A bunch of ways to weather the doldrums We now are officially in the summer doldrums...weather-wise and work-wise. As has been said by people far wiser than I, we can talk about the weather all we want but we can’t do anything about it, so we’re stuck in those weather doldrums (pick one or more: heat, humidity, thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, etc.) whether we like it or not. Now, work-wise is another story. Sure, counting teachers and others who generally are off for the summer, 20-25 percent of the population is likely on vacation any given week between the beginning of June and the end of August. Peak vacation periods seem to come around July 4, which this year is conveniently on a Friday, and the first week of August, when most kids’ summer baseball leagues are over and families can finally pack all the kids up for that getaway. But even with maybe two or even three weeks off in the June-August period, most of us are still working more than not. So while we may still have the usual day-to-day tasks to complete on the job, work in the summer always seems a little less harried, it may afford you a good chance to break out of the rut. There are really quite a number of ways to do so, most of which can enrich your professionally and personally. Most chambers and business groups seem to move into semi-hibernation during June, July and August as well, with many opting out of their monthly meetings and even the “business before/after hours” events during this hiatus of sorts. And, of course, chamber staffers who work their tails off during the September-May business calendar are entitled to their vacations, their association or society meetings and their own “down time.” We all need, and deserve, vacations. So take what you’re due and don’t take your computer, your work cell phone or your Blackberry with you unless you’re president of either your company or the United States (or running for either.) But if/when you are working, take advantage of the summer. There are some chamber meetings or workshops, professional group gatherings, business seminars and informational sessions on a wide variety of business topics that are presented throughout the summer by various companies, organizations or individuals. Frankly, because there are fewer people attending most of these events, you will have a better chance to network, to meet and chat up the speaker, to ask questions and to generally promote your business if there are 50-75 people at an event rather than 500. Go to a chamber event in an area outside your “comfort zone” or work area. You may know someone who has a business in, say, Hoffman Estates, whereas your company is in Oak Brook. Invite that colleague to a meeting or event of the Oak Brook chamber as your guest with the proviso that you can accompany him or her to a meeting of “their” chamber at some future date. In our regional business community, that will allow you to branch out and perhaps gain new business and/or contacts. Networking opportunities are limitless. Ditto for golf outings. Invite a threesome from outside the towns surrounding yours to join you at your chamber’s event. They’ll love the contacts they make, particularly if they can even meet new people in the foursome, which they will if you invite three friends whose only common acquaintance is you. Share a business, sales or industry-specific book or an article with friends. But a word of caution—be sure in your mind that it would interest the recipient. There are few things worse than a giver asking a recipient how much he liked a book the latter hated (and perhaps discarded). But if it’s a great book, splurge on a copy or two or three (don’t go overboard) and send it to three business colleagues who you believe would enjoy it. Send relevant business clippings to friends; I had a friend who did this regularly for years until he retired. (I pride myself on keeping in touch with lots of people but this guy was unbelievable...he sent clips to everyone...with just a short note: “Thought you’d be interested” or “Congrats” and then signed “Best, Bill K”). If your business or industry has a summer workshop or convention, be sure to attend, or, if you’re not the decision-maker as to who goes where, tell your boss how and why it would benefit you and the company to attend. You almost can’t miss getting a new idea (or two or three) as to how you can do something better or how your company can save money or make a sale. And, of course, the benefits of being able to network (that word again) with people in your own field are tremendous. Think back to your childhood when summers seemed endless in early June and yet by August you were amazed how quickly the school year was again upon you. So also is it now with the promise of summer dissipating quickly if you fail to take advantage of all the good things it can offer you in business. Contact editor Don Kopriva at dkopriva@thebusinessledger.com or at 630-428-8788.

Posted on Monday, June 16, 2008 (Archive on Monday, June 23, 2008) Posted by jstoltz  Contributed by jstoltz

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