The Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce is completely different from other organizations. Our aim is not to fill a room with 100 people and call it viable ‘networking’. There, at best, one gathers a pile of business cards or a list of the attendees. You often stand around feeling like a lost sheep. Afterwards you see a bunch of names, telephone numbers and emails and try to recall who they belong to and what, if any, synergies actually exist. If you are confident in your ability to cold call, you will know how to follow up but our experience has shown us that the vast majority of people are uncomfortable picking up the phone and making an appointment. Quite simply, relationship building in this way is time consuming, exhausting and unproductive.

When you go to other events, how often do you keep the brochure and use it for lead generation? If you do keep it, is it because your advertisement is in it and you are keeping it for a memory/trophy or because you will utilize it as a working document? Do you keep the tag that was made for you? Do you notice the tags of the others there? Do you get leads from the booths? Again, our many years of experience has taught us that all these typical “old” ways, just don’t work today and we prefer to tackle your referrals differently.

Most networking organizations. We are conditioned to walking into forums and being impressed with a large attendance and to looking on their web site afterwards to see if they captured a photograph of us being there. I call this the “Lamb” mindset.

We calculate - a large room full of people + brochures + speeches + well presented food + occasionally being asked to give a two minute pitch on our company + being recognized among the crowd and acknowledged by the management with a wave or a handshake + being presented with plaques and certificates (which our money has paid for) = a good organization and the right place to pitch our tent in terms of being a ‘member’. We attend these meetings and justify the expense in a myriad of ways, especially if we have met and shaken hands with a ‘dignitary’ who probably would not recognize us if they saw us on another day. Ask yourself “In a room that size, how many quality partnerships did I make?” 10? 20? 30? 40? I would suggest, probably less than five and even those are not hot leads if you are honest. Was it worth the money and time you spent? I doubt it.

Does that really make any sense in these economic times? I hope your answer is “No”.

Hanover Area of Chamber meetings. I challenge you to rethink the ‘Lamb’ mindset and behave like a ‘Lion Leader’.

Imagine - A room of 10-20 quality prospects + a facilitator who has strategically studied each participant and understands their needs + enough food and water to keep you energized + sincere one on one introductions + Quality time to discuss your needs and services with people who want to buy. This equals an excellent investment, time well spent and strong long-term partnerships formed.

You will be warmly welcomed and made to feel at ease quickly but you will not be inundated with expensive brochures or name tags that were paid for out of your membership dues. You will not be pressured into expensive sponsorships or ad spaces which have a limited shelf time and only serve to swell the account of the organization. As this Chamber’s President, I refuse to misuse membership money in such frivolous ways. Your contribution will be valued and rewarded with what truly matters — Business Referrals.

Yes it IS that simple!

The Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce specializes in the “Lion” mentality. We meet two Wednesdays a month, over breakfast, in a round table strategic partnership planning format. These meetings are lively but focused on results and you will walk away with solid business leads and partners who will be busy recommending you to their clients. Why? Because they know who you are, what you do and what you are looking for. Our larger gatherings occur once a month and are geared towards understanding a particular partner and business. We are experts and leaders in our field specifically chosen to guide you. Quite simply, everybody on our Board is a professional and well connected in New Jersey, the US and all around the world. We can confidently say that between us, we offer you a truly global pipeline. In between these meetings your cards will be proactively shared with other members. As your President you have my personal mobile number and can call me for advice and referrals. Our Board is on hand to advise you too and we pride ourselves on sincerely wanting to see every member grow and thrive.

Why come to our meetings?

Intimate + Strategic Gatherings + On-going Support + Respected Influential Leaders + Knowledgeable Facilitators + Guaranteed Referrals + Quality Time Allocation + To-the-Point Discussions = Time and Money well spent, Success and New Clients Guaranteed!

Why Join the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce?

If you want to succeed in 2012, be the Lion not the Lamb.