News from The Davis Chamber of Commerce

Happy New Year!! No, this article is not 26 days late. Today marks the beginning of Chinese New Year...the Year of the Ox.
The Chinese Zodiac is said to follow the stations of Jupiter's orbit around the sun, which is just shy of 12 years. Animals mark stages in that 12-year cycle which begins with rat, followed by ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.
According to Chinese lore, the animal of your birth year is said to define and influence you for the rest of your life. In addition to dictating individual destiny and personality, many believe the animal influences events through the year.
Whether or not you put any stock in the Chinese Zodiac, there are some interesting things to note about the Year of the Ox, especially given the new economy of 2009. The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. It symbolizes symbolizes calm, resolve and tenacity. This powerful sign is a born leader, being quite dependable and possessing an innate ability to achieve great things.
The Ox works patiently and methodically, with intelligence and reflection. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.
Bottom line for 2009 - Good things through hard work. Sounds like a timely forecast to me.
More on Today's (?) Global Outlook
I was doing a bit of reading over the weekend and came across this insightful assessment:
Never in the history of America has there been so great an opportunity for the practical dreamers as now exists. The hardships of the recent tough and unsettled economic times have put many people back at Square One. A new race is about to be run. The stakes represent huge fortunes which will be accumulated within the next few years. The rules of the race have changed because we live now in a changed world that definitely favors who have had little opportunity to win under the conditions existing recently, when fear often paralyzed personal and economic growth and development. We who are in the race for riches should be encouraged to know that this changed world is demanding new ideas, new ways of doing things, new methods of marketing, new books, and new features of mass media. Back of all this demand for new and better things there is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose - the knowledge of what one wants and a burning desire to go get it.
Sounds like a great description of today's world. But guess what...it was written 72 years ago, in the height of the Great Depression by Think and Grow Rich author, Napoleon Hill. His forecast was proven to be true then and it remains true today.

Best wishes to all our members in making this a great year through our combined dedicated efforts. And remember, the Davis Chamber is here to help in many, many ways. Check out the remainder of today's newsletter to see just how many ways the Davis Chamber is Essential to Your Success.