In April 2010 we got a note from Colleen Gibbs, Director of Communication for Southern California’s Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Colleen told us that the Chamber’s CEO, Ted Owen, was about to write a column on their experience with The Go-Giver. Sure enough, the following week a review appeared in The San Diego Business Journal. Here is an excerpt from that column:
Ted Owen, CEO, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
As the nation’s economy continues to recover, business owners want to know why some of their competitors grow at a faster pace. What makes the difference between their sales and the other guy’s?
When I am asked that question, I simply state that we have trained our “go-getters” how to become “go-givers” …
That is the simple answer to a sometimes complicated question. It really isn’t the education, geographic location, age or sex of the salesperson; it is simply the fact that giving is better than getting, or to rephrase an old adage, “Give and you shall receive.”
[Here Ted mentions The Go-Giver, lists the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success, and then continues:]
I will illustrate how we teach this to our members. The action or thought to move from getter to giver is best illustrated in the networking committees at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.
The art of giving is taught by instilling in each committee member (the current members invite others to join the committees) that the purpose of the panel is to be one another’s sales force and assist in seeking out business opportunities for the other members of the group.
You are taught not to accept an invitation to join with the goal of gleaning business for yourself, but to be the marketing force for the other members. Each member is taught the five laws and then asked to put them into practice. At the beginning, the committee members spend as much time (if not more) finding business for their fellow committee members as they do for themselves.
As you spend more time in attending the meetings, the skills needed to sell for the others are honed. When the group issues an invitation to a new member, the group is actually hoping that the new member will be a reflection of their own personal characteristics—in other words, their clone. …
In one of her emails to us, Colleen Gibbs noted, “We are big fans of The Go-Giver over here at the Carlsbad Chamber.” In our response we said: “I think we just became big fans of the Carlsbad Chamber!” To which Colleen replied:
We’re awesome (officially). In a down economy when other chambers in California are losing members like water from a sieve, we have managed to be in growth mode every month. I think we all agree that this is because we are go-givers. I have never worked with a group of people who so consistently give and give and give.
Have a marvelous day. Get out there and give! — Colleen
I am so excited about all the connections that are happening through this book!
THANK YOU JOHN DAVID MANN AND BOB BURG!
My name is Julie Sando. I wrote the scrapbook post below this one. I recently moved from Massachusetts to CARLSBAD, CA! I attended my first ever Chamber Meeting in Carlsbad on May 7th to hear Michael Gerber speak. I had no idea what happens at Chamber meetings. I was AMAZED to see that even with an incredible speaker being there, there was a significant amount of time set aside to have each table take time to share within that circle. We gave our business cards to each other and the moderator of the table asked each person questions like “How can I help you gain business?” and “Who are the people I know in my line of work that would benefit you?” My Go-Giver light bulb lit up. I could feel it.
At the meeting you pick someone’s business card and meet them for coffee. I recently firmed up plans with the person who drew my card. I confessed over email that I don’t know what happens at these meetings and she’ll have to fill me in. She writes:
“I am really looking forward to meeting you and finding out more about you, where you came from, what you think of Carlsbad so far, and your thoughts on the Chamber. I will be more than happy to tell you whatever it is you want to know about the community and the Chamber.”
That was Go-Giver light bulb #2.
Today, I ‘happened’ to check this website to see what posts had been made and here it is a local one from The Carlsbad Chamber!
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Go-Giver Light Bulb #3 couldn’t be brighter!
Right now, reading this post that is right above mine, I am in awe of how this Universe works to bring us all together!
I am excited to announce that I will be joining the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce because of this connection and clear realization.
I just started my own business, moved across the country, and am figuring out how to make new friends. In this moment, after over 6 months of settling in here, I feel like I found home.
Thank you for posting this Colleen. And thank you for the article Ted. I look forward to meeting each of you in person! And thank you again to John David Mann and Bob Burg for creating the space for these connections to happen!
In Gratitude,
Julie Sando
Autistically Inclined .com