Monday, January 8, 2001

PLACE
Independence Hall
1639 N.E 26 Street

TIME
6:00 pm - Networking
6:30 Meeting Begins

SPEAKER
David Archacki
Wilton Manors Public Works Director

PROGRAM
ROAD CLOSED!
Who’s responsible? 
What is the “procedure?”

Wilton Manors 
A Great Place To Do Business 
December 2000
Wilton Manors
Business Association
Since 1989

PURPOSE:
To Attract and Promote Businesses within Wilton Manors.

GOALS:

• Attract new and more customers to existing Wilton Manors area shopping.
• Attract new types of business to existing storefronts.
• Promote inter-commerce trade between Wilton Manors businesses.
• Encourage interaction between city officials and business leaders
• Help promote the small town image with advantages of big city surroundings.

President’s Message
Association.  As I draft this month’s letter, the Supreme Court is deciding the fate of our now, ancient, Presidential Election. My Casino Player magazine had Al Gore’s chances at 9-5 on November 1st, and those odds are pretty close to accurate today. I wonder what odds the casinos would have given you that a winner would not yet be declared on December 11th? 

   The election process has been ironed out by the time this letter gets to you. In fact, it probably is not even current news except that the Inauguration is at hand and the media will resurface the story to bring more interest to their current story, the Inauguration.

   The stock market was having a terrible time of it in November 2000, especially in the tech area. It had a significant recovery in early December. How it is performing as you read this letter... I wish I knew now and I would retire shortly as a rich man.

   The point of this letter is to help you to focus on the right things to make your business successful over the long term. If you invested all your cash flow in a product that would only sell if the eventual loser of the Presidential election would have won, then you are probably not expecting to have a good 1st quarter in 2001. If you sold off all your tech stocks when they were at their bottom, you probably took a significant initial loss plus the loss of the rally in the tech market that followed. 

   Decide what it is that you do well and then devote your efforts LONG TERM to capitalizing on your strengths. You certainly have to remain a chameleon and continue to stay up with the changing times. But do not lose focus from your core business and strengths. Impatience and high emotions in today’s society cause many to falter. Stay the course, ride out the bad times, and capitalize on the good times. You will be the tortoise who finishes well off when retirement time comes for you.

     I remember when I decided to get out of the Navy and the executive recruiter sent me for an interview with a bank. I told him that I wanted to get into sales, because that’s where the money is. His response was: “I have met old bankers and I have met poor bankers. But I have never met an old, poor banker.” I am hoping he is right (because I’m getting old and I’m still poor), but I definitely see his wisdom related to staying the course. hang in there and be persistent and smart.

Thank you
Len Dato
President