Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce?

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard “work on your business, not in it” I would be a rich woman, well possibly not rich but I would have earned some coin.

Busy in your business

As any business owner can attest to, it is common to get stuck working in your business and not on it. For me it is the busyness of making and creating the recycled rubber earrings, packaging up orders, making candles and trying to complete an endless to do list.

Taking a step back

But how often do I (or you) stop and take a look at things like the analytics of how my website is performing, creating and developing new ideas, creating quality social media content, learning and growing my skills base and so much more? Not as often as I know I should.

Joining the Chamber

Approximately one year ago I joined The Southland Chamber of Commerce. I had attended a couple of their courses and noticed that, if you were a member, you received a significant discount on courses they offered.

Intimidated by an old boys club

I had always been intimidated by even the thought of The Chamber of Commerce. To be honest I thought it was an old boys club; a cigar smoking, you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours type of network. I also thought I wasn’t a “big” enough business to be part of such an exclusive club.

So so wrong

I was sooooooooooo wrong!! I think joining the Southland Chamber of Commerce has been one of the most positive steps I have taken in working on my business not in it. Sheree, Jo, Michelle, Leanne, Anna and the team at the Chamber are amazing. They make you feel welcome, they organise relevant courses for small and large businesses, get together events and much more.

Courses

Recently I attended a free one-hour course the Chamber ran in conjunction with Mulloch McLean (an Invercargill based accountancy firm) on 7 ways to grow your business. You could then sign up for an additional free one-hour growth strategy meeting with one of their team members, looking specifically at strategies for growing my business. Not some formula I could find on the internet but specific tools for me and my business. It was fantastic.

Helping me achieve what I love to do

The Chamber helps to tick many of the things I love to do:

1) They support my love of learning
2) They connect me with my community
3) They support and enable my business to grow
4) They help me with courses to work on my business not just in it

If you have a local Chamber of commerce in your area, I would highly recommend that you see what they have going on and to join for a year and attend events and courses they organise. You might just be surprised at what you learn about your business and yourself when you take time out.

Aroha nui
Kim XOX