Weekly News 

28 December 2009

From the keyboard of Lee Schearer,

"New Year-New Beginnings"

2009 is soon to be a memory, most would say a bad memory. However, as an eternal optimist, I try to step back from such events and take a look at what positive lessons can we learn from the year 2009. Such questions arise in my mind as, what went wrong, how can we learn from it and what plan of action can we employ to make sure that it doesn't happen again?

Now that 2009 is soon over, we need to "get over it". We need to re-energize ourselves and re-dedicate our lives to the things that matter most, our families, our friends and our religious convictions. Together, as a community of like minded people, we can make a difference. We can, by supporting each other, make 2010 a great and prosperous year.

I look forward, with great anticipation, to the positive events of 2010. I believe that I can speak for each member of the Chapel Hill Leads Group when I say that, I look forward to sharing your success's, and will support you when times are tough. Together we can achieve anything.

The time is now, this is the place and we are the ones who will make 2010 a great year.

I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday morning, our last meeting in 2009, with a smile on your face, a song in your heart and gratitude for the opportunities that lie ahead in this great home of ours, America.

Respectfully,

Lee Schearer

Calendar:

Weekly Meeting:
Our regularly scheduled weekly meeting will be held Wednesday morning at Extraordinary Ventures, Inc., 200 South Elliott Road, Chapel Hill from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Meeting Dues are $5.00 per week.  Place your business card and $1.00 in the Optional Drawing. One card will be selected and that person will receive the week's kitty. For Express Check-In, please arrive with a $5.00, a $1.00, and a business card and we will check you in. We greatly appreciate your bringing correct change. We cannot change large denomination bills ($10, $20, $50, etc.) and cannot accept checks.
This Week's Speaker:
Happy Holidays from the Chapel Hill Leads Group. There is not a scheduled speaker this last Wednesday of 2009.
Speaker's Schedule for January / February 2010
6 January - Phoenix Miller, Phoenix Miller Professional Organizer
13 January - Dick O'Donnell, Cableless Solutions
20 January - Cliff Staton, State of Mind Coaching
27 January - Mike Komives, mikekomives.com
3 February - Todd Washburn, Todd Washburn Solutions, LLC
10 February - Open Meeting
17 February - Jim Stiles
24 February - Bill Carraway, Pre-Paid Legal

Keep It Simple - Attend the Leads Group meeting at least 50% of the time for 3 consecutive months. Ask Lou Umscheid to place you on the speakers schedule. Continue to attend at least 50% of the Leads Group meetings until your presentation. Continue to attend the Leads Group meeting to strengthen your new referral network.
Did You Know:
2010 - New Year's Resolutions
Every successful business reviews their operations from the previous year(s) and tries to improve upon their past performance. As you prepare to close the books on 2009, take this time to reflect upon this past year’s fiscal performance, where you did well, and where you need to improve. Some possible resolutions for your consideration:
  1. Resolve to follow-up with each client within 30 days of a project completion to make verify their satisfaction with the product or service purchased or the work performed.
    • Why was it successful?
    • Why did it fail?
  2. Resolve to invoice for my product or services in a timely manner.
  3. Resolve to verify the product or service requirements with the customer the sale or the project commencement.
  4. Resolve to backup (protect) your client / employee / business data.
    • Do not forget the CMOS battery in your computer when replacing the smoke alarm batteries.
  5. Resolve to review current marketing and advertising plans against business objectives for 2010.
  6. Resolve to continue my support of the Chapel Hill Leads Group in 2010.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Office Closed, Friday, January 1, 2010
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce will be closed all day in observance of Christmas. The Chamber office will be open Monday, January 4, 2010.
Small Business Roundtable - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Critical Insurance Planning and Business Protection - Pam Herndon, CLU, LUTCF, ChFC and State Farm Agent

What you will learn:

  • How to protect your business in today's economic climate
  • What is the correct insurance package for your business

About the Presenter - Pam has been with State Farm® since 1991 and owes her recognition within the community to serving the insurance and financial needs of residents from the mountains to the coast. As a middle school teacher and principal in Nevada and North Carolina for 12 years, Pam transferred her instruction skills to working with adults. “What’s important is growing a business with clients who are looking for a long-term relationship.”

Attendance is limited to 30 registrants. If you or any of your employees have an interest in this timely and essential session, RSVP to Laura Morrison by January 4, 2010 and reserve your seat today.

The Small Business Roundtable meets the first Wednesday of each month in the Greater Chapel Hill Association of REALTORS Conference Room at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, 27514. Small Business Roundtable membership is open to active Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce members. Contact Robert Altier of DeWitt Law at 919.338.8200 or  Laura Morrison Member Relations Coordinator of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce at 919.357.9989 for information regarding the Small Business Roundtable.

Business Before Hours at The Siena Hotel, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Friday, January 8, 2010
The Siena Hotel will sponsor and host the Chamber’s monthly morning networking event. The Siena is located at 1505 East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. Come enjoy breakfast pastries from the Siena’s Four Diamond restaurant, Il Palio Ristorante, and connect with your fellow Chamber members. No registration required. Free for Chamber members. Contact Laura Morrison, Member Relations Coordinator of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce 919.357.9989 for additional information regarding Business Before Hours. Don’t forget your business cards!
Networking In Your Neighborhood
Alamance Leads Group
The Alamance Leads Group (www.alamanceleads.com) meets every Monday at Mimi's Cafe, Alamance Crossing off I-40/I-85 at Exit 140, Burlington, 27215. Dick O'Donnell (dickodonnell@clearwire.net) with Cableless Solutions (919-760-5476) is the facilitator. The Alamance Leads Group meet from 8:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Apex Leads Group
The Apex Leads Group (www.apexleadsgroup.com) meets every Tuesday at Carrabba's Italian Grill, 1201 Haddon Hall Drive, Apex 27502. Barry & Ellen Sherrill (aimgrouptwo@yahoo.com) with AIM Group Two Promotional Products (919-387-7588) are the facilitators. The Apex Leads Group meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Breakfast Club
Just a reminder that the breakfast club is still meeting at 7:00am at the Weathervane Restaurant. Anyone is invited to share good conversation and a quick breakfast before our regular Leads Group meeting at our new location. This is one way that we can continue to support the management & staff that supported the Leads Group for such a long time.
Cary Leads Group
The Cary Leads Group (www.caryleadsgroup.com) meets Thursdays at the BNC, 649 Walnut Street, Cary 27511. Andy Siouville (919-363-7010) is the facilitator. The Cary Leads Group meet from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Chapel Hill Leads Group
The Chapel Hill Leads Group (www.chapelhillleads.com) meets every Wednesday at Extraordinary Ventures (www.extraordinaryventures.org), 200 South Elliott Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Lee Schearer (919-490-1922) with American Real Estate and Appraisal Company and Don Bonin (919-542-2446) with Town & Country Trader are the facilitators. The Chapel Hill Leads Group meet from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Chatham County Leads Group
The Chatham County Leads Group meets every Tuesday at Virlies Grill, 58 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Don Bonin (chathamcountylg@gmail.com) (919-542-0376) with Town & Country Trader  is the facilitator. The Chatham County Leads Group meet from 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
Durham Leads Group
The Durham Leads Group meets every Tuesday at Piper's Deli (www.pipersdeli.com), 3219 Old Chapel Hill Road, Durham, NC 27707. Randy Bernstein (Randy@etchNstitch.com) (919-732-3473) with Etch N Stitch and Jane Clark (Jane.A.Clark@EdwardJones.com) (919-419-1761) with Edward Jones Investments are the facilitators. The Durham Leads Group meet from 8:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Hillsborough Leads Group
The Hillsborough Leads Group (www.hillsboroughleads.net) meets every Thursday morning of each month at The Village Diner, 600 West King Street, Hillsborough, NC. Ned Parsons of Parson’s Business Solutions (919-493-0985) and Caryn Byrd of Comfort Assurance Group (919-259-6401) are the facilitators. The Hillsborough Leads Group meet from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Holly Springs Leads Group
Holly Springs Leads Group (hollyspringsleadsgroup.com) meets every Wednesday at Java Divine (www.javadivine.com) in the Bass Lake Shopping Center, 128 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs, NC. Wendy Harrington with Sidekick Communications (919-208-7484) and Barb Louis with PartyLite Gifts (919-772-9560) are the facilitators. The Holly Springs Leads Group meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
North Raleigh Leads Group
The North Raleigh Leads Group (www.northraleighleads.com) meets every Monday morning at the Stone Wolf Coffee, 8300 Health Park, Raleigh, NC. David Stoner with EnviroFix (919-847-5355) and Charlie Edinger with Second Chance Solutions (919-219-5264) are the facilitators. The North Raleigh Leads Group meet from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Northern Wake Leads Group
The Northern Wake Leads Group (www.northernwakeleads.com) meets every Tuesday morning at the Bottle & Bean, 929 Heritage Lake Road, Suite 600, Wake Forest, NC, 27587. Sue Robinson with 4-Minute Fitness/ Genetic Nutrition (919-570-0913) and Lisa Angell with Mary Kay Cosmetics (919-676-0451) are the facilitators. The Northern Wake Leads Group meet from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Western Wake Leads Group
Western Wake Leads Group (westernwakeleads.com) meets every Thursday morning at the BNC, 649 Walnut Street, Cary NC 27511. Bill Carraway with Pre-Paid Legal (919-605-4895) is the facilitator.  The cost will be $5 and includes breakfast. The Western Wake Leads Group meet from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. For further information click here: http://smallbiz.meetup.com/483/calendar/7054450/ or call the BNC at 919-342-5251.