Lace y Cha mber of Commerce
thrive!
January 2011 /Vol. 12, No. 1
Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County to Receive $25,000 Grant from the Walmart Foundation See page 6
Inside this issue Calendar of Events
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Board of Directors
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President’s Message
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Holiday Support for the Military
5:01 Surge - Merle Norman
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See page 5
Holiday Support for Military
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Walmart Foundation
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Running From the Rat Race
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How Will New Tax Laws Affect You? 8 Business is Booming!
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Corporate Branding & Identity
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Executive Members
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5:01 Surge November—Merle Norman Cosmetics Wigs and Day Spa See page 4
Forum–—Wednesday, January 5 Topic: Where: When: Cost:
Entrepreneurship Saint Martin’s Worthington Center Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.; program begins at noon. Pre-pay NOW online at laceychamber.com Members $18 pre-paid / $20 at the door / $25 for guests
The program this month features Dr Richard Beer, Dean of the Saint Martin’s University School of Business, telling us about the new things they’ve got going.
January Chamber Events
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Wednesday—Forum Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at noon Saint Martin’s Worthington Center Topic: Entrepreneurship Cost: members preregistered $18/at the door $20, guests $25 Please pre-register online at laceychamber.com Thank you to our Forum and Media Sponsor: 4th Dimension Computers
Panorama
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Monday—BBQ Committee 4:00 p.m. Chamber Conference Room
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Tuesday—Military Affairs Meeting 7:30 a.m. Hawks Prairie Restaurant 8306 Quinault Dr. NE
Sponsors
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Friday—Government Affairs Meeting 11:30 a.m. Panorama – Chambers House Restaurant 1751 Circle Lane SE
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Tuesday—Fundraising Committee Meeting 2:00 p.m. Chamber Conference Room
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Wednesday—ROXY Connector Business Roundtable 8:00 a.m. River’s Edge Restaurant 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr. SE
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Tuesday—Ambassador’s Meeting 12:00 p.m. (noon) Dirty Dave’s Pizza 3939 Martin Way
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Thursday Executive Meeting 8:30 a.m. Board Meeting 9:30 a.m. Chamber Conference Room
2011 Board of Directors
4th Dimension Computers, Inc. 3929 Pacific Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503 (360) 357-5169 www.4dcomputers.com
Media Sponsor
Panorama 1751 Circle Lane SE Lacey, WA 98503 (360) 456-0111 www.panoramacity.org
Squaxin Island Tourism Department 3591 Old Olympic Hwy Shelton, WA 98584 (360) 432-3838 Join us Thursday, January 13 5:01–7:00 p.m. Great opportunity to network! See you there!
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Thursday—5:01 Surge Squaxin Island Tourism Department 3591 Old Olympic Hwy 5:01 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
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Executive Board Jerry Farmer, President, 94.5 ROXY, 236-1010 Felix Peguero, President Elect, Edward Jones Investments, 438-0341 Lowell Gordon, Vice President, The Creative Office, 754-1732 Mike Harris, Treasurer & Board Member, Columbia Bank, 459-3344 Karen Schade, Secretary, America’s Credit Union, 253-912-3257
Board of Directors Andrew Barkis, Hometown Property Management, 456-7368* Ryan Betz, Boys & Girls Club of Thurston County, 956-0755* Tom Carroll, Network Communications International, 701-1532 Greg Cuoio, Lacey City Manager, 491-3214* Al Eckroth, Virgil Adams Real Estate, 701-3307 Tony Salas, CompuPay, 491-2250* Renée Sunde, Thurston EDC, 754-6320 Brent Walz, OBee Credit Union, 528-5361* Angelique Wilson, Professional Temp Staffing Agency, 786-8443 Jeff Powell, Past President, Prime Development Group, 528-2550 *Recently elected, serving a two year term.
January 2011
Message from the President By Jerry Farmer, 94.5 ROXY, Chamber President
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new year begins—and with it an opportunity for optimism and growth. After attending the Thurston EDC’s 2010 Regional Economic Forecast and Innovation Expo on December 15, I remain upbeat about our promising economy.
construction—finding ways to utilize remodeling for better energy efficiency and cost savings. They talk about the 3 R’s–reduce, reuse, and recycle. They’re good, but the fourth R–rebuilding, can lead us to the fifth R–recovery. Check the Thurston EDC’s partner, Thurston Energy, for ideas on how you might position yourself to reap the various benefits of the retrofitting market. There’s a link at the EDC website and www.ThurstonEDC.com.
While you’re there, check out the full Thurston Economic Vitality Index and find out what CEOs and business owners We are lucky in the great large and small think about what’s just over the economic northwest, even more so in Thurston County. We have horizon. abundant natural resources, Be sure to attend the Forum on January 5 a busy port, a to learn more about what our education great workforce, and lots of talent, workers, We have abundant natural partner, Saint Martin’s University, is doing and consumers at Joint Base Lewis McCord too. Dr Richard Beer, Dean of the SMU and the State. We’re also blessed with great resources, a busy port, a School of Business, is going to be telling us educational institutions and lots of creative great workforce, and lots of about the new things they’ve got going. people, and most importantly, we have the talent, . . . energy it takes to surge ahead. You may not have known that Saint Martin’s even had a School of Business. And we have great partners working right They do, and it’s new. Dr. Beer is going to be telling us along with us. The Thurston EDC did a wonderful job framing about the opportunities it offers. Like a new workshop for the questions and challenges we face in our new economy. businesses that are computer illiterate; opportunities for We’ll have to be forward-looking in a lot of sectors. The getting great interns from SMU; and the possibility that housing industry will take time to recover, but in the you, as an entrepreneur, can help teach a class on the meantime there is opportunity for growth in retrofitting old practical things you’ve learned. Help the next generation of entrepreneurs benefit from your on-the-ground knowledge.
Corrina Phillips Second Vice President-Wealth Management Financial Advisor
360-704-2233 800-843-7564 www.fa.smithbarney.com/corrinaphillips corrina.k.phillips@smithbarney.com
Learning is being open to new information, and, as entrepreneurs, we have to make sure our learning and teaching never stops. The Chamber is about sharing knowledge too. As the old maxim has it, in today’s rapidly changing world, those who stand still fall behind. Lacey Chamber members know better. We’re moving ahead and ready to take on new challenges. 2011 is a good year to start growing again.
©2009 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
Mike Wolfe Sales Representative Northwest Division Office Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company United of Omaha Life Insurance Company 1230 Ruddell Road SE, Suite 202 7402 20th Avenue SE Lacey, WA 98503 Lacey, WA 98503 360 459 2061 fax 360 459 4697 360.491.7593 home 360 491 7593 michael.wolfe@mutualofomaha.com
January 2011
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5:01 Surge November—Merle Norman Cosmetics Wigs and Day Spa
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ur November 5:01 Surge was hosted by Merle Norman Cosmetics Wigs and Day Spa. Madelin White is the owner and has been in business for 37 years. Madelin is a great asset to the Lacey Chamber of Commerce and has served on the Ambassador Committee for four years. Merle Norman Cosmetics Wigs and Day Spa specializes in wigs, makeovers, skin care, hair care, massages, and waxing. They also carry Tweezerman products. In addition to services and makeup, Merle Norman also carries a popular line of women’s purses—Miche bags. These purses are very unique and allow women with a busy lifestyle to easily change their bags by having “shells” that have magnetic strips for ease of versatility. Madelin White has donated her time to a program entitled “Look Good Feel Better” for the last 20 years. She teaches this program monthly at Western Washington Oncology. Madelin educates cancer patients on how to camouflage possible side effects from chemotherapy and radiation. Thank you again to Merle Norman for hosting a wonderful event in November. Your support of the Lacey Chamber is appreciated!
From left to right: Madelin White, Linda Divine, Aimee Edwards (in front), and Sara Ruth.
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January 2011
Holiday Support for the Military By Carlene Joseph, Harborstone Credit Union, Military Affairs Committee Chair
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uring the holiday season it’s not uncommon for our community to reach out and touch the lives of so many deserving people, especially those who have volunteered to serve in the military. I’m so very proud of our entire community and the generosity that’s shown each and every day. Even our own community members and businesses have their challenges, yet they never forget those who serve our great country. I’m reminded of this during our monthly Lacey Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee and during other events. The support is phenomenal. Members of the Chamber recently joined together to host Operations Ham Grenade and Turkey Drop. With the financial support of these Chamber members, over 150 turkeys or hams were delivered to Joint Base Lewis McChord and Camp Murray. Those businesses included: The Ranger/Weekly Volcano/ Northwest Airlifter, Heritage Bank, Harborstone Credit Union, America’s Credit Union, CoinForce, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, and Regence BlueShield. With today’s tough economy, these businesses understand the value of pooling their funds together to make a difference in our surrounding community. Operations Turkey Drop and Ham Grenade touched the lives of many soldiers, airmen, sailors, and Marines because of everyone’s kindness. In 2011, we’re looking forward to another very busy year, when many international troops will be arriving
Operation Turkey Drop: Airmen from the 22nd STS, Carlene Joseph from Harborstone Credit Union, Jolene Houghtaling from America’s Credit Union, Debi Hochmuth from Harborstone Credit Union, and Regina McDaniel from TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
on McChord Field for the Air Mobility Command Rodeo. The Lacey Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a home team barbeque and we’re looking for donations of food. If you’re interested in purchasing hot dogs or buns, condiments, brats, beans, chips, or more for 150 airmen, please let me know by emailing me at: carlene.joseph@harborstone.com. To learn more about the Rodeo, please join me at the Military Affairs Meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 7:30 a.m., at the Hawks Prairie Restaurant. In the meantime, have a joyous holiday and a happy New Year!
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January 2011
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County to Receive $25,000 Grant from the Walmart Foundation
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he Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County will receive a $25,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation’s Washington State Giving Program on December 15, allowing the clubs to support their highly successful Triple Play program. By focusing on mind, body, and soul, this comprehensive program teaches Club members how to eat right, keep fit, and form positive relationships to add up to a healthy lifestyle. The Walmart Foundation operates in communities across America, providing financial ontributions, in-kind donations, and volunteerism to help people live better. The Foundation recently launched a multi-year, $2 billion commitment to hunger relief, pledging to raise the issue of hunger in America. The Walmart Foundation also supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in four main focus areas of education workforce development / economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. During its latest grant-distribution cycle, the Washington State Giving Program distributed nearly $700,000 to organizations throughout the state.
Linda Jensen
www.acpsfinancial.com 222 Lee Street SW Tumwater, WA 98501
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OFFICE 360-357-6328 CELL 360-908-0612 linda.jensen@lpl.com
Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County created a curriculum called “Healthy Habits,” which guides the mind portion of the Triple Play program and focuses on good nutrition, regular health care, and improving overall well-being. The body component is centered on boosting Club members’ physical activities to a higher level by providing sports and fitness activities for all ages and abilities. Social recreation, such as games and other activities, addresses the soul element and allows the kids to interact with each other and learn social skills. The overall goal of Triple Play is to equip Club members with all the tools they need to become healthy, fit, and successful adults. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From February 1, 2009, through January 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
January 2011
Running From the Rat Race By Roseanna Leaton, www.articlebiz.com
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s it just an age thing or does it seem to you that there are more people recognizing the pit-falls of modern day materialism? I was chatting with someone earlier today whose husband had retired early because it was either that or die from stress related symptoms. She too had chosen to retire early and stated unequivocally that she does not miss her high pressured job one tiny little bit. Within thirty minutes of that conversation I heard another friend comment upon the difficulty of working with particular partners who only sought to benefit their own end, and did not fully comprehend the value of working together in a more giving fashion. We hear many comments about “the rat race” or business being “cut-throat,” and so on. That’s not very inspiring is it? What does this say about how we as a community approach business? It would seem that business can all too often become a money grabbing treadmill upon which you have to focus so hard in order to succeed that you miss out on many of the more important things in life. You can easily forget the reasons
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why you set out on that course in the beginning and lose sight of both enjoyment and fulfillment in the process. It becomes easy to lose sight of the fact that in the long run we gain more from giving than receiving, besides the fact that running at breakneck speed on a treadmill isn’t always good for one’s health and well-being. It is easily understandable that stress is an ever increasing modern day health hazard. We stress our minds and bodies by constantly doing things at a pace which does not allow us to “smell the roses along the way”. We become so absorbed in seeking results that we forget about the process. And yet, in most things in life, if you focus upon the process the results will look after themselves. Reverting to the issue of age and having a more mature mentality, perhaps one of the main learning curves of life is that of learning to decide between personal gratification and global “goodness,” if you see what I mean. I think we all have the awareness that money doesn’t automatically bring happiness, and also that the best things in life don’t actually cost a dime; and yet we are tempted by these things like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Life would appear to be all about biting into those apples and discovering through first-hand experience the effects of our own actions. Some of us take longer to learn life’s lessons than others. We learn and develop at our own pace. For many of us it is our state of health which finally gets the message through to us. High blood pressure, heart disease, and most other illnesses are the messengers which tell us that it’s time to step off the treadmill, slow down and reassess our lives. We begin to question what is in fact most important to us and what really makes us feel good.
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W W W . B U D D B A Y. C O M January 2011
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How Will New Tax Laws Affect You? Submitted by Jeff Kopp, Edward Jones Investments
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which you’d earn the favorable 15 percent rate on capital gains from selling an appreciated asset, such as a stock, that you’ve held at least one year. And the 15 percent rate on dividend taxes will continue to provide you with good reason to seek out those stocks that regularly pay dividends; besides offering an advantageous tax rate, dividends, when reinvested, can help build your ownership stake in the dividend-paying investments. (Keep in mind, though, that companies are not obligated to pay dividends and can reduce or discontinue them at any time.)
ow that the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 is law, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with how this new legislation affects you—both as a wage earner and an investor. Consider these key parts of the new tax laws:
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Income tax rates remain the same. Under previous legislation, tax rates were scheduled to rise in 2011, but the new laws will keep all tax brackets the same.
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Payroll taxes reduced by two percent. Your share of the Social Security payroll tax will drop from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent for 2011. Consequently, you should see more take-home pay. You may want to consider investing at least part of this savings in another retirement account, such as an IRA.
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Top capital gains and dividend tax rates stay at 15 percent. The question of what would happen to capital gains and dividend taxes has been of great interest to most investors. For the past several years, the highest capital gains and dividend tax rate has been 15 percent. However, this 15 percent rate was scheduled to expire at the end of 2010; after that, dividends were to be taxed at one’s standard income tax rate, while long-term capital gains would be taxed at 20 percent for anyone above the 15 percent income tax bracket. But due to the new legislation, the highest tax rate for both capital gains and dividends will stay at 15 percent for at least 2011 and 2012.
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The capital gains and dividend tax provisions can have significant effects on your investment decisions over the next two years. You now still have a strong incentive to follow a “buy-and-hold” investment strategy, under
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Estate tax exemption set at $5 million per person. Under previous tax laws, the estate tax was scheduled to be repealed entirely for 2010 only, and then return in 2011, with an exclusion amount of $1 million and a top tax rate of 55 percent. Under the new legislation, the exclusion amount for 2011 and 2012 is $5 million per person ($10 million for married couples), with a top tax rate of 35 percent. The new law also includes a “portability” provision which can provide increased flexibility in estate planning between married couples to attain full use of the $10 million exemption. You’ll need to see your tax and legal advisors to determine what, if any, changes you’ll want to make to your estate plans for the next couple of years as these laws will sunset at the end of 2012.
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Gift tax exemption set at $5 million per person. Under previous tax laws, the gift tax exemption for lifetime gifts was $1 million. The new legislation increases the lifetime gift tax exemption to $5 million per person. You should work with your tax and legal professionals to determine whether the new exemption amount provides opportunities for you to consider during the next two years.
As always, changes in tax laws can have a big impact on your financial future—so stay informed and take the steps you need to keep progressing toward your goals.
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January 2011
Boys & Girls Club Has New Marketing Coordinator
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arah Austin has joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County as their new Marketing Coordinator. Austin has a B.A. in Communication from Washington State University and several years of marketing, advertising and public relations experience working for two Seattle area firms.
Turning Our Listeners into Your Customers Call 236-1010
January 2011
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Business is Booming! New Members
Renewals–Thank You!
Amenity Day Spa 677 Woodland Square Loop SE, Ste. C-2 Lacey, WA 98503 Contact: Sarah Scott Category: Massage Spa Phone: (360) 584-6603 Annie’s Unique Gifts and Gift Baskets Contact: Annie Cappiello Category: Retail Gift Baskets Phone: (360) 490-6086 Web: www.anniesuniquegifts.com Automotive Artistry 5711 Lacey Blvd. SE Suite 308 Lacey, WA 98503 Contact: Rupert Wild Category: Automotive Repair Phone: (360) 412-8038 Web: www.automotiveartistry.com C
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Owens Davies Fristoe Taylor & Schultz, PS 1115 West Way Drive NW Suite 302 Olympia, WA 98507 Contact: Kirk M. Veis Category: Law Offices Phone: (360) 943-8320 Web: www.owensdavies.com
2-4 Years: Allure Advertising LLC Columbia Bank Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Pacific Dental Arts, Inc. Prime Development Group, LLC Professional Temp Staffing Agency The UPS Store at Hawks Prairie
TOGETHER 418 Carpenter Rd. Suite #203 Lacey, WA 98503 Contact: Jim Cooper Category: Social Services Phone: (360) 493-2230 Web: www.thurstontogether.org
5-9 Years: Emperor’s Palace Strader, Hallett & Co., P.S.
ZRTECH Contact: Zahir Rodulfo Category: Computer Services/I.T Services Phone: (360) 868-4433 Y CM MY CY CMY K Web: www.zrtechnologies.com
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10-14 Years: G.L. Kluh Jewelers Harborstone Credit Union Sandra E. Flammini, OD Vicwood Meridian Partnership 37 Years! Ken Balsley Over 40 Years! Gene Dolan
Kidwiler Scholarship Fund Thank Yous The Lacey Chamber would like to thank these member businesses who donated raffle prizes to benefit the Kidwiler Scholarship at the December 2010 Forum: 94.5 ROXY A Steve’s Professional Truck Mounted Steam Cleaning Annie’s Unique Baskets Apex Karting Boys and Girls Club Budd Bay Embroidery & Specialties, Inc Cabinets By Trivonna Edward Jones Investment-Felix Peguero FASTSIGNS Go Small Biz.Com Halo Salon-Karen Brown Kasey Keller Merle Norman Cosmetics Wigs and Day Spa Nisqually Red Wind Casino Pardiman Productions Professional Temp Staffing Agency Rely Local Stewart Ridgeway The Ram Restaurant & Brewery Thank You for Your Continued Support!
January 2011
Corporate Branding and Identity—Story Matters Here By Tom Dunn, ezionearticles.com
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reat branding, at its core, is nothing more than uncovering and revealing the truth behind the facts. Ronald Reagan once said, “Facts are stupid things.” Even though it was a misstatement, it was certainly true. Think about all the commercials and advertisements you have seen where they tell you some fact or facts about the product or service. Do you care? Of course you don’t, because the facts, by themselves, are stupid things. They literally have no life in them, so they make no impression on your heart. They may impact your mind, but the impact won’t last - and it certainly won’t change your behavior - because it’s in the heart where we make those kinds of choices. The only thing that can make that kind of impact on our hearts is story, and story emanates from the truth behind the facts. What do I mean by this? Let me give you an example. From The Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2007 by Sarah McBride, comes the following two paragraph excerpt from “Internet Radio Races to Break Free of the PC.” In January, a recreational vehicle in remote West Texas suddenly started blasting the Steve Miller Band’s “Space Cowboy.” It was a triumphant moment for Slacker Inc., a start-up trying to move Internet radio out of the computer and into the car. Parked on the side of a road near Fort Stockton, Slacker’s 36-year-old founder Celite Milbrandt uncorked a 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild to celebrate. A few hours later, he pointed the RV toward Las Vegas. There, Mr. Milbrandt demonstrated the mobile service for the potential investors at the annual Consumer Electronics Show and ultimately raked in an additional $40 million in investments for his company. Now that’s story. The facts of this account are simple enough. It could have been rendered thus: Slacker, Inc. has proven
January 2011
the feasibility of Mobile Internet radio, and thus has managed to secure an additional forty million dollars in capital at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Nevada. Talk about uninspiring. The story version, on the other hand, reveals the heart piercing truth behind these stupid facts; namely, that Celite Milbrandt, the founder of Slacker, Inc., has an incredible passion and dedication, evidenced by his willingness to drive to remote West Texas to test his radio’s signal, and that he received a forty million dollar vote of confidence from investors. These are the kinds of details that bring the facts to life, and they are the kind of details that are sadly missing from most marketing messages being churned out by today’s businesses. Think about your company’s attempts at marketing, or at branding itself in the eyes of your customers and prospects. Are you creating story for them, a story they can relate to in their hearts? Are your branding and marketing messages speaking to them on a level that the facts by themselves simply aren’t capable of reaching? If not, maybe you need a little help. That’s OK, because even though you may be the president, the founder, or what have you, and all the passion may have originated with you in the first place, that doesn’t mean you are ideally skilled to communicate that passion. There are specialists for that, and those are the people you should turn to. People with the dedication, persistence, and skill to uncover your passion and what drives you, and then reveal it to the world through story in such a way that it makes a life changing impact on your prospects and customers. Ask for help, and soon you’ll see how powerful story can be when it comes to corporate branding and identity.
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The Lacey Chamber of Commerce 8300 Quinault Dr. NE, Suite A Lacey, WA 98516 Phone: (360) 491-4141 Fax: (360) 491-9403 E-mail: info@laceychamber.com Website: www.laceychamber.com
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Linda Jensen, CLU ChFC LUTCF linda.jensen@lpl.com www.acpsfinancial.com
Mike Wolfe
ORIGINAL