Weekly News 

8 March 2010

From the keyboard of Lee Schearer,

The 5 "W's" of marketing

I had the pleasure and fortunate opportunity back in 1972 to be introduced to the Dale Carnegie Course. I had been in the real estate business for only 1 year and my Father and other business leaders thought that this course would be advantageous to my career. They were absolutely correct and I would highly recommend these courses as part of your business plan.

So, what are the 5 "W's"?. The 5 "w's" are those attributes that you should incorporate into your business introductions and also, into your 30 second "infomercials" at the Leads Group. Here they are and examples;

  1. Who - Introduce yourself; example - Hello, my name is Lee Schearer
  2. What you do; example - I am a Realtor and a real estate appraiser
  3. Where you do business; example - My market area is the entire Triangle region
  4. When you do business; example - I am available whenever you need me.
  5. Why choose me; example - I offer 39 years of real estate business experience.

If you want to learn more about becoming successful as an entrepreneur, the Chapel Hill Leads Group may be the place to attend. I invite you to stop by on Wednesday mornings. All you need to bring is a smile on your face, a song on your mind and a willingness to embrace the "can-do attitude" that has made this group the premier business referral group in the region.

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:
Come and find out why "ambulance chasing" can be a good thing. Attorney Jeffrey Howard will explain to you what exactly a personal injury lawyer does for clients and how this benefit is crucial to keeping giant corporations from running over the little guy (that's you, by the way). He even promises not to bill you. This time.
Speaker's Schedule for March/April 2010
17 March - David Field, Financial Freedom
24 March - Open
31 March - Artie Sprinczeles, Coffee News
7 April - David Stoner, EnviroFix
14 April - Dan Prendergast, The Entrepreneur's Source
21 April - Margaret Heath, Christos Arts
28 April - Open

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:
Chapel Hill Leads Group After Hours – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Tandoor Restaurant at 1301 East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill will host the Chapel Hill Leads Group After Hours event on Tuesday, March 9 . As always, you are encouraged to bring along spouses, partners, soul-mates and potential members. We hope to see you there.
Chatham County Development Briefing – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Chatham County United chambers of commerce, Greater Chapel Hill Association of REALTORS, and Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties will host the fourth annual Chatham County Development Briefing at Governors Club on Tuesday, March 9 from 8:00-10:00 a.m.

This year’s event will focus on the status of residential and commercial real estate projects in Chatham County as well as proposed policy changes affecting development. The event serves as a great place to connect with more than 150 real estate professionals, elected officials, and business leaders. Seats are expected to sell quickly. Registration is $25 for members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Chatham chambers, HBA, or GCHAR and $35 for non-members. Registration includes a full breakfast and event materials.

A special thank you to our sponsors: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Duke Medicine, UNC Health Care, Duke Energy, 140 West Franklin, Performance AutoMall, AT&T, Briar Chapel by Newland Communities, The Carolina Inn, CenturyLink, Chapel Hill Restaurant Group, East 54, Governors Club, Polaris IT Solutions, Progress Energy, The Siena Hotel, SunTrust, Think Leadership Ideas, Carolina Meadows, Central Electric Membership Corporation, Greater Chapel Hill Association of REALTORS, and Bagwell Holt Smith Jones Crowson, PA.
Economic Development and Public Policy Committee – 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Chris Moran, Executive Director of the Inter Faith Council, will present that organization’s plan to relocate the homeless shelter to Homestead Rd.

This committee identifies issues and devises strategies that will create and sustain a thriving business community. Monitors and makes recommendations to local government on issues affecting Chamber members and their interests. The Chamber is also active with regional, state and national organizations and efforts, and helps leverage its resources to the benefit of members. Committee Chair: Anita Badrock, Smither and Associates; Meetings: every other month. (Jan., March, May, July, Sept., Nov.)
Green Plus Webinar – 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Thursday, March 11, 2010
Green Plus is a program that helps small businesses strengthen their triple bottom line. We help businesses assess their business policies, environmental stewardship, employee policies, and community engagement. It gives employers affordable, practical support in succeeding financially while being good to their environment, employees and community. Participate in this informational webinar to learn more about the program and how it can effect your business.

The webinar will take approximately 45 minutes and you will learn:
  • How focusing on the triple bottom line can help your businesses.
  • How the Green Plus program can help you strengthen your business financially, environmentally, and socially
  • How to acquire Green Plus certification
Register online at: http://informationalbusinesswebinarmar11.eventbrite.com/

Registration required. Questions? Contact Kirsten Hausman | khausman@gogreenplus.org
Retail Roundtable - 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The purpose of the Retail Roundtable is to bring Chamber members together for an exchange of ideas about a shared interests in a non-competitive environment. Members share stories of challenges, successes and day-to-day best practices to assist in the success of every member. The Retail Roundtable meets the third Tuesday of each month at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, 104 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, 27514. The Retail Roundtable is open to Chamber members. Contact Gene Wolf, Great Earth Vitamins at Meadowmont at 919.338.8160 or Meg Branson, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Programs and Communications Manager at 919.357.9977 for information regarding the Retail Roundtable.
New Member Orientation Extraordinary Ventures - 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010
New Chamber members and new managers and employees of Chamber member organizations are invited. Meet with Aaron Nelson, Chamber president and CEO; learn about the benefits of your membership; meet Chamber staff, Ambassadors and fellow new members; and network on behalf of your organization. Extraordinary Ventures, located at 200 S. Elliott Road in Chapel Hill, will host November's Orientation. Business After Hours immediately follows the Orientation. To register, contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 | lmorrison@carolinachamber.org
Business After Hours Extraordinary Ventures - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 2010
Extraordinary Ventures, located at 200 S. Elliott Road in Chapel Hill, will co-sponsor and host the Chamber's evening networking event for March. Pam Herndon, an agent with State Farm Insurance, and I Love Healthy Chocolate will co-sponsor this event. No registration required. Contact Laura Morrison at 357.9989 | lmorrison@carolinachamber.org for additional information regarding Business After 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. Everyone 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.