Ronda Jackson, CID NCIDQ (LION)’s Post

Welcome Back to 3rd Saturdays – Harvesting Business Success! Hello, 3rd Saturday Family! We're thrilled to welcome you back this September, a month that not only tracks and highlights the achievements of your businesses but also sets the stage for a powerful Q4 with our event, "Harvesting Business Success: Reflect, Review, and Reignite Your Business Strategy." After August's standout performance at the Black Business Expo, it's clear that our community is more vibrant and ready than ever. This month, we're dialing up the intensity to help you leverage every lesson from this past year. Here’s What We Have Planned: 🤔CEO Strategy War Room: Tackle Q4 challenges in an exhilarating session that revisits the year's themes—Contracts, Customer, Experience, and Opportunities. It's time to apply what we've learned in a hands-on, collaborative environment. 🥂 Vision Harvest Wine Tasting: Network and learn as you sip. Each wine station pairs with discussions on different business strategies, blending enjoyment with enlightenment. (Thank you JEAN CLAUDE BOISSET WINES USA) 📚Strategy Workbook Deep Dive: Grab your newly launched Strategy Workbook, available for purchase at the event, and join us as we navigate through essential planning exercises. Leave with a clear action plan to close your year strong. 💰Special Highlight: Access to Capital with Lendistry: We've partnered with Lendistry to provide you with critical insights and opportunities in accessing capital. This segment will equip you with the tools and knowledge to secure the financing you need to scale and grow. 📆Evening Details: Date: Saturday, September 21st Time: 4 PM – 8 PM Location: Studio D Contract Finishes LLC, Los Angeles, CA Join us as we not only celebrate the past but also lay down the tracks for future successes. Secure your spot now and prepare for an evening of strategy, networking, and community triumph. Reserve Here: linktr.ee/inthemixinc.org #3rdSaturday #HarvestingSuccess #BusinessStrategy #IntheMix This month, let’s make connections that matter, gain insights that transform, and take actions that elevate. We can’t wait to see you there! For sponsorship and partnership opportunities please email connect@inthemixinc.org About In the Mix, Inc In the Mix, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, traces its roots back to the visionary leadership of founder Miss Ronda Jackson , whose passion for social change ignited the creation of this transformative organization. With a commitment to bridging the gap between ambition and opportunity, In the Mix has pioneered innovative programs such as #3rdSaturday, Paint on Purpose, Fund Flow Grow, and Guided Expressions: A Journey to Well-Being. These initiatives serve as catalysts for economic growth, job creation, mental health support, and community rebuilding, empowering underserved populations to thrive.

Another great Northwest Arkansas Commercial Real Estate Meetup! Mike Duley brought the value at this meet up where he went over 10 systems that create billion dollar real estate transactions Here were my takeaways: #1 Real Estate is About People —“You don’t build a business. You build people and then people build a business” #2 Philanthropic Passion —Is there something about your heart or cause that you can get behind. Sometimes you can have a skill that will help drive to charity (crowdsourcing , systems etc) —Building yourself out as a family office before you are a family office & strategic giving —Think about Legacy. What is going to outlive your name #3 Dream —“Get off the bench and step into the game of life! Let your imagination run wild with the possibilities of everything you could explore and experience—and begin immediately —10 year letter to yourself. Paint the picture where you want to be. #4 Passion —“Being relentless means engineering your life so you never stop until you get what you want and then keep going until you get what’s next. And then you go for even more.” #5 Don’t limit yourself —People who are winning in real estate right now are getting creative #6 Networking —Agents , business leaders, charities, etc —Think Who not How —You can be better than 95% of people in the world if you do something 18 minutes a day —Be the mayor of your eco system #7 Implement Fast-24 hour rule —Thinking + Action = Results —Whatever you think you want to implement do it within 24hrs —Don’t over analyze #8 Failing Forward Fast —Think about a number that you need to do something before you move on i.e make $250k a year doing something or won’t do it #9 Education and Learning -1st year in real estate went to 13 different seminars (educate yourself fast) #10 Coaching -Mike spends $10k/month in coaching -coaching fastest way to accelerate success -if you can’t afford a coach find books/podcasts to model after Bonus: Culture, God, Family, Grace Thanks for my cohost ☀️ Micy (Yuhui) Liu and this months sponsor Waco Title Company for making it happen Mark your calendar for April 9th as we’ve got another great one in store…

More than just a business

Our Office Manager, Siobhan Robinson, recently completed a 4-week programme at HMP Forest Bank Prison, through Gallaway's work with Key4Life. This programme sees us continue our work with our Prison Leaver Scheme, advocating for greater inclusion of ex-offenders in the industry through training, mentorship & employability support. We have previously placed several prison leavers into employment through our supply chain at our Dryclough manor site, and supporting the acquisition of necessary qualifications to work on-site in construction. This programme is incredibly important to successful reintegration of marginalised group, at higher risk of falling into unemployment & homelessness. Gallaway supports prison leavers seeking to transform their lives through construction and will continue to actively engage through this programme. Gallaway will be taking on several prison leavers from HMP Forest bank on our sites for short-term placements & continuing our mentorship efforts. We're proud to play a role in transforming lives and creating positive social impact through our commitment to the Prison Leaver Scheme. Together, we can make a difference! #Key4Life #PrisonLeaverScheme #Inclusion #Construction #SocialImpact #Gallaway #BuildingForBetterFutures #BuildingForBetterInclusivity

Small business owners, do you belong to your local Chamber of Commerce? I’ve been involved with chambers of commerce for a number of years as a business leader, and I know how much they impact the success of the local business community. When I opened my own businesses, it was a no-brainer to join my local chamber! Here are just a few of the benefits that I’ve realized through active participation in my local chamber: - Connectivity. Owning your own business can be lonely sometimes when you’re consumed with the day-to-day operations. I’ve connected with wonderful resources, made new friends and learned A LOT from other business owners. - Community. Networking is paramount when you lead or own a business. It is a non-negotiable in my opinion. By networking with other business leaders, I’ve learned about important causes in the community, identified opportunities to support local non-profits, and gained a better understanding of what’s important to the enhancement, safety and sustainability of our area. - Cultivation. Chambers provide many avenues for members to showcase and grow their businesses. One of my favorites is the ribbon cutting ceremonies! There’s just no better feeling than making your business official with a ribbon cutting. There are also many ways to share your subject matter expertise through sponsorships, speaking opportunities, volunteerism and social events. If you own a small business, I definitely encourage you to explore your local chamber. You may be surprised by the multitude of resources available to you! #motivationmonday #smallbusinessowner #entrepreneur #solopreneur #chamberofcommerce

🚨💰GRANTS & FUNDING - 12/19/24 💰The Saltbox Make Ship Happen Grant is offering $5,000 to small business owners to ease the challenges of managing operations during the holidays. This grant provides funding to improve logistics, fulfillment, and overall efficiency during peak season. Applications due December 22. https://lnkd.in/esTDide8 💰Skip is helping entrepreneurs end the year on a strong note with its 2024 Year-End Skip $10,000 Grant. The grant is designed to help recipients achieve their goals, whether personal or professional, by providing a meaningful financial boost. Entries are due by December 31. https://lnkd.in/eXzyXpnt 💰Brooklyn Brewery is awarding $10,000 grants to celebrate individuals who embody Brooklyn’s creative, entrepreneurial spirit and help bring their visions to life. Five innovators will be awarded across categories including Food & Drink Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Music, and Activism. Winners will also receive a one-on-one session with their category’s judge and a trip to New York City for an awards ceremony. Applications are open until December 31. https://lnkd.in/eJhfUA6H 💰The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, alongside American Express, has expanded the Small Business Hurricane Recovery program to further support businesses impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. An additional 1,000 small businesses will receive $5,000 grants, thanks to a new $5 million funding initiative. Applications close January 3. https://lnkd.in/ghwK--cn 💰The Big Idea Grant by Yippity Doo offers ambitious women entrepreneurs $1,000 to support their business ventures, along with access to mentorship, resources, and a wealth mindset coaching group. To qualify, applicants must identify as women entrepreneurs with a clear vision for their business. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. https://lnkd.in/ed5ZyvKk 💰💰💰More grant & program information can be found here. https://lnkd.in/e2mHDQn5 #businessdevelopment #governmentcontracting #smallbusinesses #businessowners #founders #nonprofits #entrepreneurs #sbe #dbe #mbe #wbe #lbe #mwbe #wosb #edwosb #veteranowned #womanowned #supplierdiversity #minorityowned #wealth #lgbtq #smallbusinessresources #smallbiz #grants #startups #disabledowned #funding

With 2024 coming to a close - our Managing Director, Gavin Auckland, reflects on an incredible year for Parallel. From team growth and new ventures to community support and industry recognition, it's been a year full of milestones.   Have a read of Gavin's review to see what made this year so special for Parallel - and get a sneak peek at what’s to come in 2025!   https://lnkd.in/eWRw4jfE #businessgrowth #yearinreview

Only 2 weeks left to book 👇 In today's ever-evolving landscape, the ability to forge meaningful partnerships with businesses is paramount for sustainable growth and impact! 🔍🤝 If you're a registered charity or social enterprise, consider booking into this next course to help you develop a strategy that delivers results. Gain insight into businesses' needs and learn what they seek in corporate partnerships to diversify your income, resources, and leverage business contacts for greater organisational success 🌎🌱 Connect with other nonprofit organisations, share your challenges, and set actionable goals to secure more business partnerships aligned with your values - Take a proactive approach instead of just winging it. 🚀 Join our upcoming course, "Engaging with Corporates in 5 Easy Steps," to: 📅 Date: 24th April 2024 ⏰ Time: 9.15am - 4pm 🏢 Venue: Mobas Group, Cambridge 🍽️ Lunch included Whether you're starting out or seeking fresh ideas, this course is ideal for Fundraisers, Corporate Partnership Leads, Directors, CEOs, Trustees, or anyone responsible for building strategic partnerships with businesses. Spread the word to others who might find it valuable! 🗣️ Give yourself and your team sufficient time to delve into and further explore this vital topic, elevating your business partnerships to new levels of success, generating increased income and sustainability 🌎 Reserve your spot today! 🎟️ Book here - Spaces are limited 👇 https://lnkd.in/eHdvTkkj

you can find inspiration in the weirdest places. this book from the 16th century includes some of the best fundraising advice I've ever read. I just got it in the mail yesterday and gave it a read while enjoying a pouch of cold brew in the park this morning. it outlines the ideals and characteristics of the perfect courtier - how to behave, dress, etc as a royal subject. the key concept in it is something I've become obsessed with - sprezzatura, or a studied nonchalance or effortless grace (coming off like you're not trying that hard). in fundraising, its obvious how this works. the hottest companies rarely put effort into fundraises - they get approached by investors so early that they don't even have time to make a presentation. when you raise, you want investors to think you are a hot company, so you need to be sprezzatura. 1. make a notion memo, not a deck - "this is all we've had time to put together" 2. downplay the amount of time you're spending drumming up interest - "we're receiving a lot of inbound right now" 3. set a very low target fundraise amount so you can say you're oversubscribed early on - "we only set out to raise X and filled that up in a week" 4. even downplay the amount of time and effort it has taken your team to hit your recent milestones - "we only launched X last week and have already seen Y" sprezzatura is one of my favorite topics. more to come on it

A Special Thanks to Brian Carmody from The Profit Finder for Sharing Your 40th Anniversary Story with Us! Brian Carmody of The Profit Finders in Holden has been a chamber member since spring of 2023. He particularly notes “it is striking how welcoming everyone at the Chamber is and how willing everyone is to help each other. The Profit Finders is a growth strategy firm for business owners who realize that an outside set of eyes, from an experienced business turnaround specialist, can save them tens of thousands of dollars in mistakes. When asked what inspiring moment happened in his company’s history, Carmody said “Profit Finders has been serving companies nationwide, but in early 2023 I had a lightbulb moment – ‘Why not focus on growing companies right here in our home region?’ That's when he decided he needed to join the NCM Chamber and help local businesses grow to life-changing levels. Regarding the Profit Finders connection to the community, Carmody set a goal to help 10 companies in our region hit their first $1M in revenue by 2026. That's an additional $10M circulating right here in our region. We are already helping one company in North Central Mass reach their $10 Million Dollar-mark, and another to hit their first $1 Million. Right here in our community! Money is energy and this new revenue we're creating will find its way to other businesses here. When one grows, we all grow. In the next 40 years, he wants to see the North Central Massachusetts become “a robust region where more people will choose to live, work, and play. New industries and technologies will thrive right here, creating high-paying jobs and well-paid residents. As we celebrate our Chamber's 40th Anniversary, we would love to hear more stories from our members that we can share. Please take a moment to fill out our survey and share your Chamber 40th Anniversary memories with us - https://ow.ly/65oj50RAl1Y