January 4, 2016
Setting Goals for 2016 
 
soccer_goal.jpg
Setting goals is extremely important but can also be a daunting task. The purpose of setting goals is to provide focus, give direction and offer a sense of urgency. Here are a few tips on how to set energizing goals for yourself or your business from Train Your Brain for Success author Roger Seip. 
  1. Your goal needs to be meaningful to you.
  2. It must be specific and measurable.
  3. It needs to be the right size for you, achievable yet it will stretch you.
  4. Your goal must be written down to create ownership in your brain (yes, literally written, not typed).
  5. It must be reviewed periodically.
What are your goals for 2016? We would love to hear! Share them with us here. Happy goal setting!
There's Still Time! 
 
keyboard_time_for_action.jpg
The 2016 Annual Membership Directory deadline has arrived but you still have this week to get in on the action!  Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your business and services to other members.  If you have not yet reserved your space through ECM Publishers, please do so today. Contact ECM today! Thank you for making our annual directory a SUCCESS!
Committed to Business... for YOU.
We are United for Minnesota Jobs 
 
The Chamber of Commerce network works every day to strengthen our state's business environment. We have the opportunity to take a significant step forward with the state's general fund surplus that has grown to nearly $2 billion.

Our goal is to help all businesses be competitive no matter their size, type or location. The Minnesota Chamber, as leader of the United for Jobs Coalition, encourages policymakers to use the surplus to best position Minnesota for a strong economic future. Our No. 1 priority for the 2016 Legislature is to reduce the statewide business property tax levy. The surplus also offers opportunity to provide strategic investments in our state's aging transportation infrastructure system.

Minnesota businesses face a variety of challenges in today's global economy. There is no single fix. But year in and year out, employers identify taxes as a key barrier to creating and retaining jobs in Minnesota.

The statewide business property tax is especially onerous. Read more. 
Hear from our Legislative Leaders
 
Join us on January 8 to hear from Minnesota's top legislative leaders, House Speaker Kurt Daudt and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk.  Both leaders have been invited to participate in a discussion of top legislative issues including their predictions for business property tax reform, allocation of Minnesota's surplus of nearly $2 billion, transportation funding, and whether a Special Session will happen. Register today. 
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
4
5

8:00 a.m. 		6
7
7:30 a.m.
8

7:30 a.m.
11
12
13

8:00 a.m.
 
Noon
14

8:00 a.m.
15
18
19
Noon


20

7:30 a.m. 		21
4:30 p.m.
22
3 p.m.
25
26
27

8:00 a.m.
 
Noon
ChamberNet One
4:30 p.m.
 		28
7:30 a.m.
 
29

business_concepts.jpg Did You Know?
We hope you have lots of business success in 2016! Don't forget to send this information to Emily so we can share your success through Weekly Update. 
Tips to Retain Employees
 
Our friends at Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board recently shared some helpful ways to find and keep good workers that were presented in The Kiplinger Letter (12/04/15) and we thought it might help to spark your own ideas as you continue employee recruitment in 2016.

*Recruit in adjacent industries for people with skills that can be adapted to your needs with adequate training.
*Establish internships and apprentice programs to tap younger candidates.
*Welcome back former employees who may be more than happy to return. Many companies are reversing policies against taking back folks who flew the coop.
*Don't overlook veterans. And be open to hiring former felons, giving them a second chance. You can earn a tax credit of up to $9,600 per hire.
*Cultivate a reputation as a great place to work... important to millennials and others. Thank job applicants for their interest... they'll think well of you for it.
*Consider expanding your referral bonus program to spouses, ex-workers, etc. Referred workers are typically of higher quality and more familiar with your business.
*Provide solid career advancement opportunities through mentoring and continuing education. They'll entice star workers to stick with your company.
Member Spotlight: Feels Like Family
 
Lisé Freking 
Did you ever feel like the new kid on the block, but you were welcomed with open arms by your new-found friends? That is exactly how I felt when I joined the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. As a recent member on the Board of Directors, my fellow board members have made me feel like a long-lost friend. To top it off, the Chamber members I have met at Coffee Breaks and at the Business Excellence Awards have really made me feel like family. I look forward to meeting more Chamber members at upcoming events such as the Why Not Wednesdays, WomEn's Circle gatherings, Legislative Breakfasts, Annual Golf Classic and more. As a Strategy and Marketing Director at Thomson Reuters, I am excited to represent my company and the Chamber while continuing to learn and grow personally and professionally through the Chamber.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 

AIT Worldwide Logistics
Dive Guys LLC
Dakota Chiropractic
Lyon Events Management, LLC
New Horizon Academy


New York Life 
 Cory Campbell  
860 Blue Gentian Road, Suite 330
Eagan, MN 55121
View website HERE 
 
As a licensed Agent of New York Life Insurance Company, Cory offers a variety of products that can help you meet a number of insurance and financial needs, including, but not limited to college funding, retirement, managing costs for extended periods of care and lifetime income strategies. Please contact him to help you fully analyze your 
 needs and recommend appropriate solutions.



PR Caffeine
Bonnie Rae Backer 
2438 East 117th Street, Suite 100
Burnsville, MN 55337
View website HERE

PR Caffeine is a leading provider of digital marketing services. EspreSEO™is PR Caffeine's full menu of SEO strategies that they use to perk up your search rankings. They know what the search engines like and don't like. Their job is to serve up your organization's content just the way they want it. A shot of EspreSEO does for your business what caffeine does for you - IT ENERGIZES IT!

Watch for more information about these fine companies in upcoming Weekly Updates.

Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
3352 Sherman Court, Suite 201
Eagan, MN 55121
651.452.9872