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Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is said to be the definition of frustration. Many times I need to step outside of my normal routine to discover new solutions to the challenges in business. Today’s business environment is compelling us to find new ways to develop the profit needed to grow our businesses.

One of the best ways to get this process going is to ask the right questions. For example, what are the changing behaviors of my customers? Should I revisit my business concept? What should my strategy be in light of changing competition? How do I identify and benefit from changing trends in my business environment. Or, are there new and better ways to market my services?

Locally, we have a wealth of easy access resources for businesses to find answers to these questions and so much more. As I have mentioned many times, Germanna’s Community College System is focused and committed to the growth and development of education for local business needs. They offer both credit and non-credit courses that equip businesses with tools for their business success. Also, the Small Business Development Center is now located on East Davis Street in Old Town Culpeper. The center offers direct access to some of the best business information for small business development. Much of this information is free and easy to take advantage of.

In addition, The Chamber of Commerce offers programs and educational opportunities for the businesses in our community. We are working closely with Culpeper County Department of Economic Development, Culpeper Renaissance, Inc., and the Culpeper Department of Tourism to bring a program for our retail and restaurant businesses. On September 9th, we will provide a seminar funded largely by Culpeper Renaissance, Inc., that will answer many of the questions about the new economy in retail. This is a must attend event for retailers in preparation for the holiday season. You will not want to miss out on the new ideas as you consider your holiday retail plans.

The Technology Council of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce will also be offering a Web 2.0 online course thru one of our Chamber members. The course is an 8 week course offering an extensive understanding of this powerful marketing tool. Brick and Mortar businesses can extend their customer base globally by knowing the new tools of web 2.0. Go to the Chamber website for a link to the online course information. www.CulpeperChamber.com. The course begins on September 8th.

Finding the answers for your business may mean getting out to the next seminar. Or, it may be that you are able to find the answers from the comfort of your business location thru an online course. Either way, your success is determined by your actions. Change your daily routine to change your fortune. Education is the key to preparation. Preparation is the key to capitalizing on opportunities when they come your way. Take advantage of the opportunities to fine tune your business. They are so easy to find and so worth the investment. Can you afford not too?

Best Regards

Jim Charapich
President / CEO
Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. (Acts 15:31)

What kind of impact does validating others have?
What would the world be like if we all took a purposeful intent to be more validating of others?

In late October 2008 I went to the Relational Coaching Network (RCN) retreat at a beach house in Virginia Beach as guests of Jerry and Sharon Graham. In response to an email request by Tony Stoltzfus, a well-known, well-respected coach trainer who is the founder of the RCN, I agreed to videotape a session at the retreat about “How to Form and Run a Coaching Cell.”

Tony felt very strongly that for coaches to continue to be part of the RCN, they needed to participate in their coaching cell groups with at least 3 life coaches. So on December 4, Jerry, Deborah Smith, and I had our first 3-way coaching meeting over the phone. During that meeting, Jerry recommended we invite Ben Stewart to also be part of our group, which we gladly did. Ben accepted.

Yesterday afternoon, we had our first 4-way coaching cell group meeting with Jerry, Deb, Ben, and me, with Jerry serving as facilitator. Wow! This was an awesome blessings for all four of us with lots of encouragement and validation.

During the course of our conversation, Jerry shared one of his recent “two-way” (Jesus and him) journal entries. That prompted me to share one of my recent two-way journal entries. In response to that, Deb said that one of the things the LORD is holding her accountable to from this conversation is to journal again.

Later I shared a recent revelation that members of Team Destiny are like players on the same football team. When one player (e.g. the quarterback) does very well, that’s good for the entire team and all the players regardless of their role or notoriety. In response to that Jerry said, “Everyone gets the Super Bowl ring when the team wins.”

This led Jerry to highly recommend that we all watch a 16 minute movie about validation that he wrote about in one of his Daily Gram blog posts on December 5. Jerry said that is one of his favorite short videos in the past several years. Jerry reminded all of us that validating others is part of our DNA as coaches.

So after our meeting, I read Jerry’s blog post titled “Power of Validation” and then watched the video on that web page. That was well worth my time and such an encouragement that I decided to make today’s message about that. Enjoy the video at today’s Link of the Day.

Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, we praise You as the God of encouragement, the greatest Encourager ever, the God who validates us as children of God. I pray that everyone who watches the validation video will feel encouraged and validated, so much so that they will encourage and validate many others whom they meet. Thank You Jesus. Amen and hallelujah!

Link of the Day
Power of Validation video

Blessings to feel validated and to validate others!

Randy Peck, M.D.
“Blessed to be a blessing”
THE CONNECTOR and The Journal Guy

<span style=”color: #0000ff;”>”And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” (Matthew 10:14)</span>

<span style=”color: #008000;”>On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your use of Web 2.0?
What are you going to do to improve that?</span>

I feel like a kid in Toy Land. During the past 6 weeks, I’ve plunged big time into Social Marketing and have discovered how much fun Web 2.0 is and how effective it is at building relationships and growing my network. Leadership is about influence.

What’s the difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Well, my wife gave the best summary I’ve ever heard while we were walking earlier this week – Web 1.0 is 1-way communication and Web 2.0 is 2-way.

Last week I was saying Web 2.0 is at least 10-100 times more powerful than Web 1.0, but now I realize that’s a gross underestimate. Web 2.0 is at least 100-1,000 times more powerful than Web 1.0.

Let me give just a few simple examples to make my point. I’ve been sending these daily devotionals for 27+ months now. Typically, my net growth rate (new subscribers minus unsubscribers minus invalid email addresses) is about 7-10 people per month.

Well, since beginning the five week series of webinars titled “UNCOMMON Social Marketing (Web 2.0)” on Oct 2, my net growth with my Constant Contact list alone has been 158. That doesn’t include Twitter.

On October 9, I hosted Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff, a.k.a. The Blog Squad, as my guest experts. They were awesome. What they shared would benefit every business, every ministry, and every church. I was so impressed, I had the entire webinar professionally transcribed for my very first time and then used that to make a Camtasia video. I published that video online and it’s FREE for 3 more days. See today’s Link of the Day before this opportunity passed you by forever.

Denise recommended everyone on the webinar open up their own Twitter account. She said all the shakers and the movers on the Internet are now using Twitter. She said she was a skeptic until she started using it. I was a skeptic too until I started using Twitter. Now I’m a believer. Let me share why.

Since opening my own Twitter account two weeks ago, I now am following 179 people and have 96 people following me. I’ve had 36 new people follow me in just the past 2 days without doing anything to try to attract them. What’s so significant about that? Every Tweet I post (and each only takes me 2-3 minutes) shows up instantly at the top of every personal Twitter web page for everyone who is following me. But not only am I building relationships and influencing those people, but everyone who is following them as well. That’s an opportunity to influence tens of thousands of new people in just two weeks.

In the past week using Twitter, I got connected to “The Internet Marketing Inner Circle.” I’ve learned more about Internet marketing and a variety of other interesting topics than I did in the past year. This is incredible. I feel like I’ve had my head buried in the sand by not learning about and using Web 2.0 until the past 2 months.

My favorite Bible is the “The Maxwell Leadership Bible.” According to Dr. John Maxwell, “the American church is dying due to lack of strong leadership. Nothing is more important than leadership. Everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.” To be a leader, you must have others follow you and your example.

Jesus said the whole Bible could be summarized in the Greatest Commandment – to love God and love people. In other words, “Life is about relationships.” Other names for Social Marketing are “Relationship Marketing” and “Attraction Marketing.”

Doesn’t it make sense that when you add value to other people first without expecting anything back from them, they will automatically be attracted to you. Jesus said, “It’s in giving we receive.” I want to be an UNCOMMON Giver. What about you? Will you let me coach you to unleash the power of the web in your business or ministry?

You’ve invited to participate in tonight’s Week 3 webinar of the UNCOMMON Social Marketing (Web 2.0)” series. The topic today is “Content Sharing, Bookmarking, and Renegade University.” This is about improving your search engine viability very quickly. Seize this opportunity while it’s still FREE. After October, the 5 week course will cost $150/person. See today’s Link of the Day to register.

<strong>Prayer Power
</strong><span style=”color: #ff6600;”>Heavenly Father, we praise You as the God of the Internet, Your supernatural highway of communication. Thank You for opening my eyes of understanding to the power of Social Marketing. Thank You for the UNCOMMON favor you are showing me as many, many new people are attracted to the messages I am sharing on Your behalf. Open the eyes of my readers to the power of Social Marketing to grow their own ministries and businesses to advance Your Kingdom here on earth. In Jesus’ name we pray and give You glory! Amen and hallelujah!</span>

<strong>Link of the Day
</strong><span style=”color: #000000;”><a href=”http://empower2000.com/7mountains” target=”_blank”>Register for the FREE Week 3 Webinar for “UNCOMMON Social Marketing (Web 2.0)”</a> – Includes link to Recorded Webinar video “How to Create Massive Visibility so More Clients Call YOU!” with The Blog Squad</span>

<span style=”color: #993366;”>Blessings to be a good steward with Social Marketing!</span>

<a title=”CLICK HERE to watch Week 4 (Facebook) webinar with Mari Smith” href=”http://camtasia777.com/jireh/week2/week2.html”><img src=”http://yourdailyblessing.com/images/2008/10/jireh-week2a_540px.jpg” alt=”How to Create Massive Visibility so More Clients Call YOU! by The Blog Squad” width=”540″ height=”411″ /></a>
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