April 21 Message to the Membership: Our Spring of Hope
April 21, 2020
Message to the Membership:
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissenger once said, “The task of a leader is to get their people from where they are – to where they have not been.” These are unprecedented times as we face the uncertainty of when businesses will open again at the lake. But make no mistake – our businesses will re-open and the real question is have you used this time to prepare?
Over the last two weeks, local business coach Dan Houston has been leading Chamber Members through John Maxwell’s “Leading thru Crisis.” I have truly enjoyed the mastermind sessions as well as the interaction between the participants. We closed out the program today as Dan reminded us of one of Maxwell’s Leadership Lessons – “No sailor distinguishes himself or herself on a calm sea.” Maxwell went on to point out that “During a real crisis, real leaders show up.”
These last six weeks have certainly been turbulent for this region and our nation but we are beginning to see the sunlight peeking through the stormy clouds. It is very important that you as a business owner, manager, or maybe even a valuable team leader in your business, be prepared when the rough waters have subsided. The Chamber has posted a document compiled by our two-state chamber of commerce association (CACCE) called Responsible Re-Entry: What will the new "Norm" look like at Lake Norman? Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, and the greater LKN Region. Please review it as we prepare to open Business at the Lake.
We have also compiled a Business Resource Guide taking articles and creating links to our healthcare partners and small business assistance agencies. This one stop shop should make it easier for you to find the information you are looking for as you keep your business operating.
While the “Stay at Home” order prevents us from having face to face networking events, we have scheduled a virtual event for this Thursday at 5:30 via Zoom. While we cannot replicate personal interaction, it is important we provide this opportunity to meet up virtually. I hope you can join us via the Zoom Link at 5:30.
In closing, the Chamber is partnering with WSIC 105.9 FM in a special edition of Local Biz Now this Friday at 8:00 am with United States Senator Thom Tillis. Senator Tillis will give us an update as the next Stimulus Package Congress is considering which we expect to be approved later this week. That event will also be a FaceBook Live event on WSIC.
I want to thank each of you for your continued support of our restaurants and essential service businesses. This month I wrote an article for Lakeside Living called The Season of Darkness and the Spring of Hope. My hope is that each one of you remains committed. We will get to the end of this and emerge stronger than ever before. Until then,
Be Safe and God Bless!
Bill