President's Article - March 2011

I heard a lot of complaining this past weekend, especially on Sunday morning, when those who made it to church on time complained about losing an hour of sleep. All day long people complained about losing that one hour. Oh, everyone knew it was coming - it does every year.

It wasn't the greatest weekend news-wise either. The earthquake and utter destruction in parts of Japan weighed heavily on the minds of many. Additional bad news resonated from that one event. Gas prices are predicted to reach $5.00 a gallon by summer, the families of police officers were morning the deaths of their loved ones and even fellow Chamber members are facing health and other problems. Sometimes things appear to be so bad business people cannot find anything positive in their daily lives or their business lives. Time however still moves forward. It does not stop. Every morning there is a time to open your business and every evening a time to close. What you do in-between will guarantee profit or loss.

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." - Albert Schweitzer 

Like time, we must move forward - look ahead. Picture yourself at a stoplight behind a huge truck. All you can see is the back of that truck, not knowing if or when the light has changed. Sometimes we feel our business is stuck behind that truck. Now is the time to get out front. By getting past the roadblock of bad news and negative attitudes, an immediate change occurs. Suddenly the view has changed and we can actually see and react to what's down the road.

There are many problems; it's time to create solutions. The probability of solving the world's problems is slim, so let's start by creating solutions within our businesses and our lives. One of the first places to start is by surrounding yourself with positive people. In the past week alone, I have met with forward thinking positive people who excite and stimulate my thinking and improve my attitude. One was looking to start a new business, knowing he and his wife had the skills and expertise to make the new venture a success. Another was working on a presentation for Chamber members. She was so excited about the possibility of telling others what she had learned that I got caught up in her positive attitude.

Next, look for, and talk with successful thinkers. It is one thing to surround yourself with positive people, but to meet and absorb the knowledge of successful thinkers adds substance to forward thinking. Successful thinkers actually study the issues and look for ways to succeed despite the depressed economy. They are the ones who can help see the advantages and opportunities these times offer. They have looked at future possibilities and have proven to be successful through the hard times of the past.

After adjusting to a more positive outlook, it's time to focus. Your business and personal goals haven't changed, but the circumstances have. A positive focus on original goals will result in an opportunity to redirect your efforts. Take the knowledge you have gained from successful thinkers and apply it to your business. Better yet, find a mentor. Build on the knowledge of someone who has been through hard times or has had struggles similar to yours. Ask questions and find answers from someone with business goals similar to yours. Mentoring groups are equally effective. Every minute spent learning earns hours of benefit to your future.

The answer to the lost hour of sleep is easy. Just look down the road to fall when we set our clocks back one hour. The solution to hard times is not as easy. By creating solutions instead of getting caught up in the problems, the smart businessperson will be much further ahead when the economy begins to improve. They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. ~ Andy Warhol