Batavia Business - Microsoft · 1:30p—SuperCharge Your Vision. Join the Batavia and Western DuPage Chambers of Commerce to learn about social media, assertive communication, the

Batavia

Business For the Life of Your Business...and the Business of Your Life ©

O C T O B E R , 2 0 1 3

Inside This Issue Learn about the Chamber’s

New Website on pages 1 & 5.

Prepared for Extreme

Weather? See page 4.

Careful with Automated

Calls to Customers! Find out

why on page 6.

Make sure your Company

Stories are Captivating. See

why on page 6.

Do you Need to ‘Get Real’?

Read page 7 to find out.

Do you Praise Effectively?

See page 8.

Is Open-Plan Office

Space Killing Productivi-

ty? Find out on page 10.

All good things come

to an end, or so it is

often said. For six

years, the Batavia Chamber of

Commerce has benefited from

the talents and creative energy

of VisionFriendly.com. They

developed our current website

and carefully embed the directo-

ry and calendar data from our membership software supplier.

They have been responsive, cre-

ative and, well...friendly, in all

aspects of our relationship.

Unfortunately, the membership

software we have used to man-

age our affairs—the one Vision-

Friendly.com had to incorporate

into our site—is simply no long-

er meeting our needs.

So, as we migrate to new mem-

bership software from Chamber-

Master, the Board of Directors

has decided to take advantage of

website templates they provide

that seamlessly embed our mem-

ber directory and calendar.

Sometime in November, the

Batavia Chamber will launch a

website with new capabilities.

Our members will be more visi-

ble on the web and there will be

tighter integration between the

website and social media. Visi-

tors will have access to a user

friendly mobile interface, and we

are considering a blog to en-

hance our reach. Finally, there

will be more opportunities for

member visibility.

While the look and feel of the

site will change, we are endeav-

Chamber To Launch New Software & Website

2013

Premier Partners

oring to maintain the functionali-

ty you have enjoyed. Access to

information about members and

events will be easier, and I am

hopeful that registering and pay-

ing for events will yield fewer

glitches. This new site will give us more content control, which will

yield better SEO results—for

both the Chamber and our

members.

From the staff’s perspective, the

new software will streamline

internal processes, making us

more effective and efficient. And,

since ChamberMaster is the

engine that powers many local

Chambers, our staff will have

access to the vast day-to-day

experience of Chamber profes-

sionals across northern Illinois.

If you are interested in a pre-

view of what the future may

portend, visit the Statesville, NC

Chamber of Commerce at

www.statesvillechamber.org. We

have reproduced their homepage

on page 5 of this issue. The

Statesville Chamber is using the

same Rembrandt template the

Board recently approved.

If there are capabilities you

would like us to build into the

new website as it is developed,

let us know. Now is the best

time to incorporate your ideas

to support our members, the

business community, Batavia and

the Fox Valley.

Annual Legislative

Breakfast on Hold The Batavia Chamber has

enjoyed a tradition of hosting a

multi-Chamber Legislative

Breakfast in the fall. Two years

ago, just before his stroke, Sen-

ator Mark Kirk’s appearance

was very well received.

In 2013, the Senator’s staff has

been trying diligently to find a

date for a return appearance,

but Syria and the budget crisis

have, so far, intruded in his

schedule. Imagine that!

We’re still trying to find a

date…stay tuned!

Events Not To Be Missed and why, and treatment options,

with plenty of time for questions

and answers. As we approach

winter, BWIB will be collecting

coats, mittens and hats for

those less fortunate. Please

bring gently used or new items

for the Batavia Clothes Closet.

(RSVP, $25) Mill Creek Golf Club,

39W525 Herrington Drive,

Geneva

Wed, Oct 9, 8:00a to

1:30p—SuperCharge Your

Vision. Join the Batavia and

Western DuPage Chambers of

Commerce to learn about social

media, assertive communication,

the power of power partners and

sales for non-sales people. (RSVP,

$35) DePaul University, 150 W. Warrenville Road, Naperville

Thu, Oct 17, 11:30a to

1:30p—Joint Chamber Pro-

gressive Luncheon at Villa

Olivia. Join us for a popular and

unique networking luncheon with

the Bartlett, Batavia, Hanover

Park, St. Charles and Western

DuPage Chambers of Commerce.

Introduce yourself over salad,

move to another group of profes-

sionals for the main entrée and

satisfy your sweet tooth while

meeting a third group of potential

business partners. Reservations by

Noon on October 11 are a must!

($25 members only) Villa Olivia,

Route 20 & Naperville Road,

Bartlett

Wed, Oct 23, 5:00p to

7:00p—Harvest Celebration.

Join us for the Chamber’s prem-

ier Business After Hours at the

historic "Old Post Office". We

will enjoy an evening of great

food, sumptuous wine from Gib-

by's Wine Den and a chance to

make many new friends and re-new old relationships. Sponsored

by Batavia Enterprises, Hagemann

Wealth Management & Batavia

MainStreet. 106 W. Wilson

Street

OCTOBER 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 Eggs & Issues: Affordable Healthcare Act (City Hall) 7:30a

3 4 5

6 7 City Council 7:30p BWIB Council (Chamber) 11:30a

8 BWIB Luncheon (Mill Creek) 11:30a

9 SuperCharge Your Vision (Naperville) 8:00a to 1:30p

10 11 Executive Committee (Chamber) 7:45a

12

13 14 Legislative Affairs Committee (Panera Bread) 7:30a

15 16 17 Multi-Chamber Progressive Lunch (Villa Olivia) 11:30a

18 19

20 21 City Council 7:30p

22 23 Chamber Board (School District) 7:30a Harvest Celebration (106 W. Wilson St) 5:00p to 7:00p

24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 Halloween

Monthly Thought

“In times such as these,

it is no failure to fall

short of realizing all that

we might dream—The

failure is to fall short of

dreaming all that we

might realize.”

Dee Hock,

Birth of the Chaordic Age

Batavia Business - Page 2

Wed, Oct 2, 7:30a to

9:30a—Affordable Care Act:

Where are We...and Where

are We Going? If you own a

small business, you DO NOT

want to miss this seminar on

"Obamacare"! Mike Deagle, who

has 19 years experience in

providing benefit plans to a wide

variety of businesses, is President

of the Illinois State Association of

Health Underwriters. Mike will

review what has happened up to

this point since the Act was

signed into law, then we will

delve into what is coming and

what to prepare for in 2014 and

beyond. (RSVP, $10) City Hall

Tue, Oct 8, 11:30a—BWIB

Lunch: "What's Happening to My Body" (Women ONLY

Please). Dr. Carolyn Mills, Ob/

Gyn with Dreyer Medical Clinic,

will discuss the most common

questions and complaints of

women in their 30's, 40's, and

50's. She will address common

changes in the body, what we feel

Scan here to register

for an event through

your smartphone


New Members Cast Aluminum Solutions

Mr. Rick Ahern

1310 Kingsland Drive

Batavia, IL 60510

Phone: (630) 879-2696

Web Site: www.castaluminumsolutions.com

Innovative Plastech

Mr. Edward Gustafson

1260 Kingsland Drive Batavia, IL 60510

Phone: (630) 232-1808

Fax: (630) 232-1978

Web Site: www.inplas.com

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

1 CHAMBER TO LAUNCH NEW

SOFTWARE & WEBSITE

2 OCTOBER CALENDAR & EVENTS

3 NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

4 EXTREME WEATHER: EXPECTING THE

UNEXPECTED IS BECOMING THE NEW REALITY

5 STATESVILLE CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE WEBSITE

6-8 BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE REPORT

7 WHY LEADERS MUST ‘GET REAL’

9 HAS BUSINESS CASUAL DRESS GONE

TOO FAR?

10 EVENTS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

11 NEWS & NOTES ABOUT CHAMBER

MEMBERS

11 BOOKS TO KNOW & LOVE

12 PREMIER MEMBERS

O F F I C E R S : Jack Zaruba, BBC Construction & Remodeling,

President Thomas Wangler, Jr., Confident Aire, Inc.,

Immediate Past President

Brian Basilico, B2b Interactive Marketing Treasurer

Joe King, Physical Therapy Advantage,

Secretary D I R E C T O R S : Gerry Dempsey, Batavia Enterprises, Inc. Kevin Drendel, Drendel & Jansons Law Group

Dr. Lisa Hichens, School District 101 Kim Keating, Alarm Detection Systems Bill McGrath, City of Batavia

Richard Mytnik, Illinois Business Systems, Inc. Allison Niemela, Batavia Park District Chris Nyborg, Nyborg & Company, Ltd.

Harriet Parker, Waubonsee Community College Small Business Development Center

Mark Pennybacker, PartyLite Worldwide, Inc.

Debra Reiter, CMIT Solutions of the Tri-Cities

Roger E. Breisch, Executive Director

Lynn Tegtman, Administrative Assistant

Batavia Business is published

monthly by the Batavia Chamber

of Commerce. All rights are re-

served.

To submit articles for publication

contact:

Roger Breisch

Executive Director

Batavia Chamber of Commerce

106 W. Wilson Street

Batavia, IL 60510

630-879-7134

[email protected]

PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc.

Mr. Hank Saunders

1020 Olympic Drive

Batavia, IL 60510

Phone: (630) 879-5100

Fax: (630) 879-5120

Web Site: www.ppg.co

Suncast

Mr. Mike Hamilton 701 N. Kirk Road

Batavia, IL 60510

Phone: (630) 879-2050

Web Site: www.suncast.com

facebook.com/BataviaChamber

Here is another resource for you to communicate with

fellow Chamber members and the broader community.

Send us your announcements and news and we will post

them to the page...let people know how vibrant the

Batavia business community is.

Be sure to Like us!!


New York). Then take measures to

reduce or eliminate your exposure. A

structural engineer or community

building or zoning offices can identify

ways to shore up your facility against

the effects of extreme weather.

Make sure you have protective sys-

tems in place. For example, an emer-

gency generator can provide power

during outages. Surge protectors can prevent damage to electronic equip-

ment. Storm shutters can protect glass

from flying debris under windy condi-

tions.

Back up computer data – regularly.

Fact is, of those companies that expe-

rience a catastrophic data loss, 43%

never reopen; 51% close within two

years.2

So make computer backup part of

your daily operations and store copies

of your files at an offsite location. It

can make the difference in your busi-

ness' survival should a catastrophe

occur.

Develop a business continuity plan. It

requires time and effort, but can help

reduce loss, save lives and speed your

business' recovery.

Make sure you're protected

Many businesses don't discover

they're not properly insured until after

they've suffered a loss. The results can

be financially devastating. As part of your preparedness plan-

ning, review your insurance coverage

with your agent, especially if you have-

n't done so in a while. Together you

can discuss the potential risks to your

business and determine if you have the

right coverage – and the right amount

of coverage – if your facilities are dam-

aged or operations are interrupted.

This could include coverage for loss of

business income or loss of any perisha-

ble stock, for example.

Being prepared and protected makes

good business sense. A temporary

setback does not need to turn into a

permanent failure. Plan today to stay in business tomorrow.

This article is brought to you by The

Hartford, a market leader dedicated to

serving the needs of customers for

over 200 years. Talk to your agent

and find out why more than 1 million

small business owners trust The Hart-

ford to protect their businesses.

This article provides general infor-

mation, and should not be construed

as specific legal, financial, insurance, tax

or accounting advice.

This article is provided compliments

of The Hartford. Helen Kasper,

Division Sales Executive, is a resident

of Batavia and recently joined the

Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

1 Source: Protecting Your Busi-

nesses, FEMA, last updated 3/1/2013 2 University of Texas Center for

Research on Information Systems, as

cited in "Impact on U.S. Small Business

of Natural and Man-Made Disasters,"

Hewlett Packard Development Com-

pany, L.P., 2007.

Superstorm Sandy devastates the east

coast with heavy winds and storm

surges that flood major cities and

shorelines while dumping

record snow in West Virginia

and knocking out power as

far away as Cleveland, OH.

Then, in February 2013,

while many in the Northeast

were still trying to recover, a massive blizzard dumped

more than 3 feet of snow in

some areas, causing wide-

spread outages and travel

bans. At the same time, a tornado,

believed to have reached three-

quarters of a mile in diameter at times,

wrecked hundreds of homes and busi-

nesses in Mississippi and Alabama.

Being unprepared can be costly

No one can forecast

exactly when and where

an extreme weather

event will occur. Meteor-

ologists may offer some

warning and do a great

job of explaining the

conditions that created

the event. But that's little

comfort to a business

that finds its doors

closed for weeks because

it didn't have a plan for

weathering the storm in

the first place.

Property damage, power outages,

closed roads and other after-effects of

extreme weather can force a business

to close with financial repercussions

that quickly add up. The event need

not be of Katrina-sized proportion.

For instance, a snowstorm that knocks

out power for a week may not seem

catastrophic but its impact on the

finances of a small business can be

devastating.

It's no wonder, then, that an estimat-

ed 40% of businesses don't reopen

after a disaster.1

Plan for the unexpected With unpredictable weather on the

rise, the time to plan is now. Focus on

recognizing potential threats that na-

ture may pose in your area. Consider

the usual types of events as well as the

unusual ones (such as tornados in

Extreme Weather: Expecting the Unexpected is Becoming the New Reality

This is the template the Chamber Board agreed to modify for the Batavia Chamber’s new website. Thoughts and creative ideas are welcome!


Statesville Chamber of Commerce Website

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE REPORT

Business Intelligence Report (ISSN 1091-

9597) is published 12 times a year by DBH Communications, Inc. The intent of this publication is to provide business

professionals with informative and inter-

esting articles and news. These articles, and any opinions expressed in them, are for general information only and are not

intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or business. Appropriate legal, accounting,

financial or medical advice or other ex-pert assistance should always be sought from a competent professional.

Copyright, 2011, DBH Communications, Inc. All rights reserved in all countries. Reproduction or use, without written

permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

IDEAwatch...Tips for Growing Your Business Beware if you use automated calls to

reach consumers. Starting Oct. 16, you

must obtain “prior express written consent”

to make autodialed or

prerecorded calls to wire-

less numbers and prere-

corded calls to residential

lines, according to recent

changes to the Telephone

Consumer Protection Act. This also would include calls that remind

existing customers of upcoming service ap-

pointments. What constitutes “written con-

sent”? Essentially any consumer acknowledge-

ment is recognized as a valid signature as long

as you clearly and conspicuously disclose to

the consumer the consequences of consent.

An email, a website form, a telephone key

press or text opt-in would all be considered

valid. Source: www.dealermarketing.com

Are your company stories captivating

enough to command premiums prices?

In a world of abundance, what your product

does for your customers is not nearly as im-

portant as what your product means to them.

Not sure about this? In 2006, New York Times

Magazine columnist Rob Walker was mulling

over the question of what makes one toaster

worth $20 and another worth nearly $400 if

they both make toast. Suspecting the value

was in the story or meaning of the product to

the owner, he conducted an experiment.

Walker purchased seemingly worthless ob-

jects from a thrift store for less than $4 each.

He then commissioned writers to come up

with stories about each item and posted the items and stories on eBay. The result: on

average, the value of the objects rose 2,700%.

Source: www.harvardbusinessreview.org

Attract clients that you prefer to work

with—and repel those who are not a good

fit—through website copy: 1) Include testi-

monials or a self-description that vividly de-

scribes what it’s like to work with you. 2) An

“about” page that goes beyond credentials to

describe what you do, what you’re proud of

or how you view life. 3) A statement of the

principles that guide your work. 4) A straight-

forward description of who you do and don’t

want as clients. 5) Design that reinforces and

matches the spirit with which you work.

Source: www.yudkin.com

Google just killed the use of press re-

leases as a link-building tactic. Over the

years, online press releases have gone from a

powerful SEO tactic to an “ineffective” tactic,

according to Google (although many SEO

experts disagreed). Most recently though,

Google changed its documentation and now

considers keyword-laden links in press releas-

es to be part of a “link scheme” (read “spam”)

unless accompanied by a special “nofollow” tag embedded in the code, which makes each

link worthless for improving page rank. And

failure to include the tags could result in the

lowering of page rank. Make sure your press

release distribution service is abiding by this

new rule. Press releases are still valuable, but

not for improving rank in Google. See http://

dbhc.us/a for more info. Source:

www.searchengineland.com

Reduce computer-related eye strain

and improve your energy with the 20-20-

20 rule. Set a timer to sound every 20

minutes, then take a break for at least 20

seconds and look at objects that are at least

20 feet away. Even better, get up, breathe

(Continued on page 8)

NEWSwatch...News & Trends Affecting Today’s Business Single product option reduces purchases. Consumers are more likely to search for alternatives

when they are given only one option, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

“There has been a lot of recent attention devoted to the pitfalls of presenting consumers with too many

options. However, consumers also may react negatively when choices are too restrictive. Isolating an op-

tion, even temporarily, may increase how much consumers search and potentially the likelihood that they

make no purchase,” writes author Daniel Mochon of Tulane University.

Giving consumers only one option increases their desire to search for more options. As a result, they

might reject a product they would otherwise purchase. For example, as one study revealed, consumers

shopping for a DVD player may be willing to purchase a Sony model when another option is also available,

but unwilling to purchase the same Sony when it’s the only option. “Companies should consider how options are presented to consumers. Restricting options can have

lasting effects on choice. Consumers who are initially offered only one option are more likely to continue

searching for alternatives even when other options are later presented,” the author concludes. Source:

Sciencedaily.com, July 26, 2013

Uncovering the secret of top B2B salespeople. The number one factor that separates business-to-

business sales winners from their challengers is that they educate buyers with new ideas and perspectives,

according to a recent report by RAIN Group.

The study, which asked buyers to reveal what tactics differentiate first-place sellers from second-place

finishers, found that bringing something new and valuable to the table is the most important thing that top

salespeople do differently.

The newness of the ideas seems to be essential to buyers. If a seller brings valuable but not new ideas, it

isn’t a relatively important factor in winning sales.

The concept of educating buyers with new ideas might seem obvious, but most sellers — winners and

second-place finishers—actually do it quite infrequently, according to the report. Buyers reported that

only 21.5% of sales winners educate with new ideas and only 7.4% of second-place finishers do it.

The second most important factor was “the seller collaborated with me,” followed by “persuaded me we

would achieve results,” “listened” and “understood my needs.” Source: Marketingprofs.com, Aug. 15, 2013



powerful yet poorly practiced of all

leadership skills. Authentic listening is

done with the intention to see the

world through another's eyes, not to

have them see it through yours. Lis-

tening authentically not only enables

you to break down the barriers that

cause people to withhold trust, but it

fosters collaboration. Unlocking the

profound power of presence takes not more than putting your agenda aside

and allowing yourself to be fully pre-

sent to the person you are being

with—opening yourself to see what

they see and feel what they feel. If you

haven't tried it for a while, do yourself

a favor and do so today. The impact

you can make both on yourself and the

person you are being present to can

be profound.

4. Acknowledge Authentically:

Unlock the Power of Appreciation. It's

easy to criticize. Many people are ex-

ceptionally good at it. But while con-

structive criticism—delivered in the

right way at the right time—is crucial

to strong leadership, its effectiveness

increases when balanced with praise,

appreciation and acknowledgement.

A recent Gallup survey estimated

that two-thirds of employees world-

wide feel that their efforts aren't fully

recognized, and only one-third are

engaged in their jobs. It would seem

that one of the most significant and

tangible ways a leader can boost en-

gagement is to help employees know

their strengths—and that starts by

acknowledging them.

Don't be limited to a result that

someone has achieved. Focus on the

virtues they have brought to the task

at hand: perseverance, collaboration,

humor, tenacity, resilience, creativity,

assertiveness, flexibility, a strong work ethic. Often we assume that others

don't need our affirmation in order to

know they've done a good job, but I've

yet to see a word of gratitude go un-

appreciated.

5. Serve Authentically: Unlock the


Why Leaders Must ‘Get Real’ by Margie Warrell

When people can relate to you as a

fellow human being—rather than as

someone with the power to cut your

budget or outsource your job—you

can build engagement and lift perfor-

mance beyond anything "unreal" lead-

ers ever can. As Harvard researcher

Shawn Achor wrote in The Happiness

Advantage, "The more genuinely ex-

pressive someone is, the more their mindset and feelings spread."

2. Express Authentically: Unlock

the Power of Individuality. Margaret

Thatcher once said, "You cannot lead

from the crowd." While sometimes

leadership entails confronting powerful

forces of opposition, as Thatcher did

with single-minded determination,

more often it requires standing firm

against the powerful inner forces that

drive us to conform and vanilla down

that which makes us different.

When all we do is try to fit in, we

negate the difference our difference

makes. As I wrote in Stop Playing Safe,

"Owning what makes you different

enables you to differentiate yourself

and build a unique brand in your work

and in the career marketplace." It's

important to be mindful about how

others perceive you, but when you allow what you think that they might

think determine who you will be, you

sell out to conformity and deprive

those around you of the unique contri-

bution you have to make.

3. Listen Authentically: Unlock the

Power of Presence. Listening is the most


Leadership is far less about what you

are doing, than about who you are

being. If you think about the people

who have influenced you most over

the course of your career and life, it's

likely that what impacted you most

was not what they did, but about who

they were being while doing it. Genu-

ine. Honest. Courageous. Resilient. Real.

Indeed, engaging authentically with the people around you is the first task of

genuine leadership.

In today's culture, people crave au-

thenticity. Employees today are hungry

for real "what you see is what you get"

leadership. The most inspiring and

influential leaders therefore don't lead

because of what they do (though they

do plenty), but because of who they

are. Too often leaders, and those who

aspire to be leaders, forget that.

When you're able to connect authen-

tically with those you seek to lead, you

become more approachable, more

trusted and more influential. Below is

a summary of the five ways leaders can

unlock the power of authenticity,

which I wrote about in my latest book

Stop Playing Safe. When you commit to

embracing and practicing each of them,

you will grow into a leader others will

connect to more easily, follow more

readily and be willing to put them-

selves on the line for again and again.

1. Share Authentically: Unlock the

Power of Vulnerability. Sharing ourselves

authentically often goes against our

instincts for self-preservation. It ex-

plains why, when we anticipate finding

ourselves in a vulnerable predicament,

our automatic reaction is to protect

ourselves: pull out of the launch, can-

cel the meeting, step back from the

relationship or retreat from center

stage. Yet it's through becoming vul-

nerable that we connect most deeply.

While I was doing research for my

book, James Strong, former CEO of

Qantas shared with me, "You have to

be willing to put yourself at risk in the way you communicate and interact

with employees." We trust people

who don't need to prove their superi-

ority, success or significance in any

way—who can connect from a place

of being "human" a bit better than the

rest of us.

When you connect authentically with others, you become

more approachable, trusted and influential.


NEWSwatch (continued)

Forgot coupon? 4 in 10 will abandon purchase. Many coupon users won’t make a purchase if they’ve

forgotten their coupon at home, according to recent Google data. The survey asked coupon users if in the

prior 90 days they had ever left a store without purchasing an item because they knew they left a coupon at

home. Surprisingly, 42% answered in the affirmative, with another 6% not remembering.

That suggests that shoppers might be better served by other redemption methods, such as showing a

mobile coupon to a cashier. But that remains one of the less common methods, according to the study.

Among respondents who had used a coupon in the previous 90 days, the vast majority (90%) brought and

used a paper coupon in-store. The next most common method was printing a coupon off a website or

email (69%), followed by loading coupons onto a loyalty card (from mobile or Web, 59%). Respondents were less likely to have showed a mobile coupon to a cashier (30%) or scanned a coupon on their mobile at

checkout (23%).

The most popular sources used to obtain dollar- or percentage-off discounts were direct mail and news-

papers, with emails close behind. A slight majority also found coupons through online searches, though they

were more likely to obtain coupons in-store. Source: Marketingcharts.com, July 25, 2013

Career drive diminishes quickly with age. Withdrawing from career prospects isn’t something that

only women do as they start families—men do it at a similar rate. In fact, once they reach their 30s, only a

minority of men or women express a desire for greater job responsibilities, according to Jordan Weiss-

mann, writing in The Atlantic. Data from the Families and Work Institute, released in 2008, show that just

37% of working women and 44% of working men said they wanted more responsibility at the office—down

from 50% and 59%, respectively, in 1992.

Weissmann looked deeper into the numbers and noticed that interest in more job responsibilities dimin-

ishes in both men and women with each progressive decade, from their 20s on. This is currently happening

at a time when working professionals are increasingly being asked to do more with less.

Often, as people age, they start devoting more time and energy into activities that have more meaning to

them, which may not mean doing more for employers, regardless of promotions and raises.

The rewards that will motivate them need to be geared toward greater working flexibility, more training

and education, greater contributions to profession and society, and more opportunities at entrepreneurial

ventures. Source: Smartplanet.com, July 14, 2013

(Continued from page 6)

IDEAwatch (continued)

deeply and stretch your body during that time. Source: www. lifehacker.com

Specific words used in email subject lines can have a big impact on open and click rates, according to

a study by Adestra. For example, the word “alert” in subject lines had a 38.1% higher than average open

rate and 61.8% higher click rate, while other commonly used words dramatically lowered open and click

rates. The word “learn,” for instance, had a -35.5% lower than average open rate and -60.8% lower click

rate. Differences also existed between the same words depending on if they were used for B2B, B2C or e-

commerce messages. To view the study and see the full list of subject line words along with how they per-

formed, go to http://dbhc.us/9. Source: www.adestra.com

Applying for a business loan is like a marriage proposal—you ought to be fairly sure of acceptance before you ask. Therefore, don’t just start filling out applications because excessive denials can lower your

company’s credit scores. Instead, start by getting a copy of your personal and company credit reports and

look for red flags. Next, write or update your business plan to include specifics on how you will spend the

money you want to borrow. Pick lenders who are already familiar with your industry. Visit various financial

institutions, attend any informational seminars they may hold and read trade journals for names of lenders

currently working in your industry. If you have important information such as product or market opportu-

nities that isn’t requested on the application, submit supplemental pages so that the lender sees the full

picture. Finally, don’t take rejection personally. Just ask why you were turned down and address any weak-

nesses for the next lender. Source: blog.intuit.com

Praise employees in a way that will make a difference. Vague feedback, such as “Nice work!” or

“You’re the greatest,” doesn’t tell employees what they did right. It gives them no clue as to what talent or

habit you’re trying to reinforce. On the other hand, very specific feedback, such as “I love the fact that you

are always on time” or “Your research is so meticulous” tells the recipient what proved so valuable. And it

inspires more of the same. Source: www.inc.com

Don’t make trade show buyers wait. A survey of power buyers at trade shows found that 58% would

not wait more than one minute for a assistance before leaving the booth. Have plenty of knowledgeable

staffers at your booth so that visitors never have to wait for assistance. Source: www.exhibitoronline.com.



Has Business Casual Dress Gone Too Far? by Andrew Pogson (Source: SalesGravy.com)

down Friday extends into

off site meetings and

trainings. Then business

casual seems to fit in the

hotter summer months.

Before you know it you

are only wearing a suit

for Weddings and Funer-

als. When do you draw

the line?

I understand if you sell

farm equipment to farmers that a

suit and tie is not the best idea for a

sales call. However, I am making

the assumption that this article is

aimed at sales people that work in

an office environment.

I suggest that you try to make an

effort to steer yourself always to-

wards more formal than casual.

After all, I have never met a cus-

tomer or colleague that got upset

because I was dressed well. Most

of the time; you may hear, ‘why so

dressy?’ Therefore, it's the perfect

time to reiterate the importance of

the meeting or person you are

meeting with.

Dress well for success!

I am fortunate the company I

work for still has a suit and tie poli-

cy for customer visits. Likely this

isn’t a written policy, more a gen-

erally accepted practice as part of

the working culture. I like the idea

of knowing that when I will be

meeting with a customer, my col-

leagues and I will be wearing a suit

and tie. It is simple. No guessing.

This is not common place any-

more. When I see other account

managers with customers I rarely

see others wearing a suit and tie.

For me I gain a subtle hint of confi-

dence from this because my col-

leagues and I have made the effort

to dress for success during our cus-

tomer visits.

You don’t have to look hard on

the internet to find motivational

coaches providing the benefits of

dressing for success. Zig Ziglar

once said “You cannot climb the

ladder of success dressed in the

costume of failure.”

So with all this being said, has

business casual gone too far? There

is too much of a good thing. Dress

If you attend most major compa-

ny’s sales conferences or off-site

sales training sessions you will

generally find more golf shirts than

at a PGA tour event. Golf shirts

and dress pants for men have be-

come synonymous with the term

‘business casual’. Is this a good

thing for selling?

Does your dress code actually

help put your customer at ease? Or

are we kidding ourselves?

When I was a kid I don’t ever

remember my Dad going to work

as a sales professional in anything

other than a suit and tie. Even as a

young guy I thought it looked pret-

ty impressive that my Dad wore a

suit and tie to work every day.

I often struggle to know what to

wear when the dress code calls for

‘business casual’. For me a golf

shirt and khakis feels too casual, I

try to limit the golf shirt to only the

hottest of summer days. The rest of

the time I feel most comfortable at

work in dress pants and dress shirt

with no tie for the days I will be

only in the office.

IDEAwatch (Continued)

ness and Life, exposure to more

than 30 minutes worth of negativi-

ty from any source — employees,

customers, TV, etc. — can nega-

tively impact your ability to solve

problems. As a business leader,

part of your job is to respond to

employee complaints; however,

you can reduce some of the frivo-

lous gripes by consistently asking

chronic complainers to come up

with a possible solution before

they reach your office. This will

make them think twice before

voicing trivial complaints. Source:

www.smartplanet.com

Finally, know what constitutes a

“win” for your customer. There is

no better way to blunt a competi-

tive threat than to have advocates

from within the customer organi-

zation say “This supplier is critical

to us and is doing a great job.”

Understanding what constitutes a

win and helping the client get

there will result in such state-

ments. Source: www.cbsnews.com

Is there a perpetual com-

plainer in your office? He or

she may be bad for your brain.

According to serial entrepreneur

Trevor Blake, author of Three Sim-

ple Steps: A Map to Success in Busi-

Are your competitors target-

ing you? If you suspect that a

competitor has you in the cross

hairs, start taking action before

they start stealing your clients.

Begin by not believing that price is

all that matters. Most likely, you

won the business in the first place

by offering a superior product or

great customer service, along with

acceptable prices. How can you

raise the bar for those products

and services? Next, ask yourself

how you would try to take down

your company if you were the

competition and develop strategies

now to respond to those attacks.


Events You Might Have Missed!

(Left) Batavia’s collection of

historic windmills was designated

an Historic Mechanical Engineer-

ing Landmark by the American

Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Why Leaders Must ‘Get Real’ (Continued)

Power of Other-Centeredness. Ultimately a leader is not judged so much by how well she leads, but by how well she serves. No

carrot or stick of any size will ever trump the effect you have on those around you when you engage with them from a place

of genuine service.

As Bill Treasurer points out in his insightful new book Leaders Open Doors, people will move mountains for you if they know

that you genuinely care about them, not just the results you want them to achieve. Leadership isn't about the leader; it's about

those being led. Treasurer writes, "When you care about people, you take an interest in their career aspirations. You seek

and value their opinion and treat people as more important than results."

Indeed, serving authentically is about focusing on what you can contribute to the longer-term prosperity of many versus

what you can gain in the short-term for yourself. The more you engage with those around you from a place of service, the more effective you will be at harnessing their talents, and the stronger the results you will achieve through them.

Margie Warrell is the bestselling author of Stop Playing Safe and Find Your Courage, leadership coach and international keynote

speaker who is passionate about empowering people to live and lead with greater courage. Connect on Twitter, LinkedIn or join her

Courage Community on Facebook. For more resources, please visit www.margiewarrell.com


More from the Business Intelligence Report

Open-plan office spaces lower productivity. In recent years, open-plan office spaces have become nearly ubiquitous

because the “no walls” design reduces facilities costs and is thought to improve collaboration. However, while open-plan offic-

es may make some kinds of collaboration easier, research shows that they are not conducive to productivity.

When researchers from Virginia State University and North Carolina State University reviewed existing studies on open-plan

offices, the research revealed reduced motivation, decreased job satisfaction and lower perceived privacy as factors negatively

affecting productivity. The resounding message in the research is that overhearing conversations in the office is distracting for

workers. Research from Hong Kong Polytechnic University found that workers over 45 are especially sensitive to noise.

In addition, workers who share an office take more sick days than those who work in their own closed spaces. A study in

the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health found that open-plan office setups reported 62% more sick days on

average than one-occupant layouts. Source: QZ.com, May 21, 2013

Your office’s fluorescent lights may be sapping your energy. Avoid the 4 p.m. slump by getting plenty of natural light

during the work day, suggests research by Swiss neuroscientist Mirjam Muench. Study participants exposed to natural lighting

were “significantly more alert” at the beginning of the evening and “significantly sleepier” at the end of the evening, compared

with those working under artificial lighting. Even short-term afternoon lighting conditions have an impact. So consider working

by a window, upgrading your light bulbs and getting outdoors for a break. Source: www.fastcompany.com

Art Van Furniture officially opened

its beautiful new store at 165 N.

Randall Road.

(Right) Heritage Woods of

Batavia recently celebrated their

10th anniversary. Alderman

Dave Brown spoke to the crowd

on behalf of the City.


News & Notes About Chamber Members

Beth Peterson has been hired as

Director of Marketing by Illinois

Business Systems and will report

directly to Richard M. Mytnik, Presi-

dent. In her new role, Beth will be

responsible for managing lead genera-

tion campaigns, implementing social

media strategies and interfacing with

IBS’ customer base.

The Gordon Flesch Company Charitable Foundation recent-

ly gave a check for $2500 to

Suicide Preventions Ser-

vices of America. The

Foundation contributes up to

$100,000 annually to nonprofits locat-

ed in the communities where their

customers live, work and play. In all,

donations have exceeded more than

one million dollars since the Founda-

tion’s inception in 2001.

Tara Gray, commissioner of the

Batavia Park District, recently at-

tended the Illinois Association of Park

Districts’ (IAPD) 2013 Boot Camp in

Oak Park. IAPD offers the seminar to

elected officials and professionals in

the field of parks, recreation and con-

servation throughout the state.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

(GSNI) recently elected new members

to the Board of Directors and Board

Development Committee. Bobbie

Riley of Batavia is the GSNI Second

Vice-Chair and John Kovanda of

Batavia is a member of the CRC Hu-

man Resources Subcommittee and

Board Development Committee.

Attention runners, walkers and adaptive

athletes: There is still

time to register for

Marklund’s 1st An-

nual Run, Walk & Roll

5K and 1 Mile event

held Sunday, Oct. 27 in Geneva! More

information can be found

at www.marklund.org/5k.

BATV has launched a new interac-

tive website that changes the way the

community interacts

and stays connected

to news, information

and conversation that

really matter to Batavians. Please check it out at www.MyBATV.com.

On Saturday, September 7th The

Albright Theatre in Batavia cele-

brated its 40th anniversary with a gala

and a show. The second show of its

40th season is “Angel Street” opening

November 1st. For additional infor-

mation about the Albright Theatre and

their season please visit their website

at www.albrighttheatre.com.

VNA Health Care received a pat

on the back from the U.S. Department

of Health and Human Services' Health

Resources and Services Administration

Books To Know & Love

Sex & World Peace

I knew I was naïve, but I had no idea

how naïve until I read this work. The

first few chapters offer often graphic

descriptions of the physical and emo-

tional abuse suffered by women and

considered routine and justifiable

around the world...even here in the

United States. It can be difficult and

treacherous reading. Consider yourself forewarned.

This scholarly work, co-authored by

four university professors, suggests

that sexual inequality is the root of

most all human violence. They present

a great deal of evidence to show that

sexual inequality is a better predictor

of state violence than things that nor-

mally come to mind: levels of educa-

tion, democracy or income. Once you

begin to appreciate the depth of their

research you’ll find their claims just

might be valid.

Shortly after finishing this eye-

opening work, I was chatting with a

female friend about local bike trails.

One I particularly love is the Virgil

Gilman trail from Waubonsee Com-

munity College to Aurora. It is wood-

ed, quiet and beautiful. In the early

morning hours, the trail can be your

own...which I discovered is exactly the

problem. “I simply don’t feel safe all

alone on that trail,” she told me. A

few days earlier, I would not have

understood, but having read of the

violence that still

persists against

women in every

nook and cranny

on the planet,

including those

places a male

adult feels safe, I could look her in the

eye and say “I get it...and I’m sorry.”

The wisdom this book gave me, even

though it hurt to the core of my being,

is that no human, male or female, will

ever be truly free, as long as half of

humanity remains imprisoned by the

sorrow and fear that emanates from

being disregarded and marginalized.

I have a daughter and it breaks my

heart.

(HRSA) for exceeding the national

standards across eight quality

measures. On December 5, VNA

Health Care marks 95 years of provid-

ing compassionate care in our commu-

nity with a grand opening of their

eighth community health center!

Lazarus House invites the commu-

nity to join its staff, guests and many

supporters at its annual Thanksgiving

Feast. The event will run from 11:30

a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at

the Tri-Cities Salvation Army. Join

them also for their Home Town Cele-

bration, December 7

at 7:45 p.m. at the

Arcada Theater. It

will be a great night

of musical fun, featur-

ing local talent.

Mailin

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abel

The C

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to recognize orga

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investmen

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via.

Pre

mie

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Disp

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City

of B

ata

via

BM

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arris B

an

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Bo

yce B

od

y W

erk

s

Cast A

lum

inu

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olu

tion

s

Dre

nd

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Jan

son

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Gro

up

Misc

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Real E

state

Neig

hb

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agazin

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Sto

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Walm

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Premier P

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106 W

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Bata

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Ph

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Fax: 6

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Documents

Batavia Business - Microsoft · 1:30p—SuperCharge Your Vision. Join the Batavia and Western DuPage Chambers of Commerce to learn about social media, assertive communication, the