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Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce
Weekly Newsletter
December 10, 2010
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The New Attention Deficit
Exit the inbox, turn off the screen and silence the ringer. Machines are robbing you of your ability to focus.
By Chris Brogan | Entrepreneur Magazine - December 2010
TV viewing is down. You'd think behavioral types would be cheering, but they know better. We dumped all that time into other screens: our phones and our laptops, mostly. We're giving ourselves a new version of attention-deficit disorder, one of our own device.
A lot of this is stuff we fell into by habit. Here are some ways to balance.
Schedule your correspondence. We read e-mail as a steady drip throughout the day. Stop. Pick two or three 30-minute windows. Also do this:
* Respond definitively. Save the nine-e-mail string and lay out a simple recommendation to get consensus.
* Delete anything older than two weeks, or stuff it into a folder. You're not going to reply.
* Unsubscribe to newsletters you're not reading. You won't start.
* Set your computer and mobile devices to not notify you when mail arrives.
Pick a task. The ability to use multiple open tabs in our web browser is both a useful thing and an opportunity to be distracted over and over. Try this:
* Consider the value of the active web tabs you have open. Do you really want a reminder to revisit Facebook every 12 minutes?
* If you get mail through a tab, close it. Open it only during scheduled check-ins.
* If you read Internet news sites, schedule it. Give yourself a daily limit of 20 to 30 minutes.
Don't answer the phone. If your phone were a debit card, it would be sucking your attention account dry. You do your business on the phone? Great. Set that thing to stun and let calls go to voicemail so you're not at the mercy of other people's whims. Also:
* If you have a really smart phone, set calls from everyone but the people who'd likely call with an emergency to vibrate.
* Practice leaving your phone in the glove box. You know, there was a time when we'd go to the grocery store and not be in touch for the whole 20 minutes.
* Schedule calls for your drives (and, yes, use a hands-free setup).
* When leaving voicemail, be brief. Leave your name and phone number up front, even if the person knows you. Leave the most important info first so people can hang up earlier.
Maintain human contact. When you're with someone in person, work harder at not letting machines like your phone and your laptop distract you. This pays off in huge dividends over time. Letting the phone go to voicemail (which, by the way, used to be the norm) goes far in showing your appreciation for the person in your presence. Do this:
* Shut the lid. Or turn off the monitor. If you have someone in your office for a meeting, make it absolutely a done deal that you won't be distracted by the screen.
* Don't pick up. Few phone calls need to be answered right away. Even "emergencies" can be delayed by eight or nine minutes without a calamity.
* Keep eye contact. The ability to actually be with someone is at a premium. Make it feel that way, and reap the rewards.
Everyone is busy. If you think your busyness is some kind of prestige symbol, think again. Full attention is the new black. You'll appreciate your new ability to focus, your new peace of mind, your new reputation as the person who is so there.
And what will you do with all that time? My guess is that you'll figure out your next move on your way to being much more successful, that's what.
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Welcome New Member!
Photo courtesy of the Grand Prairie Reporter
Members of the Branding Iron's were on hand Wednesday, December 8th we celebrated the Grand Opening of K & L Oriental Buffet located at 540 S. Carrier Pkwy (next to Grand Bank of Texas). The restaurant is owned and operated by Xuerun Chen and his family. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner and they offer Sushi and Chinese food selections.
The following were amoung those who attended the ribbon cutting: Marion Hughes with Atlas; Deborah Hepworth, Independent Beauty Consultant; Beverly Grogan with the City of Grand Prairie; Richard Whitman with Texas Trust Credit Union; Betsy Browne with Primera Company; George Jones and Ashley Runnels-McQueen with Sam's Club; Mary Dominguez with Pioneer Event Center and representing the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Greg Cashman.
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| Upcoming Events..... | |
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December 11th & 12th
Pictures with Santa
Traders Village
2602 Mayfield Road
$5 per 5" x 7" print
10:30 am-4:30 pm
Volunteers are needed please sign up with Carmen@grandprairiechamber.org or 972-264-1558
Thursday, December 16th Tom Hart Business Series Topic: Networking and Business Etiquette RSVP to 972-264-1558 Chamber, 9 - 10 am December 18th & 19th Pictures with Santa Traders Village 2602 Mayfield Road $5 per 5" x 7" print 10:30 am-4:30 pm Volunteers are needed please sign up with Carmen@grandprairiechamber.org or 972-264-1558
Wednesday, December 22nd
Ribbon Cutting for Beauty for U Super Center
5145 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Ste 115
11:00 am
Friday, December 24th
Christmas Eve
Chamber office closed
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Welcome New Member!
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Rainbow International of
South Tarrant & Grand Prairie
P. O. Box 183522
Arlington, TX 76096
817-419-3420
All Care Pavement, LLC
P. O. Box 1864
Euless, TX 76040
972-877-8689
K & L Oriental Buffet
540 S. Carrier Parkway
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
972-266-8886
Beauty for U Super Center
5145 Lake Ridge Pkwy, Ste 115
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
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You can submit your own Hot Deal! Its FREE to Chamber Members. Just login to our website. Need help? Call the Chamber at 972-264-1558.
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| CHAMBER LINKS | |
Click on any of the Chamber links below.
Find us on FaceBook |
Job Postings!
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We added two new job postings this week, to view them click here.
More job openings available through WorkSource Dallas County at www.workintexas.com
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Renewing Members
Click on the underlined word to visit their website
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21 Years
Super 8
20 Years
Mountain View College
14 Years
Golden Corral # 924
9 Years
Jackson Property Company
6 Years
Drug Prevention Resources
3 Years
Hong Kong MarketAsia Times Square
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Save $15
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Join the luncheon Entrepreneur Club
- Skip the long registration table line at the luncheons by picking up your Entrepreneur name badge and signing yourself in at your own Entrepreneur table.
- Write one check for the entire year.
- The majority of luncheons cost a minimum of $15 ($20 if you pay at the door.) Nine of our luncheons will be at this rate in 2011.
- 10 x $15= $150
- March: Scholars Luncheon - $25 (included)
- Total for above listed is $175
- EC Membership of $160 saves you $15
- If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please contact any of the Chamber staff at 972.264.1558 as soon as possible. We would like to have your magnetic name badge for you at the January 17th luncheon.
- This Entrepreneur Club Membership is transferable. If you cannot attend, send someone in your place.
| Offer Expires: January 17, 2011
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Only $5
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Pictures with Santa at Traders Village, 2602 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie. The cost is only $5 per 5x7" print. We are there on Saturdays & Sundays from November 27th through December 19th from 10:30 am - 4:30 pm. Bring the entire family!
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