Blog to keep chamber on track

    Since it’s that time of the year, I’ve been thinking about “Chamber Resolutions” … Sigh … changing our mindsets is the main hurdle, and from there: anything is possible.     I Googled, in case there were things I could be resolving, which I might actually follow through on (code for I’m mostly already doing them). The lists related to our health and wellbeing is pretty standard: stop smoking, get fit, all kinds of those things. Yawn. I keep thinking if I read enough magazines about getting fit (on recycled paper), it counts yes? Evidently not enough: I have two folks, one a frequent office guest and friend, and my 5-year-old, who are not hesitant to share: I am getting older and wider. Huh?
    What I did find was a whole big patch of Web sites which will help you track, measure, and thus have the motivation to continue with your resolutions. Imagine. Sites which will measure my cement-ed-ness. Good.
    Ok, so as we call for a moment of silence, and collectively suspend our disbelief, I know the definition of crazy is something about expecting a different outcome while we’re doing the same old, same old. So, I am going to sign up to track my resolutions, and I am going to post them to our blog: Caribou Notes. Perhaps this will keep me on track through mud season anyway. We’ll see. The fun thing about part of this is, I can set a few smallish resolutions, which I can assign the ladies in the office to do. They are quite often not amused by these edicts, but what can you do. Edicts: well, you know it’s all in the spin.
    So, first our mindsets. I may need a motivational saying or two, which we’ll need to chant every day. Several times a day, which seems a bit cult-like. Well, since we’re suspending disbelief, we’ll plan on receptive, and pliable. Huh!
    Really though, I had a visit last week from a business person who said to me: I should be thinking about what I will do differently in 2010, than I was doing in 2009. I did not have an answer. I still don’t, but it has given me something new to dwell about, besides Mr. Gore, the polar bears, CO2 emissions and recycling. I am going to stew about this some more, and I welcome anyone’s input. I do believe we ought to be changing, and doing more, differently, etc. I don’t know what that is, or will be for the new year, and I am planning it wont be just one single thing, but I don’t what it is going to be yet.
    As I pawed over lists of standard “resolutions,” the philosophy behind setting resolutions, and then why we don’t seem to keep them, I ran across two things which I thought were interesting: one of the most standard resolutions people make, besides getting fit, and resolving to be more spiritual, is in fact to start that business they’ve been dreaming/planning/fantasizing about. Really? Whewhua! It’s like winning the chamber lottery! I happen to know where we have a few vacant buildings, and we even have monies to loan you to do it! If only it were that easy.
    I’ve come to think our entrepreneurs are a dying breed somehow. They must be related to the “young farmers” — do you think? I know they’re out there, but really, shouldn’t they be on the endangered species list? We see so few of them these days. Why would the most popular positions for college graduates in 2009 be civil service jobs? I understand seeking security, and wanting some stability. I cannot imagine we’re all without dreams of some new business, widget or idea we can grow ourselves; or that we don’t really want to have something we’re proud to call our own.
    The other interesting thing I found as I sifted around looking for things I ought to be resolving for us to do was an article about what resolutions “reveal about us” … huh?. The psychology of resolving: we eat too much, we spend too much, we don’t focus on our passion, and we aren’t connected enough to those around us. Yep, I’m there. At least in so far as eating and spending.
    Then there was an article about how we might actually help ourselves to keep our resolutions which I thought bears repeating: tell them to everyone, let people know why you want to make this change, and then join groups which help you meet those goals! Perfect! Surely we’re on track already! Join us, tell us your issues, and we’ll all commiserate together on how we’ll add some new things to our town!
    All bringing me back to what shall I resolve for us at the chamber? Here’s the list:
• Consume less, recycle more, and be “greener” and more efficient with our resources! Parts of this fall in the edict category, as fairly easily, if somewhat cumbersome, measurable, and attainable.
• Resolve to be more actively involved in keeping our little people fit (an extension of Caribou Cares About Kids); and actively involved in their communities (encouraging them to be little civic-minded folks)!
• Bring more people to our downtown!
• Encourage/support our existing businesses, artisans, and people to become more involved (with each other, us, our community)!
    A work in progress. I expect we may add to the list of resolutions, and we welcome your input! Let us know as we go along if you have ideas on how we might achieve some of our resolutions, and if we can help you with any of yours (is opening that business which has been a dream of yours forever on your list?)!
    Happy New Year and take care!
    Wendy Landes, MPA, is the executive director of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce & Industry. She can be reached in person at 24 Sweden Street, Suite 101; by telephone at 498-6156 or via e-mail at wlandes@cariboumaine.net.