Take a look at our November newsletter!
NOVEMBER 2021
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IT’S A GREAT TIME TO LEARN A VALUABLE LESSON FINDING GRATITUDE
November is a great time of the year, isn’t it?
a team to perform better, and empower a community to help others. There will always be dark, trying times, but it’s much easier to power through these moments and become stronger because of them when you focus on what you are grateful for.
The obvious reason is Thanksgiving and the wonderful food that comes with it. At CHB, one of our best traditions involves food, and we aptly named it Food Fridays. Sometimes these events are potlucks — my favorite dishes are Mary’s fried potatoes and sausage casserole — and other times, we have it catered from a local restaurant. We have some great homestyle Mexican, American, and pizza places in our region! November is also a fun season for football! Our Wheatland High School Bulldogs and University of Wyoming Cowboys make for a great lineup on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. At the time of writing this article,
I’ll give you an example.
I think we can all agree that 2020 was a bit of a bunk year, right? And the reasons are obvious. You don’t need me to go into the details! Yet, in the moments when we all felt hope was lost, we would hear great stories of people coming together, including moments when communities rallied behind their small businesses. These businesses were vital to the fabric of the community, and people came together to support and protect them. That was powerful to see. In a nation that celebrates Black Friday with large corporations, our little town of 3,500 people has a bustling downtown small-business community. There isn’t a single empty storefront in town! Our community has continued to support one another, and our businesses operate at full capacity. We are back in business! I am grateful to be part of a community that values small businesses. Moreover, I appreciate partnering with each of our clients to help them make their clients’ dreams a reality. This industry has the potential to help small-business owners across the U.S. create opportunities. I’ve worked with people who are so giving, kind, and knowledgeable, and that makes me proud of the work we do. This November, I encourage you to practice gratitude or strengthen the culture of gratitude in your business. We could all use it, but when we recognize its potential, gratitude can become a powerful tool to move ourselves, our businesses, and our communities forward.
the high school team was undefeated and poised to do great things this year. I’m sure the same will be said by the time you read this newsletter! I can’t wait to catch a few games. They can be some of the coldest football experiences in the nation, but every game is fun.
Thank You, Veterans!
We would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the men, women, and families who have served or currently serve our nation this Veterans Day. CHB was founded by a veteran and a number of our staff members have also served. We would like to thank them for their commitment to our country, and thank our clients and readers who have also served. Thank you for protecting our freedoms!
I believe one of the best parts about November
is that it’s an annual reminder to practice gratitude.
Being grateful is one of the most powerful tools you can possess. It can pull someone out of a dark time, motivate
Happy Thanksgiving, and we’re very grateful for you.
–Kit West
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Say Thank You! 3 WAYS TO SHOW CLIENTS YOU CARE
Send a card. It may seem so obvious, but cards are powerful tools that show your clients you appreciate them. However, to really show your clients how much they matter to you, recognize more than important business milestones. Spend about 30 minutes every week writing out a few thank- you, anniversary, birthday, or holiday cards to your clients. (Your CRM software can be a hub for this information.) The handwritten element will speak volumes about your values as a business owner, and nearly everyone loves getting mail. Let Thanksgiving serve as a reminder to thank those you work with and to show them that their support is appreciated. And if we haven’t said it enough: Thank you for working with CHB!
People want to do business with people they trust, and part of building a strong rapport is to show your customers how much value they bring to your business and your life. After all, without your clientele, your business wouldn’t exist! This November, show your clients just how much they mean to you by doing something special for them. Here are three ways to do this that they won’t forget. Host an open house — with perks! At CHB, we regularly invite our brokers to come visit us. We enjoy seeing our brokers in person, building that relationship, and continuing our strong connection — something that you just can’t replicate on the phone or on a screen. You can do the same by hosting an open house, but make it more fun than a
generic open house with appetizers and drinks. Have a few giveaways, like T-shirts, hats, local gift cards, and more, to show your clients how much you appreciate them and that they came out to your event. It will be a networking event they won’t forget! Donate in their name. Nothing says “I appreciate you” like showing your clients that you listen. After doing business with a client or around the holidays, make a donation in their name to their favorite organization or a nonprofit that means a lot to their family. You can learn a lot about what is important to a person just by doing business with them. (Or, consider creating getting-to- know-you questionnaires!) Plus, this added touch shows your clients that you not only care, but you listen as well.
3 Goals Every Entrepreneur Needs in 2022
By now, you should have an idea of what you want your business to achieve in 2022, but have you considered how you will grow during that year — and the impact that could have on your business? Often, entrepreneurs and business leaders take on the identity of their companies, but in order to personally thrive and see their companies take off, they have to grow right alongside it. To do so, consider these goals all entrepreneurs must focus on at some point in their careers. Goal No. 1: Get a Life You are more than the company you started. Plus, having hobbies or personal interests outside of your work can help you excel in work. It allows your brain to grow in new ways, sparking fresh ideas and perspectives. Consider activities that you’re interested in learning more about — like painting, podcasting, reading, or running — and get started. Maybe you’ll
fail, but just keep trying! You may find a new activity that brings you the joy you need. Goal No. 2: Save More Many of the dimes you earn as a business owner go back into the company, but don’t forget to consider your future. Is your retirement plan in order? Do you have a plan should your company need to close? Will your family be secure? Consider these questions and hire a trusted financial advisor who can help you find personal investment success. Goal No. 3: Meet New People Becoming inundated by daily, menial tasks can make us miss opportunities. This is where meeting new people can be so valuable! By doing so, you create a network of people who have different experiences than your own. They can help you see beyond your biases and discover a new path. Who knows? You just might find the next great venture for your company!
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Baked Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Stories are one of the oldest forms of communication. For as long as there has been language, people have used words to spin yarns and convey ideas. Today, when it comes to marketing your products, stories emotionally impact your customers in a way that mere facts never could. How do stories do this? According to behavioral economist and author Peter McGraw, memories are built on associations. When you form a habit, routine, or ritual, you’re essentially creating a new set of associations. Using stories, you can show how customers who use your product or service incorporate it into their rituals. If others see that your product has a benefit, they might be compelled to do the same. To Make a Killer Marketing Campaign How You Can Use Customer Stories
Spicy, savory, and sweet, this unique stuffing will level up your Thanksgiving table.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb Mexican chorizo • 1 white onion, chopped • 1 carrot, chopped • 1 celery rib, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, chopped • 2 cups premade cornbread, crumbled
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup chicken stock • 1 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing • Cilantro, for garnish • Cotija cheese, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat your oven to 350 F. 2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chorizo for 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook for 10 additional minutes. Stir in the cornbread and cilantro. 3. While stirring, slowly add the chicken stock. Stir until absorbed. 4. Butter a small casserole dish, then add the stuffing in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, garnish as desired, and serve! Recent Events Our Oct. 21 open house at CHB was a huge hit with the Wheatland business community. We had over 40 local people attend from 10 different area businesses. CHB was proud to give away an Apple Watch to one lucky winner. Guests were treated to a tour of the offices and the people of CHB. Since CHB is one of the few businesses in the community that does business nationwide, we were able to talk about our processes and how we operate across the country.
Before sharing testimonials of customers using your products willy- nilly, however, a few tips might help you curate the stories your customers share and see. Make your customers the center of the story. Many businesses make their product or their brand the hero of the story, but this isn’t the most effective way to grab your customers’ attention through storytelling. Instead, focusing on your customers, their rituals, and the success they’ve achieved can resonate a lot more powerfully. Of course, you’ll want to make it clear how your product helped them achieve success. Meet your customers where they are. Find a way to get customer feedback on the products and services your business provides. What do they like about your product? How have those products and services helped them the most? Incorporating this information into your storytelling campaign can also ensure that those stories resonate a lot more with your customers. Ditch the jargon. Always remember to keep your stories short, to the point, and accessible. No customer is going to be interested in reading an eight-page white paper or listen to a testimonial they can’t understand because it’s so full of industry jargon. That’s the beauty of good storytelling — it can impact anyone, transcending industries.
The NEFA conference in Charlotte, NC, was well attended. Over 54 vendors had their booths open and ready for business. Getting the chance to actually talk to the people whom you had been emailing and calling was very exciting. The over 300 people in attendance presented everyone an opportunity to make new connections and strengthen old ones. Listening to the stories and experiences of the industry veterans helps us put the dots together to make our own processes and procedures even better. We are already making plans to attend the conference again in 2022.
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C.H. Brown Co., LLC A PLATTE VALLEY COMPANY 20 W. Frontage Rd. • Wheatland, WY 82201 307-322-2545 • chbef.com
Inside
1 Build Gratitude Into Your Life 2 3 Powerful Ways to Show Your Clients They Matter
2 3 Personal Goals to Make 2022 Better 3 Baked Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing 3 Recent Events 3 Why Customer Stories Are Your Best Marketing Tools 4 3 Business Books You Have to Read This Winter THE CHB BOOKSHELF Business leaders should be lifelong learners, committed to engaging with new ideas to better improve employee and customer experience, while catapulting their company into success. As the weather gets colder, stay inside and learn something new with some of CHB’s favorite self-improvement and business books. 3 Books All Business Leaders Need to Read!
‘Skip the Line’ by James Altucher Don’t get comfortable. That’s the tactic entrepreneur and author James Altucher proposes in “Skip the Line: The 10,000 Experiments Rule and Other Surprising Advice for Reaching Your Goals.” While some business books encourage shortcuts and simple techniques to success, Altucher argues that the rough waves and uncertainty will always be part of business, and the best way to combat it is to transform the way you engage and think to execute your ideas and goals with more precision. Change will always happen, so why not learn how to manage it?
‘Leadership and Strategy Tactics’ by Jocko Willink The precision, dedication, and knowledge of the U.S. Navy are powerful tools that have made our nation’s Navy one of the greatest in the world. Now, one of its former officers is turning that expertise into useful advice for business leaders. In “Leadership and Strategy Tactics,” former U.S. Navy officer and leadership expert Jocko Willink offers a how- to guide on deploying strategies for greater leadership. Willink takes the “what ifs” out of leadership education and creates a thought- provoking manual.
‘The War of Art’ by Steven Pressfield Business leaders are thoughtful and creative, yet the day-to-day of owning a business and serving clients can bog down the systems, so to speak. Author Steven Pressfield argues this can be overcome in his book “The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle.” Often the biggest obstacles we have to overcome to experience true creative freedom are the battles going on inside our own minds. Conquer this landscape with Pressfield’s help!
You can find these books at your local independent bookstore or by visiting Amazon.com.
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