisions. Beware of micromanaging.
Proactively manage conflict.

3. Soft skills are essential. Virtual teams that have been through team-building and interpersonal skill development activities perform better than those that have not. Selecting team members based solely on technical skills without considering interpersonal skills is a mistake.

Include characteristics like effective communication and collaboration in the selection criteria.
Use team-building sessions to strengthen relationships and create momentum.
Assess development needs for team members and team leaders and conduct training on these areas.

4. Watch out for performance peaks. Teams who have been working together for more than three years tend to be more successful than teams working together for less time, but many teams peak around the one-year mark. After that, performance tends to level off or decline.

Clearly define team roles and accountabilities.
Review and refine processes regularly.
Periodically examine the level of team performance. Collect feedback from various stakeholders to assess the team’s performance.
Identify barriers to high performance and steps that can be taken to overcome these barriers.

5. Create a “high touch” environment. The technology that makes virtual teaming possible it is not a perfect substitute for human interaction. Arrange for virtual team members to meet in person at least once a year. “Virtual teams that invest in one or two such meetings per year outperform those that don’t,” says Lepsinger.

Use electronic bulletin boards to create a sense of shared space.
Choose communication technologies that are most appropriate to the task. E-mail is good for sharing facts, while conference calls are better for sharing ideas and plans.
Use videoconferencing. Teams that use video technology outperform those that don’t.

6. Leadership matters. Leadership is the factor most important to the success of virtual teams. Virtual team leaders must be especially sensitive to interpersonal communication and cultural factors. “Organizations can avoid this performance barrier by selecting team leaders who not only have the necessary technical skills but also the soft skills required to effectively lead in a virtual environment,” says DeRosa.

Set clear goals and direction and revisit these as priorities shift.
Engage team members in developing strategy.
Provide time for team building.
Provide timely feedback. Be responsive and accessible.
Emphasize common interests and values, and reinforce cooperation and trust.
Create a system to easily integrate new team members.
Teach the importance of conflict resolution.
Celebrate team achievements and successes.

Lepsinger says, “organizations start virtual teams in response to an opportunity or problem without planning or proper follow-up—never a recipe for success.” DeRosa adds, “Better planning could dramatically improve their odds for success.”

Six key steps to working out customer service kinks

2011-01-20T22:09:00.000-05:00

Author Maribeth Kuzmeski shares this anecdote to show that customer relationships are made or broken when something goes wrong:

While at a hotel, getting ready for a crucial business meeting, you turn on the hairdryer, but the power goes out. You call the service number and hear "Someone is on the way." After twenty minutes and two more calls, anxiety turns to anger, when a "service" person asks, "What do you want me to do about it?" Finally, the power comes back on, and a maintenance man explains it wasn't his fault and makes excuses about what went wrong internally. No one acknowledges or apologizes for your inconvenience.

Brian A Jackson | iStockphoto

“If a service recovery plan isn't understood by the entire staff, everything snowballs,” says Kuzmeski, author of ...And the Clients Went Wild! How Savvy Professionals Win All the Business They Want and The Connectors: How the World's Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life. The hotel incident actually happened to one of her associates.

"If you don't have well-developed service recovery techniques in place, you'll lose the customer every time," she says. That leads to angry customers vowing never to return—and maybe decide to share their anger with countless others online.”

Kuzmeski offers these tips for service recovery:

1. Recognize and truly understand your customer's situation. Provide individual care. People with children have very different needs from busy businesspeople. Train your customer service people to recognize key differences and adjust responses accordingly.

2. Make sure what you're saying is happening is really happening. Customer service is more than following a script. "When the hotel guest made the second call, it's likely the front desk representative didn't check to see where the maintenance man was," says Kuzmeski. "Taking the time to locate him would have gotten the guest the service she needed."

3. Be specific about how the problem will be handled. Let the customer know what will happen and when. The more information customers have, the less anxious they feel.

4. Complaint number two is an emergency. Most people can forgive one mistake, if it’s addressed promptly. A second complaint calls for emergency mode. If you want to keep your customer, you must take care of the problem immediately.

5. Make sure the service philosophy permeates the business from top to bottom. The hotel in the anecdote is part of a chain with a rewards program for repeat customers. When the guest called to complain, the rewards people understood the inconvenience and tried to make it up to her by offering additional rewards points. "They hadn't properly trained their onsite staff,” Kuzmeski says. It’s crucial that everyone understand the customer service plan and be able to solve problems.

6. Don't assume customers will give you a second chance. If a customer takes the time to call you about a problem, you are lucky. You don't always get a chance to make it right. Often, customers just move on. And the real concern is that it takes only one dissatisfied customer to create a public relations disaster. Dissatisfied customers have created blogs and YouTube videos sharing their tales of bad service with the world.

Kuzmeski says customer loyalty is achievable, “but you have to have the service chops to take care of them. Make your customers and your relationships with them a priority—always! When you do so, you can create clients for life."

Hiking up recovery mountain

2011-01-11T08:41:00.000-05:00

If your business, like so many others, is still hurting, you may wonder what the economists are thinking when they talk about our economy being in recovery.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the recession ran from December 2007 to June 2009. If we've been in recovery for a year and a half, why does it still feel like a "recession" to so many?

It's important to understand what economists mean when they speak of "recession." If you graph them, periods of growth, or expansion, are rising lines leading to peaks. Periods of contraction, or recession, are descending lines that lead to troughs.

The GDP, one of the main factors in measuring economic growth, has been rising since June 2009. Though that growth was sometimes small, the numbers were positive, as opposed to the negative numbers seen during the recession.

So why does recovery seem so crummy?

Photo by Christophe Libert
stock.xchng

Imagine you're climbing a mountain. When you reach the peak, you stand in the bright sunshine and can see for miles.

Then you fall. You roll down that steep slope for a year and a half. You land in a valley. Bruised, but not broken, you stand up. That mountain behind you now blocks the sun. You're in shadow.

You can't go back the way you came. Ahead of you is another mountain -- maybe not as tall as the one you fell from. It has a shallower slope. You begin climbing. Slowly, surely, you ascend. You leave the valley floor behind. But the next peak is still far away, and you are still in shadow.

In The Great Reset, Richard Florida compares the 2007-2009 recession to earlier ones. "Recovery from both the Long Depression of the 1870s and the Great Depression of the 1930s -- the First and Second Resets -- took the better part of two or three decades."

He says forecasting where we'll be once the present crisis is history would be like predicting "the full flower of postwar suburbanization from the vantage point of Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration day in 1932."

Florida goes on to identify the forces "that will almost certainly power a real Great Reset and a more sustainable new way of life." I have yet to finish this book, but I suspect Florida's observations will be instructive for all of us as we climb through this long recovery.

And as we go, let's remember that we have a mighty counselor who climbs with us out of the valley. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." — Isaiah 9:2

Disney center provides help for businesses

2011-01-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

I attended a talk recently by Jerry Ross, executive director of the Disney Entrepreneur Center in Orlando. He said that just as businesses need to cut costs to deliver more profit to the bottom line, nonprofits need to reduce costs to deliver more services. That’s what the participants in the DEC have done.

By sharing overhead costs and support staff, the organizations that make up the DEC are able to do more for their clients. That also makes the DEC your one-stop shop for a variety of business help:

Bookkeeping
Business planning
Certification
Finding capital
Insurance
Marketing

Service providers based at the DEC include the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, Central Florida Urban League, National Association of Women Business Owners, Service Corps of Retired Executives. The University of Central Florida is a major partner, offering its business incubation program and the Small Business Development Center. Orange County Government and the U.S. Department of Commerce are also participants.

The DEC hosts a variety of low-cost seminars, as well as one-on-one counseling and networking opportunities. Take a look at the calendar to find events that meet your needs. Services are available for all sorts of businesses, not just small startups.

The DEC is presently located at One Landmark Center in downtown Orlando, but will be moving in April to Fashion Square Mall. Ross expects the center will have a grand opening event in May. He said the reason for the move is primarily to reduce costs. An added benefit for the center’s clients -- who are also trying to cut costs -- will be free parking.

Have a purposeful new year

2010-12-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

As you take stock of last year and face the new year, what do you hope to accomplish? And how do you plan to get there? Because we all need a plan.

If you missed the On-Purpose Leadership Experience last fall, please take the opportunity to join Kevin McCarthy for a free webcast preview of the January edition. This program is sponsored by our chamber.

I attended last fall, and it was a real eye-opener. Kevin's On-Purpose method helped me build a framework to figure out what to do -- and what to stop doing. Articulating my purpose helped me see what parts of my life fit and which don't. it helped me focus on which goals are really important, and which ones I can set aside for awhile.

No matter how good or how challenging your life has been lately, don't go another year without really knowing who you are, who you can become, and how to get there.

Register online for the preview, and prepare to enter the new year with purpose.

Mark & Brodie's Christmas Message

2010-12-22T10:17:00.001-05:00

To reach younger consumers, think globally

2010-12-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

I had to go to Germany to get the right watchband. What strikes me as odd is not that I paid twenty euros for a watchband, but that I could only find one store that had the size, color, and material I wanted. That the store was in Germany was almost -- but not entirely -- irrelevant. There was the price of shipping and the exchange rate to think about.

Other than that, once I found a website with a product that met my admittedly picky specifications, I placed my order, logged into PayPal, and sent my funds off to Uhrenbandversand in Oranienburg. In a little over a week, I received my package by luftpost.

Pollster John Zogby places me and my contemporaries in an age cohort he calls “Nikes,” because our motto, he says, is “just do it.” This is the group also known as “Generation X,” that hard-to-pin-down bunch that followed the baby boomers. After us comes what Zogby calls the “First Globals,” those born 1979–90. Even more than I, with my euro-spending ways, First Globals see a world without borders.

Understanding First Globals is necessary for marketing to them, and in his book The Way We’ll Be, Zogby details their worldview. Regarding the Kyoto accords, the International Criminal Court and the role of the United Nations, he says, their position is “sharply at odds with the generations just ahead of them.”

To get them to listen to whatever you’re selling, you have to get down to where they are. You have to make yourself equally a citizen of planet Earth, and you need to recognize that, for them, embracing diversity isn’t a matter of political correctness but a habit of mind.

The Way We’ll Be is packed with demographic information not only about different generations but about different mindsets. Zogby describes the major movements in our culture: living with limits, embracing diversity, looking inward, and demanding authenticity. This book is an excellent resource for understanding these movements, which will be key to reaching whatever demographic is your target market.

To reach First Globals, Zogby says you must stretch your borders. Though their worldview may differ from yours, you can successfully reach them by “opening doors, not closing them.”

If you stretch the borders of your business far enough, you might even make customers of First Globals in Germany.

And a little child shall lead the gadget design market

2010-12-11T18:40:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 21:5--“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” It’s a reminder that accomplishing business goals takes time, planning, and hard work.

Photo of dzdock One by dzlabs

This ingenious gadget, designed by an 11-year-old, is evidence of what such diligence can lead to. Dino Zaharakis noticed that many iPad and iPhone holders don’t accommodate devices in a case or with the cord attached. He also noticed that although many products are designed in the USA, few are made here.

Instead of just bemoaning the trade deficit, Zaharakis applied himself to designing a "one for all” gadget stand. His design is a wonder of simplicity. Then his dad helped bring this idea into reality.

The Zaharakis family lives the not-so-fondly named “rust belt.” They chose local companies to manufacture the final product. As the dzdock website says, “American-made. American-designed. Yes, we can still do it!”

In applying diligence to bring his concept to fruition, Dino Zaharakis reminds me of another great verse: 1 Timothy 4:12--“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example…”

Do you have a product manufactured locally? Tell us your story.

Discerning God's will — the executive summary

2010-11-27T14:08:00.000-05:00

We often struggle with decisions, wondering whether what we are preparing to do is God’s will or our own. Making Godly Decisions by Os Hillman is the most concise teaching I have found on the subject.

Hillman’s advice is focused on four main areas:

Hearing the voice of God
Decision-making methods
Confirmation processes
Timing for implementation

This book is scripturally based and includes real-life anecdotes to illustrate the principles given. Each chapter includes questions for reflection, journaling, or group discussion. It is available as a paperback or as an e-book.

Making Godly Decisions is full of common sense, but also full of Biblical sense, which is sometimes uncommon. For example, Hillman says “the final determining factor on whether we should do something is whether God has directed us to do it, not whether it makes sense.”

I appreciate the conciseness of this book. I have heard of publishers that will not accept very brief books. Presumably they are not worth the effort to print. Nonsense. In just 80 pages, Hillman sums up the subject very well, leaving me feeling, for the first time in -- well, ever -- that I get it. Any more would have been fluff. Don’t we already have too much fluff to deal with?

In reading this book, the most important lesson you learn may be, as was the case for me, that you already know more about godly decision-making that you realize.

2010-10-27T20:35:00.000-04:00

Christian HELP assists the unemployed, hurting, and hungry. In its 18 years, it has produced astounding results for job seekers, with over 71,000 people connected with jobs. The need is still great, with unemployment in Florida at 11.9 percent and poverty rising.

Christian HELP has also distributed 6.8 million pounds of food. The center's 2,000-square-foot food pantry prevents people from choosing between paying their bills and feeding their families.

Christian HELP is a safe place for all job seekers regardless of faith. Its volunteers give Bibles to any job seeker who wants one.

Recognized as a model faith-based organization by the White House in 2003, Christian HELP and its Central Florida Employment Council Division help people get jobs in the following ways:

One on one employment counseling
Job skills classes
An online job board
Six major job fairs
Employment seminars

Consider supporting this ministry by volunteering, by donating to its food pantry, or by donating to the Bible fund.

To learn more, contact chamber member Sandi Vidal (407) 497-3329. She can also provide you with a DVD of this video:

Every manager should read this book

2010-08-29T17:42:00.000-04:00

How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, is based on the simple metaphor of a bucket and a dipper. Each of us has a bucket that is continually filled or drained by our interactions with other people. Positive encounters fill us up, and negative encounters drain us.

Among the authors' key points:

The Number One reason people leave their jobs is they don't feel appreciated.
Praise must be meaningful and specific.
Recognition is most appreciated and effective when it is individualized, specific, and deserved.
We are at our best when our buckets are full, and at our worst when they are empty.
Every interaction is an opportunity to fill someone's bucket — or drain it.
When we fill other people's buckets, we simultaneously fill our own.

Like parents who focus on the F's on a report card rather than the A's, many managers focus on critiquing weaknesses rather than developing strengths.

Mind you, it's not possible to simply offer groundless praise. As the authors note, "positivity must be grounded in reality." They cite the pointlessness of "Employee of the Month" programs, because inevitably — in the interests of "fairness" — every employee gets one. I've also seen workplaces where the award just moves about between a select few high performers, which may be more honest but doesn't do anything to lift up the mid-level performers.

Every worker has room for improvement. But consider a method used by many writers' groups, including the one I belong to. It's called the "sandwich method," though being a bookish person, I prefer to think of it as bookends.

Start with a genuine compliment, then give constructive feedback on what needs fixing, then end with more praise for strong points. Employees, like students, and writers, need to build on their strengths in addition to improving their weaknesses.

Individualization is important, because while one worker may appreciate a plaque to hang on the wall, another might prefer some extra time off to spend with family. To aid in this, the book includes a "Bucket Filling Interview," which can help managers learn about what really motivates each employee.

How Full is Your Bucket? will not only help managers encourage employees, it will help anyone see where they've been missing opportunities to fill other people's buckets.

Called to restore a historic Jamaican church

2010-08-06T22:29:00.000-04:00

By Jim Whitten

On the north coast of Jamaica, cruise lines are building a mammoth new terminal at Falmouth Harbor, just 20 miles from the tourist haven of Montego Bay. When the terminal is completed, probably by November, cruise ships will unload passengers by the thousands. Time had passed by Falmouth, despite its deep-water harbor on the Atlantic Ocean. Now it will be a tourist destination.

Falmouth was founded in 1790, but the Anglican Church designated a site for a sanctuary as early as 1771. Some tombstones in the site's graveyard predate even that.

Trelawny Parish Church of St. Peter the Apostle, with its classic Georgian architecture, was completed in 1796. The bell tower, containing three carillon bells, stands 60 feet tall - still the tallest structure in Falmouth.

If this church looks familiar, it may be because it was seen in the 1973 movie "Papillion."

The church's three-foot-thick walls are made of local limestone. The floors, altar, pews and decorative interior woodwork are native mahogany. Intricate stained-glass windows were dedicated at various times to adorn the church.

But many locals have moved away, to jobs in Montego Bay or elsewhere, and now this 214-year-old church is vacant and in disrepair. The altar area cannot be used because of wood rot. Stucco is falling off the walls. The grounds are overgrown with weeds, and the graveyard is turning into a briar patch.

But there is always hope. Joyce Ledbetter worked for the cruise lines in Jamaica for several years before retiring to Orlando. She was asked to return to Jamaica to help complete the Falmouth cruise terminal. When she discovered Trelawny Parish Church, she felt called to help restore it. "I knew this was a holy place," she said, "and I could feel the prayers of the faithful that had permeated the church. I have stopped at that old church so many times and prayed there. It has a comfortable feeling."

Joyce learned that the Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Rt. Rev. Alfred C. Reid, sent a yearly stipend for maintenance, but it was very small and did not go far.

When those boatloads of cruise passengers disembark at Falmouth, the main road will take them right past the church. Joyce has a vision to restore that historic holy place, giving it new life and giving future generations new hope. We should not forget the past for the sake of the future. We must treasure our religious heritage and preserve landmarks that honor religious freedom and our Christian way of life.

Joyce contacted chamber member Jim Whitten to bring the plight of Trelawny Parish Church to the attention of her friends in Central Florida. With the help from Steadman White and Joseph Nunes, a "Save The Church" committee was formed. Nunes contacted the bishop, who approved sprucing up the church grounds and painting the interior. The Episcopal Jamaican community is supporting Ledbetter's dream with bake sales and fundraisers.

Donations in support of this effort may be made to Joyce Ledbetter, for the Trelawny Parish Church of Falmouth, Jamaica. Send your donations to the attention of Jim Whitten, St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church, 6316 Matchett Road, Orlando FL 42809.

For additional information, contact Jim Whitten

A longer version of this article appeared in the July 2010 issue of Episcopalian Central Florida.

In the dark

2010-07-21T21:46:00.000-04:00

About a dozen of us had the opportunity to visit the staff of Lighthouse Central Florida the other day for their "Blink of an Eye" session.

Lighthouse is a nonprofit that serves people with severe or total vision loss, providing life skills training for adults and children, along with instruction for parents of children who have vision loss.

Lighthouse serves 1,000 people a year, a number restricted only by available resources. The need for Lighthouse's services is growing, because of Florida's large population of elder citizens. The math is staggering. Half of people over the age of 65 are at risk for one of the three most common causes of vision loss: diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. A study by myregion.org projects that by 2030 Central Florida will have 3 million citizens over age 65, giving Lighthouse potentially 1.5 million people needing services.

As part of the session we went, as they say, "under blindfold," to learn what it's like to attend Lighthouse training. It was unnerving, going instantly from a bright conference room to utter darkness. I bumped into the doorjamb.

We were led, each with a hand on the shoulder of the person in front of us, down the hall and around a corner and into another room. Someone took my arm and guided me to a chair. The compulsion to lift the blindfold, just long enough to orient myself, was fierce. I resisted.

I put out my hand, discerned the upholstered front of the chair from the metal back, felt around for the seat. I lowered myself cautiously, and probably even more awkwardly than usual, into the chair.

An instructor told someone near me to write a check. "Make it out to Lighthouse..." There was laughter, then an explanation. The checkbook, my unseen fellow traveler was told, was on the table.

There was a table? I put out my hand. Yep. Table.

My task was to write a shopping list. Uh-oh. My notoriously bad handwriting was about to get a workout. The instructor explained that the paper was in a folder with windows cut out. All I had to do was feel for the windows and write inside them. This I could do only by keeping my left fingers right up against the tip of the pen. I think I misspelled "Mojo Criollo," but then, I often do.

Once we had finished our varied tasks, we were allowed to come out from under the blindfolds. My grocery list was only slightly more illegible than usual. The checkbook got passed around. It was oversize, printed in a heavy ink that gives high contrast, for those with low vision. The printing is also raised, so a person with no vision can feel the lines.

Lighthouse has many needs, including volunteers, new chairs for its boardroom, flash drives, laptop computers, and gardening supplies for classes. They are also looking for grounds maintenance, pressure washing, and carpet cleaning services, and a marketing agency to help spread their message. For a complete list, visit the Lighthouse Central Florida website.

There's a great deal more to see at Lighthouse, including computers equipped with screen readers. I urge you to visit sometime. "Blink of an Eye" tours are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m., with bagels and lots of coffee. The decaf is in the pot with a patch of Velcro on top.

Pulling through

2010-06-08T22:05:00.000-04:00

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke added his voice to those who say we are not facing a “double-dip” recession. Gross Domestic Product is increasing, albeit slowly. Bernanke said, though, that the recovery “won't feel terrific."

Among those in agreement is investment advisor Barry Ritzholz, who said on his blog Monday wrote, “Following the initial surge in data off of the lows, we have entered a slowing phase of the recovery.”

Ritzholz discredits those who forecast a “double-dip” recession by pointing out that although some economic indicators are slowing, “none of it is consistent with past double dip recessions.”

But we are in, as he puts it, “a soft patch.” And Bernanke warns us that the recovery is not “going to be fast enough to put back eight million people who lost their jobs within a few years.”

Of course, we know that small business is a great driver of employment. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses with fewer than 500 employees account for more than half of American workers. Also, “While small firms create a majority of the net new jobs, their share of employment remains steady since some firms grow into large firms as they create new jobs.”

Your chamber is here to help you through this soft patch. Through the events and courses we offer, our goal is to help you build the relationships you need to succeed. That’s why Monica Wofford will be talking to us Thursday about leadership. That’s why we’ve lined up teachers to help you build your business and claim your place in the Seven Mountains of Culture. And that’s why, on any given Friday, you can meet with your peers to brainstorm answers to the challenges you face in your business.

As Christian businesspeople, we don’t face these tough times alone. We are part of a family of faith that serves a mighty God. So when the stock market wavers and nonfarm payrolls are down and the European debt situation starts looking pretty bleak, take heart. He has overcome the world.

Business-Building Summer Seminar Series

2010-06-01T21:33:00.000-04:00

Join us for four seminars designed to help your bottom line. Each seminar will be held twice — in the morning in East Orlando on a different day at midday in the Millenia Mall area. The total price for the entire series is only $25 for chamber members and $45 for nonmembers.

Classroom sizes are limited, so make your reservations now. Here’s the schedule:

Effectively Starting Your Business (Building Businesses That Last)

June 17, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Ron Wilkinson
July 15, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Ron Wilkinson

With companies downsizing, the best way to secure your future may be to start and build your own business. This seminar will give you the basics for a solid business structure and will help you get started on a firm foundation. You will learn:

Writing and monitoring a business plan
Determining proper business structure (Sole Proprietorship, LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp)
Securing Funding
Identifying HR needs

Effectively Branding Your Business (Building a Brand That Lasts)

June 17, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Bill Webster
July 15, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Bill Webster

Many products and services can be rapidly identified just by their logo. Getting potential customers or clients to easily and effectively know your brand builds loyalty and increases your bottom line. In this seminar you will learn:

How to develop your brand for traditional and online marketing
How to communicate your brand traditionally and online
How to extend your brand through Social Media

Effectively Social-Marketing Your Business (Building Marketing That Lasts)

July 29, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Bill Webster
August 19, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Bill Webster

We have become a global cyber-community. People increasingly communicate via the Internet. While there is much clutter in many of these social media channels, the potential to develop and implement effective marketing strategies is huge. In this seminar you will learn:

How to develop, maintain and protect your online message
How to build and leverage social capital to take action
The Social Media "must use" tools

Effectively Developing Relationships in Your Business (Building Relationships That Last)

July 29, 7:30 AM, Asbury University, Judy Boyce
August 19, 11:30 AM, Belhaven University, Judy Boyce

Relationships are at the core of every business -- with employees, clients, vendors, and yourself. Knowing people’s preferences and methods of learning increases your understanding of how best to relate to those around you. In this seminar you will learn how to:

Hire the right people
Manage correctly
Serve your clients effectively

Note that all morning classes are at Asbury University and all midday classes are at Belhaven University.

Click here to purchase online or call the chamber office at (407) 814-1124.

Reminder: the deadline to register for the June 10 Business-Building Lunch with Monica Wofford of Contagious Companies is noon on Tuesday, June 8.

2010-05-25T14:36:00.000-04:00

Last week we wrapped up the first round of the Seven Mountains Mandate with an awesome, spirit-filled time of fellowship and prayer. Seven Mountains 2.0 will begin in the middle of next, with kickoff currently planned for June 14.

The Seven Mountains of Cultural Influence are

Arts & Entertainment
Business
Education
Family
Government
Media
Religion

All chamber members are operating in the Business mountain, and we are all probably in the Family and Religion mountains also. Through our connections, each of us has the potential to indirectly touch every mountain at one time or another. But each of us is called to one primary mountain focus.

The goal of Seven Mountains training is to help you identify which of these is your mountain and to equip you to stake God's claim on it. We hope you'll plan on joining us in this kingdom-building work.

This video explains more about the Seven Mountains Mandate.

Please keep our program leaders, Julie and Dennis Matula, in your prayers as they foster this growing program. Also, be in prayer about the role God has for you in the Seven Mountains Mandate and how He might use you to make a difference in your community and culture.

A good contagion

2010-05-13T17:27:00.000-04:00

Our next Business-Building Lunch will be Thursday, June 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando.

Our featured speaker will be Monica Wofford of Contagious Companies.

Cost: $25 for chamber members and $35 for nonmembers
Table sponsorships, which include seating for 8 people, are $200 and are available to members only. Call the office to set up your sponsorship.

Register by noon on Tuesday, June 8.

Order your tickets online using our secure service, or call the office at 407-814-1124.

Diversification is the key to preserving state’s place in space

2010-04-28T09:41:00.000-04:00

By Kristen Stieffel

Although the Space Coast was prepared for the end of the shuttle program, the sudden cancellation of its replacement, the Constellation program, left us scrambling for direction. What next?

Maintaining — or increasing — Florida’s role in space exploration and keeping our space workers from looking elsewhere for jobs will require government, academia and business working together to diversify Florida’s role.

Economic development leaders, brought together by the UCF Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies in an April 16 public forum, agree that Florida’s present focus on launch operations will not suffice as more of the space program is transferred to private industry.

Lynda Weatherman, president and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast, said business has always had a large part in the space program. Her organization has been working with “the usual suspects” for many years, including Orbital Science, Lockheed Martin and United Launch Alliance. She said growth in the industry will be bolstered by asking such companies “what is it that you need that this state can deliver in the next two years?” Some of those needs will be filled by companies already in the market.

Brevard Workforce is recruiting businesses to help place shuttle workers in new positions. Among the workers that will be seeking new positions are data management specialists, machine operators, project managers, electrical engineers, and quality control managers. To see whether your company can benefit from the organization’s efforts, visit the Aerospace Workforce Transition Program website.

In addition to three areas in which Florida already has expertise — launch operations, payload processing and ground support — Space Florida identified seven market sectors in which Florida’s space industry has room for expansion:

Environmental monitoring, which includes applications for weather observation and agriculture
Emergency management
Life sciences
Communications and robotics, which is a large part of defense as well as spaceflight
Adventure tourism
Clean energy, including photovoltaics and alternative fuels
Development of new materials

With the International Space Station nearing completion, it will be available to universities and companies for microgravity experiments. Such work will need to be coordinated Earthside, and Frank DiBello, president of Space Florida, believes Central Florida is the perfect place for that.

He said Lake Nona’s Medical City is an ideal site for the ISS ground node. Space Florida is reaching out to pharmaceutical companies around the world to educate them about the possibilities in this area.

M.J. Soileau, vice president for research & commercialization at the University of Central Florida, attended NASA’s Conference on the American Space Program for the 21st Century, held at Kennedy Space Center April 15. There, he learned that reaching Mars will be impractical, if not impossible, with current materials. The mass of such a ship would be ten times that of the ISS, as it would need to carry, said Soileau, “A year and a half of life support.”

He said entities in the Florida High Tech Corridor, which includes UCF, University of Florida and University of South Florida, are “working technologies that will be critical to the next phase of our space program.” Those technologies include not only structures but new materials: Lighter-weight materials and more efficient fuels will be needed to reach Mars.

Soileau said it’s likely that companies that will dominate in the development of these new resources “don’t exist yet,” but UCF’s Business Incubation Program can help entrepreneurs with new ideas be successful.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy set a goal of “helping make the I-4 corridor the Silicon Valley of space.” Soileau said this goal is achievable, given the “intellectual infrastructure” of the High Tech Corridor.

For companies and entrepreneurs looking to break into the space business, Soileau said UCF is prepared to help with research and development. “Give us a call,” he said. “We’re ready to play.”

The Buck stops here

2010-04-23T12:00:00.000-04:00

Buck Jacobs, founder of C12 Group, will be the featured speaker at our next Business-Building Lunch May 4, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando. Cost: $20 for chamber members and $30 for nonmembers.

Buck will talk about successful organizational development based on principles from scripture.

Order online or call our office at (407) 814-1124 to pay by phone. Table sponsorships, which include seating for eight people, are $200 and are available to members only. These may not be purchased online; call the office to order.

For more information on Buck Jacobs and C12 Group, visit the chamber website.

Fellowship Friday

2010-04-22T09:24:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow we will meet at the Panera Bread at The Mall of Millenia, 4200 Conroy Road in Orlando. This is not a typical "networking" meeting. We develop and nurture relationships, share ideas, and help each other with challenges. Our motto is "Bring your challenges - not your leads."

Tomorrow, we'll talk about how to make a facilitated introduction.

We meet from 7:30 a.m. until the last person leaves. If you have any questions, call Mark at (407) 484-3899

One week left to have lunch with John Ashcroft

2010-03-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

The deadline to register for the April 6 Business-Building Lunch with former US Attorney General John Ashcroft is April 1. Only 70 seats remain, and none will be sold at the door. So if you want to attend, you need to order now before those last seats are taken. You know what to do.

We hope to see you there!

Worth waking early for

2010-03-14T08:23:00.000-04:00

I'm not a morning person, but I cranked the alarm clock back half an hour to get to Fellowship Friday today. I'm glad I did.

President Mark Goldstein developed this weekly meeting format so he could spend more quality time with chamber members. Every Friday Mark shows up at a designated Panera location, where he will help us help each other effectively grow our businesses.

This is not a mingling scenario where you wander about for a while, making small talk with as many people as possible. This is a small group scenario where we share our strengths and challenges and talk about how God is moving in our lives.

This is an ideal format for introverts because it is structured and small. It's ideal for anyone who likes to bounce ideas off others and get good advice from people who care.

Mark will be riding the circuit, as it were, stopping at a Panera near you. Stop in once in a while and get to know some of your fellow members on a deeper level. Pray, brainstorm, encourage and be encouraged.

And if it's a bit early for you … well, you can always grab a good cup of coffee.

Upcoming meetings:

March 26: 1210 S. International Pkwy. (at Lake Mary Blvd.)
April 2: 3131 Daniels Rd. (Winter Garden Village at Fowlers Grove)

All meetings begin at 7:30 a.m. and end when the last person leaves.

If you have any questions or want to recommend a location, call Mark at (407) 484-3899.

Lunch with John Ashcroft

2010-03-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

John Ashcroft will be the featured speaker at the chamber's April 6 luncheon. Ashcroft is currently a professor of law and government at Regent University, which made his appearance possible. You might remember him from some of his earlier roles: governor of Missouri, senator, and U.S. attorney general.
Ashcroft led the U.S. law enforcement community following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. His tenure was highlighted by forceful public advocacy of a strong anti-terrorism strategy.

All seats must be paid for in advance. We will not be selling tickets at the door for this event.

When: Tuesday, April 6, 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Doors will open at 10:45 a.m.
Where: Faith Hall, First Baptist Orlando
Cost: $20 for chamber members and $30 for nonmembers.

Order online or (407) 814-1124.
Thank You To Our March Lunch Sponsor Regent University.

Seeking people to meet needs

2010-02-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

SunriseArc in Leesburg needs a donated projector for PowerPoint presentations. This nonprofit organization serves adults with disabilities.

Development Assistant Kathryn Parrish says the group makes many presentations to state government entities, local civic organizations, and churches. The projector would also be used in training sessions for staff who provide direct care to clients.

If you or your company can meet his need, please contact Parrish at (352) 787-3079, Ext. 12.

SunriseArc’s programs help people with disabilities achieve independence and participate in their communities. SunriseArc’s Web site is here.

Meanwhile, over at the Mustard Seed, they are in need of beds. The group serves about 100 families a month. Many of these people are sleeping on the floor. The Mustard Seed provides household furnishings and other basics to people struggling to reestablish a home after suffering a disaster or a personal tragedy and to others in need. Learn more, see The Mustard Seed Web site.

Facing 2010 with confidence

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Ann Sonntag, an award-winning journalist, is publisher of Orlando Business Journal. She has been named one of Orlando's Most Powerful People in 2005, 2006 and 2007, by Orlando Magazine.

Ann will be our featured speaker at the February Business-Building Lunch Feb. 2 with a talk titled "Economic Realities In 2010." Some indicators show we may be pulling out of the trough, but the road to recovery is likely to be long. Ann shared some of her thoughts with Randye McLemore in this interview:

Join us at First Baptist Orlando's Faith Hall Conference Center Feb. 2, 11:00 a.m.-1 p.m. The member price is $20, and the non-member price is $30. Pay online at our Web site, or call our office at 407-814-1124. You may also mail a check to: CF Christian Chamber, 1631 Rock Springs Rd. Ste. 239, Apopka FL 32712. Please include name and business for each person attending.

Thank you to our February lunch sponsor, Lykes Insurance.

Help Chamber Members Help Haitians

2010-01-22T15:22:00.000-05:00

Chamber members are coming to the aid of Haitians who have been devastated by the recent earthquakes. Prayerfully consider helping these members help our Haitian brothers and sisters:

Harvest-Time International provides relief to disaster, hunger and refugee victims worldwide. They distribute food, clothing, household goods, hygiene products, medicine, blankets and whatever else is requested to meet the needs in these regions. Contact: Andre Smolinsky, 407-474-3905.

Cornerstone Christian University in Orlando operates a school for children in Haiti. The school provides children with a Christian education at no cost, as well as meeting many of the children's essential needs. According to founder Dr. Ted Ridore, the school was completely destroyed. Visit the Web site to provide funds to rebuild this school and to learn about future missionary opportunities. Contact: Dr. Ridore, 407-879-1597.

Frank Mannina, owner of FM Printing, is organizing volunteers to come to Northland Church to make 100,000 meals for Haitian children. 200 volunteers are needed on January 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to assemble the meals. Contact: Frank Mannina, 407-496-2646.

You can do without this "special" delivery

2010-01-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

This just landed in my inbox:

The courier company was not able to deliver your parcel by your address.

Cause: Error in shipping address.
You may pickup the parcel at our post office personaly!
...The shipping label is attached to this e-mail.
Please print this label to get this package at our post office....

The message purports to be from DHL and sports a convincingly spoofed "dhl.com" e-mail address.

The attachment is called "DHL_Label_NR34791.zip," and that's the real tip-off.

Well, that and the fact that I'm not expecting anything to be delivered by anyone.

Even if I were, why would a simple shipping label be in a zip file?

It wouldn't. It would be a pdf, surely. Or I'd be instructed to log into dhl.com with my tracking number.

This attachment and others like it -- the numbers appear to be randomly generated (yes, I got 2 of them with different numbers) -- contains a trojan that will install malware on your Windows computer. But even if you have a Mac, you should not open unexpected attachments from unverifiable sources.

For more on Bredolab, see Hoax-Slayer and Symantec.

Are you booked?

2010-01-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

The SHINE seminar series begins Jan. 14. Please arrive promptly at 7:15am as the seminar will begin at 7:30 and will end at 8:30. Since there is no charge for the seminar other than the cost of the book and workbook, no food or beverages will be provided--but please feel free to bring your own.

If you don't have the book or workbook already, they will be available at the seminar at a cost of $10 each. You can pay using credit card at the Belhaven location only. Those attending at Palm Beach Atlantic must pay with cash or check. If you are attending at PBA and would like to pay using a credit card, just contact our office at (407) 814-1124 and pre-pay.

If you haven't yet decided which location you want to attend, please do so as soon as possible. At present, there are more seats available at PBA. The course will continue weekly for 12 weeks.

We look forward to seeing you next week as we learn how to effectively Serve others, Honor God, Improve continually, Navigate with values, and Excel in relationships.

Shine on

2010-01-06T21:17:00.000-05:00

Kris den Besten, author of SHINE, asked us at the November luncheon whether, when people watch us, they see a worker, or an instrument created by God to bring him glory. He also introduced us to the acronym SHINE:

S	Serve others
H	Honor God
I	Improve continually
N	Navigate by values
E	Earn Recommendations

Seminars based on den Besten's book SHINE will be held at Belhaven College in Maitland and Palm Beach Atlantic University in Orlando beginning Jan. 14. Facilitators will be Eddy Moratin of Lifework Leadership and Mark Goldstein, president of the Christian Chamber.

Both seminars will be held from 7:15-8:30 a.m. The seminars are free. Both the book and workbook will be available at the seminar.

To register and choose a location to attend, e-mail us or call Mark at (407) 484-3899.

For many of us, the workplace may be our primary mission field. SHINE shows how to move from making a living to making a difference.

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
--Matt. 5:14-16 (NRSV)

Make A Positive Start In The New Year

2009-12-28T16:56:00.000-05:00

Our next Business-Building Lunch features speaker Dr. C. Dwight Bain, who will explain how to achieve maximum results in your personal and professional life, and how to move from stress to success.

Join us at Faith Hall Conference Center at First Baptist Orlando, 3000 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando, Tuesday, January 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m. Member price: $20; nonmember price: $30.

Register online or call our office at 407-814-1124

This luncheon is sponsored by Bellhaven College.

The lord tells us … fear not

2009-12-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

A Video Message From Mark Goldstein

2009-12-11T16:46:00.000-05:00

Please join us at for the chamber Christmas party, sponsored by The Plaza Theatre, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. We'll have delicious holiday food and live Christmas music. You can even do some Christmas shopping with Bajalia Trading Company.

Community Blood Centers of Central Florida's bloodmobile will be in front of the theater, so you can give "the gift of life."

Showtime is 7 p.m. for The Child, a musical story, narrated by Joseph, telling the birth of Jesus Christ. Performed by the same talented ensemble that brought us The Rock & The Rabbi, The Child is a perfect addition to your Christmas celebration.

This is the first time The Child will be performed in Orlando.

Chamber Christmas Party followed by The Child
Thursday, Dec. 17, at The Plaza Theatre, 425 N. Bumby Ave, Orlando.
Christmas Party: 5 p.m.; Showtime: 7 p.m.
Cost: $29 per ticket (for party and show)
This price is for chamber members only and is not available online. To buy your tickets, either call the box office at (4070 228-1220 or go to the theater box office.

Not many tickets remain, so please act fast! We look forward to seeing you there.

One way to mitigate the health insurance coverage crisis

2009-12-04T20:17:00.001-05:00

The census bureau says 15.4 percent of people living in the U.S. lack health insurance.

One of the primary obstacles self-employed people and small business owners face in getting health insurance is the high cost. Chamber President Mark Goldstein announced at our December 1 luncheon that our members can now get supplemental health insurance at group rates through Transamerica and Aflac.

We’ll have an informational meeting December 11, 9 a.m., at Belhaven College -- 2301 Maitland Center Parkway, Bldg. 200 Suite 165 -- in Maitland. Representatives from both companies will present program benefit options and answer your questions.

To attend this meeting, please make a reservation by by calling the chamber office at (407) 814-1124. Or send an e-mail from the chamber Web site.

If you are not currently a chamber member, now might be a great time to join. You can find membership information on the Web site. Chamber representatives will be at the December 11 meeting if you wish to join at that time.

...And I do appreciate you being round....

2009-11-18T18:57:00.000-05:00

Paulette Weir at Christian HELP is looking for Facebook users to give HELP some help.

If you have a Facebook account, just click this link to vote for Christian HELP Foundation Inc. in the Chase Community Giving promotion. Chase will give $25,000 to the charities with the most votes.

When you get to Chase's Facebook page, just enter "Christian HELP Foundation Inc." in the search box.

Paulette tells us that this year, Christian HELP is helping more people than at any other time in its 18-year history. "Yesterday, in the first hour and half of being open to job seekers, we saw 70 people," she says. "The lobby was so jammed packed all day that we had to line up chairs outside for people to sit."

With so many people needing assistance, Christian HELP can use all the help it can get.

Lunch, with a chance for lunch

2009-11-17T21:16:00.001-05:00

Every person who attends our Business-Building Lunch Dec. 1 will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Darden Restaurants gift card, good at Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, Longhorn Steakhouse, or The Capital Grille.

Invite a nonmember to attend, and you'll be entered into a drawing for another $50 Darden gift card. You will get one chance for every of your guests who attends.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, your guests can attend the December lunch for the member rate of $20. If they register online, they should click the Member Lunch option and put your name in the comments section. If they call our office to register, they need to mention your name. If you choose to pay for nonmember guests, that counts too.

Our Featured Speaker

David Zerfoss retired in September from his role as president of Husqvarna Professional Products. At that time, he and his team were serving over 10,000 independent retailers and running a $500 million business across North America. And all of it continent on the strength of personal relationships.

Building a business rests on engaging people with a compelling vision of how they can serve the customer, the community, and the Kingdom. At the December luncheon, David will share how God's Word inspired him to ask for guidance, to seek for collaboration, and to expect transformation as the way to grow sales and profits.

Prepare to realize greater abundance in 2010 by nourishing your team and yourself at this month's Business-Building Lunch.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m.

Where: Faith Hall at First Baptist Orlando, 3000 S. John Young Parkway

Cost: $20 for members and members' guests

You can register three ways:

1. Online at www.cfchristianchamber.com
2. By phone: (407) 814-1124
3. By mail: CF Christian Chamber, 1631 Rock Springs Rd., Suite 239, Apopka FL 32712 (payments must be received by Nov. 27)

Join the Select few

2009-10-31T21:30:00.000-04:00

Marcher Lord Press, a Colorado company that publishes Christian speculative fiction, is putting a new spin on publishing.

"Marcher Lord Select is American Idol meets book acquisitions," says publisher Jeff Gerke. About 40 completed manuscripts will be presented, and readers will decide which one should be published.

The contest will proceed in phases. In each subsequent round, voters will get larger glimpses of the competing manuscripts.

The first phase will consist only of the book's title, genre, length, a 20-word premise, and a 100-word back cover copy teaser blurb. Voters will cut the entries by half based on these items alone.

Following rounds will provide voters with a 1-page synopsis, the first 500 words of the book, the first 30 pages of the book, and, in the final round, the first 60 pages of the book.

The winner of the final round will be published by Marcher Lord Press in Spring 2010.

Marcher Lord Select begins Nov. 1 and runs until January or February 2010. All voting, discussions and other Marcher Lord Select activities will take place at The Anomaly forums in the Marcher Lord Select subforum. Free registration is required.

Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce member Kristen Stieffel’s novel is among those chosen for the competition. Contestants are admitted by invitation only, but anyone may register to vote for the winner.

"In order for this to work as we're envisioning," Gerke says, "we need lots and lots of voters. So even if you're not a fan of science fiction or fantasy, I'm sure you love letting your voice be heard about what constitutes good Christian fiction. So come on out and join the fun!"

We love to brag on our members, so if you have good news to share, please let us know by using the "Contact Us" link at the Chamber Web site. We'll be happy to post your news and Thanksgivings here!

4 Keys to Social Media Marketing Success

2009-10-02T21:53:00.000-04:00

By Pam Lontos

Social Media Marketing (called SMM) is the newest buzz in public relations and marketing. As with any new tool, people have lots of questions about how to utilize it.

Just as you can forward your favorite jokes by e-mail to friends, with SMM, people can spread your message for you with a click of a button.

To ensure SMM works well for you, employ these keys to success:

Put your message on the right sites.

With so many social media sites available, you need to determine where your market is, and post your messages on those sites. Being on the wrong site wastes your time and could hurt your credibility. If your topic is business growth, for example, you don’t want to be on a site for people whose hobby is baking. With SMM, being anywhere and everywhere is not the answer. Be strategic: target your market for the best results.

Also realize your market might change. Just because a certain site attracts your market today doesn’t mean it will tomorrow. People are fickle in SMM, and they get bored easily. For example, LinkedIn almost fell out of existence in November 2008. If it had not moved to where its market shifted, it would not be here today. But LinkedIn had to make a huge shift in services it provided, because its market moved. And when the market moves, it tends to go in mass.

So if you don’t watch your market, it may leave the site you’re sending messages to. Now your messages are going to the bakers again.

Understand the purpose of each site.

To post to the right SMM site, you need to know the focus of each site. Even people new to SMM have likely heard of the Big Three: LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

LinkedIn is the leading business networking site -- think of it as a corporate boardroom. Facebook is for keeping tabs on personal and business contacts -- think of it as entertaining clients in your living room. Twitter is for short, sound-byte updates -- think of it as a billboard.

A couple of others that are useful for business are Naymz and Plaxo.

Naymz is a reputation site. By registering, you essentially do a background check on yourself and post it to the Internet. It’s a well respected site among corporate decision makers, who often use Naymz to check people out.

Plaxo is a hub site. It lets you link multiple Internet resources in a single place. People can go there and find their way to everything about you, if you choose to allow that.

For business purposes, you should probably stay away from MySpace, which often worries executives. Why? Because there have been more corporate scandals and sexual harassment suits in the past year over things posted on MySpace than on any other social networking site. If you have a MySpace page, hide it.

Think in sound bytes.

Anyone who has done any type of PR knows the importance of the sound byte, which is also important in SMM. You want your message to be original, useful, valuable, fun, problem solving, and interesting. And brief: 140 characters or less. Characters, not words. So your message must be succinct.

That character limit is not set randomly. In fact, 140 characters is the convention for text messages to cell phones internationally. You don’t want the end of your message cut off because it was too long for the cell phone to display.

And don’t think you can take your long message and split it up into two or more feeds. That’s called giving a double message or a split, and people are annoyed by such tactics. Do it too often and you’ll quickly lose your followers.

Remember, your goal is for people like your message enough to pass it along.

Post responsibly.

A common question is: “How often should I post messages onto these sites? Daily? Twice a day? Hourly?” Unfortunately, many people post too often. Sending too many messages produces two negative effects.

First, you become an interruption rather than a welcome interlude. People who are having your messages forwarded to their cell phones are constantly being interrupted by you. Now you’re a nuisance.

Second, search engines are designed to ignore these 140-character messages. But there are strategic ways around that rule so your messages become alerts. But if a search engine sees too many posts from you during its standard interval, it could flag you as a spammer and lock you out.

The best posting interval is 48 hours.

When you combine SMM efforts with traditional PR avenues, you can create a publicity campaign that gets you noticed by prospects, clients, and key decision makers. The sooner you put SMM to work for you, the more profitable your business will be.

Guest blogger Pam Lontos is president of the PR/PR public relations firm in Orlando and will be the featured speaker at the chamber’s October luncheon.

The 15 Most Common Publicity Mistakes Businesses Make

2009-09-26T23:29:00.000-04:00

By Pam Lontos

As a business owner, you probably know publicity is important to success. But many businesspeople make costly mistakes in publicity campaigns.

For example, saying the wrong thing to a reporter may only cost you a quote in a national magazine. But in advertising dollars, that quote could have been worth thousands. And you never really know who would have read the interview. Maybe a reporter for USA Today or maybe Oprah’s producer -- or even Oprah herself. And what about all the time and effort you spent to get the reporter on the phone?

Everyone makes mistakes. But you can take action to avoid them by considering these mistakes businesspeople commonly make:

Thinking hundreds of customers will walk through the door from one hit. Name recognition takes time and repetition to build. A person will need to see your name and logo about six or seven times before they actually remember it.

Not being unique in approach. Develop a unique angle that sets your business apart. For example, if you own a restaurant, consider what’s distinctive about your menu or management. The more you make your message different from the “old way,” the more attention you’ll attract.

Thinking they can’t get into a large publication. Editors, even at high-profile media outlets, scramble daily to find knowledgeable people to interview. And editors must find new, exciting people either weekly or monthly, so the more experts they can add to their database, the better. Make yourself stand out as a reliable source and you will get the media’s attention.

Thinking small publications don’t matter. Even big-name businesses had to start small. Although small publications and trade journals aren’t sold on newsstands, you never know who’s reading them. Don’t overlook these as a foundation for publicity.

Thinking their ideas are wonderful. Explaining why your business is wonderful to an editor is not an effective way to pitch your ideas. In fact, it’s a turn-off. Realize that editors and reporters only care about their readers. Instead of telling them about your business, learn about their readers and what they want.

Pitching themselves, instead of a story for the audience. Always highlight the benefits you can offer their particular audience. Consider what uniqueness you offer and why their readers or viewers will be interested.

Pitching the wrong person. Besides wasting your time, pitching your ideas to the wrong person will likely frustrate them. If you have an article you’d like to publish, talk to an editor. But if you want to score an interview, you need a reporter.

Not finding out what reporters really want. As you present your idea to a reporter, ask questions about what their audience needs. Then change your initial idea based on their responses. Don’t try to “sell” your idea if it isn’t a good fit; instead, emphasize your ability to address a variety of issues.

Not answering the reporter’s questions. Always let the reporter or interviewer lead the conversation. Don’t attempt to talk about points the reporter doesn’t want to cover. They simply won’t include you in the final story.

Not getting to the point. Audiences and readers love to hear firsthand accounts, but don’t overload the reporter with information that isn’t directly related to the story, and don’t ramble. If you can’t convey your message succinctly, it won’t be used.

Not respecting the reporter’s time. Reporters work on strict deadlines, and nothing will irritate them more than you being inconsiderate. So before you start pitching, ask if they’re on deadline. If yes, ask for a convenient call-back time.

Not gearing the pitch to the publication. If you get a “no” from an editor, reporter, or producer, always ask, “What don’t you like?” Then adapt your presentation on the spot. The more you learn about their needs and customize your message for their audience, the more likely you’ll be featured.

Making it an advertisement. Authors spend a lot of time selling their books because the profession demands it. But interviews and articles are not the place to go on and on about your expertise. Let your knowledge speak for itself. By giving solid, useable information, you will automatically show audiences how great your book is.

Not providing their publicist with material in a timely manner. Business owners are busy—that’s a given. But so are publicists, editors, and reporters. To get your information into the right hands, your publicist must get requested information from you in a timely manner. Your publicist can’t pitch you and your book without the most recent, relevant information about you. If you make your publicist wait, you may miss your chance to be featured in your desired media outlet.

Not understanding the importance of frequency in publicity. While it takes a long time to build name recognition, it takes no time at all for people to forget about you. So you have to maintain the frequency of your publicity, especially when your competition maintains theirs. Otherwise, you become old news.

Just as everyone makes mistakes, everyone can avoid them by being aware of the common ones. With such awareness, you can make the most of every publicity opportunity.

Guest blogger Pam Lontos is president of the PR/PR public relations firm in Orlando and will be the featured speaker at the chamber’s October luncheon.

Turn your opinion into new business

2009-09-22T20:27:00.000-04:00

By Pam Lontos

Writing an op-ed piece is one excellent way to make yourself known and establish yourself as an authority. The op-ed page (“opposite editorial”) faces the page on which the newspaper publishes its own statements of opinion.

When you’re choosing an op-ed topic, the more controversial, the better. A good op-ed piece promotes a strong point of view in 500 to 700 words.

The reason your topic is important right now should be crystal clear. Academicians tend to save their juiciest conclusions for the end – that’s expected in peer-reviewed journals. An op-ed piece is the opposite. The most compelling fact must come first. Well-crafted arguments should follow, making a clear case and concluding with a call to action. Read several opinion pieces in local and national newspapers to gain a feel for how they are done.

At large organizations, it’s not unusual for the op-ed piece to be ghostwritten by a staff member or freelancer, then submitted to the newspaper under the byline of the CEO or other relevant expert. If you don’t have the time to pen your own op-ed piece, you should be able to easily find someone to draft it for you.

Your piece will hit home if you combine a passionate approach with logical analysis. As with any writing submitted to the news media, language must be clear, punchy and direct. Editors are looking for plain English with concrete imagery.

Put a brief note outlining your credentials at the end of the piece to save the editor from the work of tracking that information down. Editors are likely to be receptive to pieces written by someone within the local community, so be sure to submit to your hometown newspaper as well as to all the newspapers in your state.

Some large newspapers will demand exclusivity. Ask the editor’s preference when you submit your piece. But many opinion-page editors understand that op-ed pieces are distributed to newspapers nationwide.

If you have expertise on a topic or have written a book on the subject, mention that. Experts have an edge on the op-ed page. For instance, the opinion editor of the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia was happy to receive a piece on the dangers of secondhand smoke written by the dean of the nursing school and the director of the cancer center at West Virginia University. Not only because they knew about the latest research, but because the had seen patients who suffered from cancer and other lung diseases as a result of secondhand smoke exposure. This gave them credibility.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when crafting an op-ed piece:

Be provocative, original, timely. Tie your subject into a natural disaster, social trend, or other current news.

Give examples. Use facts and statistics. Explain why you have come to the conclusions you are drawing.

Write about ideas you feel passionately about. Tie your argument into your own experiences. Effective op-ed pieces are based on values and emotions, not simply dry reasoning. The ordinary reader must be able to relate to it.

Guest blogger Pam Lontos is president of the PR/PR public relations firm in Orlando and will be the featured speaker at the chamber’s October luncheon.

A powerful way to develop business

2009-09-18T16:25:00.000-04:00

In the midst of a recession, with revenues down and prospects for improvement far off, many companies see marketing as an unnecessary expense.

This is dangerous thinking.

It’s precisely when business is slow that increased efforts are needed. Even the most dedicated sales staff needs support in generating new business. Marketing and publicity are important parts of that effort.

Pam Lontos, founder and president of the PR/PR public relations firm in Orlando, will address this important issue at the Christian Chamber of Commerce luncheon Oct. 13. Her program, “I See Your Name Everywhere,” will explain how your organization can generate more business through the power of publicity.
Pam will explain how easy—and economical—it is to:

Use social media to promote your business

Write press releases to get media attention

Generate business from publicity in magazines and newspapers

Stay positive and motivated through tough times

By using publicity wisely, your business can not only survive a recession—it can thrive.

A doubly good deal

2009-09-15T19:21:00.000-04:00

The Plaza Theatre has provided a fabulous package for its fellow chamber members for two evenings of fellowship, entertainment, and inspiration.

In October, The Witnesses, part two of The Rock & The Rabbi trilogy, returns to The Plaza. If you enjoyed R&R, you will love part two, in which Peter, Paul, and James debate what the church will be. If you missed part one, that's OK. The Witnesses stands on its own. Besides, if you're a member of this chamber, you presumably know the story that precedes the Book of Acts. Visit www.thewitnessesmusical.com to learn more about the musical and sample some songs.

Prior to the Oct. 17 performance, The Plaza Theatre will host a reception for chamber members. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Then, in December, we'll be back at The Plaza for a The Child, a musical account of the birth of Jesus Christ as told by Joseph.

Our chamber Christmas party will take place at the theatre before the Dec. 17 performance.

The Child is performed by the same crew that brought us The Rock & The Rabbi. Their unique format is different from the usual musical theater. It's more like storytelling with musical accompaniment. Or a concert with storytelling. Either way, it's phenommenal.

Chamber members receive $10 off tickets for The Witnesses, and $9 off tickets for The Child. If you purchase tickets for both events as a package, you'll get an additional $2 off.

But act fast! Since these performances are also open to the public, there are a limited number of seats available.

So here's the breakdown:

Show	Regular Price	Chamber Price
Witnesses	$33	$23
Child	$38	$29
Package	$71	$50

You can purchase tickets by calling the box office at (407) 228-1220 or go to the theater at 425 N. Bumby Avenue in Orlando. Since this is special price is for chamber members only, it's not available through The Plaza Theatre Web site.

So save these dates:
The Witnesses, Oct. 17, reception at 6 p.m., showtime at 7:30 p.m.
The Child, Dec. 17, Christmas party at 5 p.m., showtime at 7 p.m.

Both events are at The Plaza Theatre, 425 N. Bumby Ave., Orlando

Hope to see you there!

Flu needn't leave us wallowing in misery

2009-09-07T19:45:00.000-04:00

News that a colleague contracted the flu -- yes, that flu -- led me to write. As increasing numbers of the clunkily named H1N1 flu are reported, it’s easy -- dare I say tempting -- to give in to fear and dismay.

Let’s not. That will not help our employees, our clients, or our community.

There are several important things to remember about H1N1:

It’s no worse than the normal seasonal flu. In fact, some cases are milder. So far this year, 593 deaths nationwide have been attributed to H1N1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that seasonal flu and its complications kill an average of 36,000 people a year.

“Pandemic” isn’t as scary as it sounds. It just means the disease has been found on more than one continent. While this was unusual 100 years ago, air travel has made intercontinental transmission much easier.

Young people are more at risk. Usually, the elderly are at an increased risk for flu, but with H1N1, people over 64 are more likely to have resistance due to exposure to a related strain earlier in their lives. Younger people lack this immunity.

It's not swine flu. The virus was misidentified early on because of its similarity to swine flu. An inappropriate amount of media coverage followed, spurred by memories of the swine flu epidemic of the 1970s.

The CDC advises these precautions for all cold and flu viruses:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then throw away the tissue.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough, sneeze or touch your eyes, nose, or mouth (because we all will, especially when we're trying not to). Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

If you have a flu-like illness, stay home until your fever has been gone (without the aid of fever-reducing medicines) at least 24 hours.

What employers can do:

Offer your employees paid sick leave. One of the primary reasons people work while sick is that they cannot afford to lose pay.

Make sure no one in your company is “indispensable.” Cross-training will ensure that staff members do not work while sick just because no one else is able to do what they do. Every person in your company -- including the owner -- should have a backup.

Sponsor flu shots for your staff. Reimburse employees for all or part of the cost of a flu shot. in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine, an H1N1 vaccine will be available this fall.

Keep a clean workplace. Flu viruses can survive on surfaces like door knobs for up to 8 hours. Clean regularly with disinfectant.

Educate yourself. General information about influenza is available at the easy-to-remember flu.gov, while information specific to business owners is available here.

August 4th Business-Building Lunch Exceeded Expectations

2009-08-05T18:35:00.000-04:00

This lunch exceeded my wildest expectations. We had over 150 attendees and over 20 business people joined the chamber! The September 1st event promises to be just as exciting as keynote speaker Des Cummings, Executive VP of Florida Hospital presents "Ideas From God For Business Leadership".