Reaching for the Sky – With Feet Firmly Planted

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”    Henry David Thoreau

The Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce can be part of the foundation of your business. You have built your castle. Why not give it the strongest foundation you can by using as many resources as possible? The chamber is one of the best resources to build strong relationships with other successful professionals. The CV Chamber is the center for this community’s most successful business minds and leaders. The members of the chamber are the community leaders who care about the community and utilize business practices that build economic prosperity within the community. Chamber-sponsored events foster positive interaction between business professionals and a chance to share and profit from winning business ideas.

The foundation of any business is a complex thing. When you build a house’s foundation, you do not just pour concrete. You must survey, stake, excavate, pour footings, run plumbing lines, lay drainage, add a sump, construct walls, attach anchor bolts, add beam pockets, waterproof and backfill, just to start. It is the same with a business.

In business you need to make sure your foundation starts with the right marketing, systems, advertising, employees, customers, vision, planning, products and support.

The chamber can make sure you have the support; however, you do have to make it work for you. Joining the chamber is the first start but then comes the important part.  People do business with businesses where they know the people. Once you join, the number one thing you need to do is come to our monthly mixers and events. At your first mixer we will introduce you to everyone in attendance. Our mixers usually gather 50-60 business owners. That is instantly 50 more contacts for you to get to know. After we introduce you, you should immediately put a coupon, business card or some sort of information about you and your business in each one of their hands. Make sure you meet and talk to as many people as you can and then follow up after the event with an email or phone call. The Chamber gives you the foundation to be able to easily meet 50-60 more people; however it is up to you to make it work.

Another way to get to know chamber members is to volunteer for some of the chamber events. Working side-by-side with other chamber members is a quick way to show your support while getting to know them better.

If you wish to start this weekend, come volunteer, walk or run at our Running the Foothills 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run at Two Strike Park, 5107 Rosemont Ave. in La Crescenta. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. this Saturday, Sept. 22 with check-in starting at 7 a.m. The cost is only $20 if pre-paid which includes a T-shirt.

Start to build your foundation this weekend and call the chamber to sign up for the 5K run/walk. Hope to see you there!

Important CV chamber dates: Sept. 22 – Running the Foothills 5K; Oct. 10 –Business mixer at Bonners Party Supplies; Nov. 14 – Taste of the Foothills.

Please contact our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957/ crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd., Ste. D.

  julia rabago