Weekly News 

5 April 2010

From the keyboard of Lee Schearer,

Business Worries

If you are in business you most certainly have had times when you are worried about your growth, your client base, taxes, your income and your future. Today I was reading one of my favorite books, "How to stop worrying and start living" by Dale Carnegie. Chapter #5 is devoted to this very subject. In Chapter #5, Mr. Carnegie summarizes his solution to worry in business ventures this way. Ask yourself these questions, maybe even writing them on paper.

  1. What is the problem?
  2. What is the CAUSE of the problem?
  3. What are all possible solutions to the problem?
  4. What solution do you suggest?

If you have worries about your business I suggest that you analyze this course of action and also tap into the valuable resources offered by the many successful and knowledgeable members of the Chapel Hill Leads Group. Together we can help solve your problem. Sometimes the answers to worrisome questions are just a question away. All you have to do is ask.

I hope to see you all bright and early this Wednesday morning, with peace in your soul, a song on your lips and a smile on your face.

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:
We all need fixing up sometimes. David Stoner with EnviroFix is going to tell you how he became your enviro-fixers– if it has door on it – EnviroFix can fix the air behind it.
Speaker's Schedule for April 2010
14 April - Dan Prendergast, The Entrepreneur's Source
21 April - Margaret Heath, HeartMath
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:
Small Business Roundtable, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 7, 2010
At April's Small Business Roundtable, Christina Gates of Yelp will share with attendees how to harness the power of the internet to market their businesses. Christina will discuss the importance of consumer reviews in today's marketplace and will demonstrate how users can "unlock" their business account on the Yelp website. It's completely free, and a tremendous tool for reaching out to customers and keeping in tune with what's being said about Chapel Hill-Carrboro businesses.

About the presenter: Christina Gates is the Marketing Manager and Event Planner for Yelp.com, and a contributor to the NC Triangle Weekly Yelp newsletter. Prior to working for Yelp, she spent five years in the local book publishing industry building a background in PR and editing. Christina received her Bachelor's degree from the University of NC at Chapel Hill (go Heels!) and her Master's degree from the University of NC at Greensboro. She lives and works in Durham, and is happy to call the Triangle her home.
Green Plus Webinar – 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Thursday, April 8, 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
Non-Profit Roundtable - 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Chamber president and CEO Aaron Nelson and Chamber vice-president Adam Klein will discuss with Roundtable attendees results-oriented strategic planning and goal-setting. The Non-Profit Roundtable is a forum for Executive Directors, managers and staff of Chamber members, non-profit organizations to exchange ideas, discuss common issues and challenges and share experiences.

The Non-Profit Roundtable meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce facility. The Non-Profit Roundtable is open to Chamber members. Contact Laura Morrison of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Program Coordinator, at 919.357.9989 for information regarding the Non-Profit Roundtable.
Business After Hours - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 15, 2010
West End Wine Bar, located at 450 W. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, will sponsor April’s evening networking event. April’s Non-Profit Spotlight is The Women’s Center, and the Table Sponsor is the Wild Bird Center. No registration required. Don’t forget your business cards!

Parking is available in municipal lot P3 (across the street from West End Wine Bar, off Franklin Street) and in municipal lot P5 (off Church Street). Both municipal lots are pay-by-space lots, and each space costs 50 cents per 30 minutes. Parking is also available in metered spots along West Franklin Street. Metered spots cost 25 cents per 15 minutes and are enforced 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No registration required. Free for Chamber members. Questions? Contact Laura Morrison | 357.9989 | lmorrison@carolinachamber.org
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.