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Imagine, And Achieve, Success In 2014 By Michelle Lopez Revisit your past so that you can succeed in your future Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce 2013 Board of Directors Chairman, Jim Hammond Comfort Keepers Immediate Past Chair, Michelle Lopez AVON Finance Vice-Chair, Jason Ross Law Office of Linda Roberts-Ross Board Members Cheryl Benton, NuSkin Enterprises Capt. Lee Hamblin, Yucaipa Police Department Cheryl Marshall, Crafton Hills College Bob Miller, Retired Law Enforcement Paul Norwood, Safe Harbor Design Dora Ordonez, Asaderos Supermarket CHAMBER STAFF Pamela Emenger, President/CEO Ellen Benefiel, Membership Development Coordinator AMBASSADOR TEAM Cheryl Benton, NuSkin Pamela Brierley-Vengarick, Good Nite Inn Marlyn Crampton, Yucaipa Rotary Club Nancy Kenny, Prime Lending Michelle Lopez, Avon Dora Ordonez, Asaderos Supermarket Debbie Harber, Sequoia Digital Marketing Mission Statement The Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting a vibrant business environment by cooperative interaction among business, government and community For more information, call (909) 790-1841 • Fax (909) 363-7373 35139 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, CA 92399 info@yucaipachamber.org 4 The year is nearly over and we are in the midst of the holidays. These days fly by and before you know it, we are singing "Auld Lang Syne." Once 2013 is over, what's next with your business? You should have designed a strategy for your business for 2014 months ago. January is a great time to implement new ideas. When you started your business, you had to imagine what you would do, how you would do it, and set your goals - from a one month to a 10 year plan. Revisit those notes to spark your imagination. Most businesses go through a stagnation but that doesn't have to happen to you and, if it does, it doesn't have to last long. You have to imagine success before you can possess it. Napoleon Hill wrote ,"you will never have a definite purpose in life, you will never have self-confidence, you will never have initiative and leadership unless you first create these qualities in your imagination and see yourself in possession of them." Imagination should not be confused with creativity. A successful business owner possesses both imagination and creativity or they hire someone who has qualities they lack. Imagination is the visualization of a plan coming together and creativity is the force behind its execution. Successful people are creative and imaginative. To make 2014 the best year yet, build on the momentum of the holiday season. Grab a piece of paper and create two columns titled "things that worked" and the other is "things that didn't work." Put three to four items in each column. Look at each column and honestly note why they did or did not work. Did you launch a new product too early and were not prepared to support it - or in the wrong market? Did you get into a new market at the wrong time? Whatever the reason, make a note of it, analyze it and then move on to what did work and perform the same exercise. Now update your marketing plan. Plans need to change with time. What has changed about your business? Do you have new products or services? Do you contact clients differently? Has your budget increased or decreased? A marketing plan is vital to your business. It is a living document that you have to review it to keep fresh and relevant each month. It will keep you focused so you can realize the success you imagined. It is important to have a current client list. If you don't have one, start compiling one. As they visit you or you visit them, collect contact information so that you can easily let them know when you have a special promotion. Ask yourself, "When was the last time I was in contact with this customer?" Contact them with a personal note, an e-mail or call them on the phone. I t is important to remember the clients that got you to where you are today. Take a little time to get those creative juices flowing again so that your business can end in 2013 on the high that jump starts 2014. Then go out there and make it a great day! OUR YUCAIPA | December 2013 | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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