Have you ever wondered what the Nampa Chamber of Commerce is all about? Would you like to be our guest for the November luncheon?

If you are looking for opportunities to promote your business, increase your contacts and learn the best way to network and get results, then contact us at info@nampa.com.

The luncheon will be held on Wednesday, November 18th from 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. at the Nampa Civic...read more

Today I'll cover the fifth and final law of stratospheric success according to Bob Burg and John David Mann in their book "The Go-Giver."

The Law of Receptivity suggests that the key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving. Receiving is a natural result of giving

The third law of stratospheric success according to Bob Burg and John David Mann in their book "The Go-Giver" is the Law of Influence. Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first. Go-Givers love to give and that makes them very attractive and it also magnetizes you to them.

Today I'll cover the fourth law of stratospheric success according to Bob Burg and John David Mann in their book "The Go-Giver."

The Law of Authenticity suggests that the greatest gift you have to offer is yourself. The most significant way you have of adding value to others' lives is by honoring your own nature - - by being genuine and not trying to be someone you're not. You...read more

Today I'll cover the second law of stratospheric success according to Bob Burg and John David Mann in their book "The Go-Giver."

The "Law of Compensation" says that in addition to adding value which is giving more than you take in payment, you must also touch as many people as possible with that added value. This second law determines how much you actually do earn. Impact...read more

The absolute best read if you want to know the secret to true success in business! Today I'll share with you the first of the five laws of stratospheric success according to Bob Burg and John David Mann.

The "Law of Value" is when your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment. A great business strives to give the MOST quantity and quality...read more

Please join us and invite some of your customers to attend the first Business & Breakfast session of the season with Dale Dixon, President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau as our keynote speaker. The B & B will be held on Thursday, September 10th from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Nampa.

Dale will be offering principles for business owners/managers to apply during...read more

Do your commercials differentiate you? Do you get a favorable reaction? Have you tried sharing stories of frustration your previous prospects asked you to solve before they became customers? Take the opportunity to show potential customers that you understand their problems. People want to know how much you care before becoming your customer!

Here are a few interesting statistics about how social media is changing our world

-Because of the speed in which social media enables communication, word of mouth has now become "world of mouth."

-In the near future we will no longer search for products and services - they will find us via social media.

-Successful companies in social media also act more like party planners, aggregators...read more

The good news is that being optimistic is a learned skill. You can develop the habit of looking on the bright side, even if you're not naturally inclined that way. Which is great, because happy, optimistic people tend to enjoy their successes more.

As stated by About.comToday

The Campaign for an American Solution is following all the latest developments on health care reform and sharing them with you through a blog and Twitter feed. The latest information is posted from Capitol Hill, the White House, the stakeholder community, think tanks and the news media.

Go to www.americanhealthsolution.org/blog or follow Twitter at www.twitter.com/CFAS2009

The Nampa Chamber of Commerce welcomes the following new members:

Therapeutic Associates, Huong Vi - Vietnamese Restaurant and El Centro of Nampa.

Ultra Clean/Idaho Fire & Flood of Meridian and Valley Office Systems of Boise.

Visit www.nampa.com business directory for more information on these new chamber members.

Here are some great ideas to think about from Les Brown, speaker and author:

-Shoot for the Moon - because even if you miss you'll land among the stars.

-Most people fail because they aim too low and hit.

-Look at a man the way that he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, then he becomes what he should be.

-When things go wrong, don't' go with...read more

Grit -- the quality that allows a person to overcome setbacks -- may be the most important predictor of success, researchers argue. Grit still isn't well understood, but recent studies suggest that, unlike intelligence, grit can be learned or developed over time. The Boston Globe

The first ever "You Glow Girl Slumber Party" is coming to the Nampa Civic Center on Thursday, September 17th from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. It has been said that the secret to our success is something we already own. Sometimes we need a break from our daily routine to focus on ourselves and re-energize. From mothers, daughters, wives and leaders, women exude the kind of grace, confidence and strength...read more

Are you prepared for today's business challenges? Tom Peters, the world's most influential management guru and a self-described "professional loudmouth," can help guide us with passionate new ideas on preparing for what lies ahead. Peters declares war on the worthless rules and absurd barriers that stand in the way of our creativity and success

I can't wait for my copy of Re...read more

Rapid government expansion and increased taxes, regulations, entitlements, debt, and attacks by anti-business activists are all evidence that the American free enterprise system is faced with unprecedented challenges

The Campaign for Free Enterprise, a new U.S. Chamber initiative will rally small businesses, local chambers, policymakers, and the general public to stand up for free enterprise, entrepreneurship...read more

The best approach to communicating in a winning way is to get out of yourself and try to become the other person . . You have to try to imagine what that person is feeling, thinking and/or assuming. And above all, why whould they agree with you? Tim Hayes, Communication Consultant, as quoted by USA TODAY.

More than 100 people attended "Breakfast with the Governor" Wednesday at the Marriott Courtyard in Meridian. Governor Otter encouraged us to focus on all of the good things our state has to offer. He also reminded us that innovation is extremely important in our current economic situation.

What are you doing to re-invent your business through innovation to remain viable?

What's the key to true business networking? It's the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship. It goes way beyond the standard shake-hands-and-exchange-your-business-card situation

The best business networking groups operate as exchanges of business information, ideas and support. What's the most important skill for effective business networking? It's the skill of listening...read more

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

Oprah Winfrey

By getting to know who you are, what is important to you and where you want to go, you put yourself on a path towards creating a stronger sense of self, which in turn will actually lead to a much stronger personal brand.

Marcos Salazar

Have you taken the time to brand yourself?

The fatal mistake that most people make in setting goals is that they just make a list. Real goal setting means putting your goals in to action. When you put them in to action, you will find your creative power bringing about ideas and helping you find resources and circumstances that align with the purpose you identified

What are you waiting for? Get those goals off of your list and develop your...read more

The chamber welcomes new members:

Cameo Salon, Computer Stop Inc - Sherri Swihart, Kelly-Moore Paint Co., Inc and

Little Red Hen all located in downtown Nampa.

Brownfield's Prosthetic & Orthotic Technologies - Boise (Coming to Nampa soon), KW Commercial - Nampa, Valley Crisis Center - Nampa and DK Commercial - Meridian.

Welcome and thank you for your support!

While there is always a time to be frustrated and complain to our friends about today's economy; there is also a time to remember that we as business leaders have an obligation to find solutions to our new challenges and to keep moving ahead

Who knows, the solutions we find today may be more successful than what we have tried before. There is no changing the fact that our community has changed...read more

The Board of Directors for the Nampa Chamber of Commerce will meet with Representative Walt Minnick on Thursday, August 20th at 3:30 p.m. Board members are looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the current economy and its challenges

All chamber members will also be invited to attend and share in the dialogue. An invitation will be going out to everyone shortly.

Pride, gratitude and relief - that's what I felt when I read that Impact Radio Group, under the leadership of General Manager Darrell Calton took the lead to raise more than $80,000 for the Stockdale Family from Middleton. Ryan's pain and suffering are more than I can even imagine. I hope his surgery is a huge success and he and his family have many years of love and laughter together!

I...read more

The Board of Directors for the Nampa Chamber of Commerce will meet with Representative Walt Minnick on Thursday, August 20^th at 3:30 p.m. Board members are looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the current economy and its challenges.

All chamber members will also be invited to attend and share in the dialogue. An invitation will be going out to everyone shortly.

The Meridian Chamber of Commerce will be the host site for a breakfast meeting with Governor Otter from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at the Courtyard Marriott in Meridian. All Nampa Chamber members are invited. Reservations are required and the cost is $25.

Contact Dawn at dcallaham@nampa.com by Friday, July 31^st.

The chamber wishes to congratulate Brown Bus Company on its 50^th Anniversary. Brown Bus Co. has served the local school districts, businesses, and community since 1959. They will be hosting an open house for their valued customers, friends, and members of the community on Thurs., Aug. 13^th beginning at 4:30 p.m. For more information contact info@nampa.com

Ron Price, Price Associates suggests that volatile times demand different performance measurements. We need to re-calibrate how we measure performance to prevent failure and we need to take advantage of the new opportunities emerging.

Ron reminds us that this is not the time to panic and make business decisions based on fear. But it is also unwise to expect old strategies, organizational structures...read more

When you interact on social networks, it can open the doors to friendships, support, feedback and leads. Positioning yourself and your business on a social networking site like Twitter helps people learn about you and your interests.

A couple of dos to remember; be authentic – people want to know the real you. Have fun while social networking and add value; post an article, share a link or...read more

The chamber welcomes new members:

Sleep with Grace and Eyemart Express located in Nampa's Treasure Valley Marketplace.

Mama's Cocina y Granados Bakery located on Karcher Road and Catwalk Consignment Boutique located in downtown Nampa.

Ribbon cuttings were held at each location and attended by the chamber ambassadors, board members and staff.

Welcome to everyone and thanks for choosing...read more

In the current tough economic environment, the care and handling of our customers becomes more important to our success than ever. Most often it is more profitable to keep and grow our existing customers than to acquire new ones. And today, that is probably truer. Unfortunately, financial pressures may force us to make cost reductions that may negatively impact the customer experience.

Businesses...read more

Why is a lifetime customer more valuable than a new customer? They could be more valuable because of the three R's: Retention, Related Sales & Referrals.

Money for marketing to attract new customers may be harder to come by in today's economy. So we need to keep as many of our customers as we can. Each retained customer represents a lifetime value. Want to know how to calculate the value...read more

What is your biggest challenge today? How relevant is the Nampa Chamber of Commerce to your business? How important are networking opportunities to you?

These are a sample of the questions that will be included in the chamber's on-line membership survey.

We look forward to hearing from our members!

Advisory boards work for any size business and can be particularly helpful for small businesses. Since most small businesses don't generally have a large manangement team, an advisory board can help to brainstorm ideas and strategies. When an advisory board meets regularly, they have a chance to get to know you and your business and can then provide valuable insight and advice.

Something worth...read more

Clearly it is important that we communicate with our customers. But the communication should go both ways - - - especially in a down economy when we are all doing our best to make ends meet. Periodically asking for feedback can give us valuable insights about whether we need to improve our services or products. It's also a great opportunity to improve our customer relationships.

The staff and board of directors congratulate Hollie Lindner, Chairman of the Chamber Board and Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Northwest Nazarene University for being named as one of this year's Accomplished Under 40. This presitgious designation is part of the Idaho Business Review's annual recognition program to honor outstanding business people under 40 years old.

Hollie...read more

Some companies are allowing regulars to stagger payments, place smaller orders or even throwing in free services to keep long-time customers interested. Perhaps with fewer customers coming in, small businesses can hold onto regulars by stretching their resources to loyal customers.

If you want to learn how to develop a network of relationships, then pick up a copy of "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi, founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a marketing and sales consulting company.

Mr. Ferrazzi, a master networker claims the secret is reaching out to other people. His form of connecting to the world around him is based on generosity and helping friends connect with...read more

Perhaps the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson, M.D. is even more relevant today! Written more than ten years ago, this easy to read book is worth re-reading. Change is inevitable in both our work and our lives. Dr. Johnson reveals profound truths about change in his simple parable. The chamber staff and executive board are making it a definite summer read.

Health Care Reform, Stimulus Packages, Minimum Wages, Higher Oil & Gas Taxes, Card Check Program . . . . These are just a few of the hundreds of business topics or tips you can learn more about at www.uschambermagazine.com

If your business is suffering financial hardship from the slow economy, you may be able to receive temporary relief.

Check out America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loans. For more information, visit http://www.sba.gov/recovery/arcloanprogram/index.html or call the Boise District SBA Office at 208-334-9004.

In these times, there is no better investment in yourself and your future than the Leadership Nampa Program!

More than 420 business leaders have graduated over the past 15 years. Some have accepted significant volunteer leadership roles in the community. Some have found career advancement, and some have served on the Nampa Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Members and non-members may apply...read more