At the end of each year, we set goals for ourselves for the upcoming year. Maybe we want to exercise more, remodel a house or write that novel we've been putting off for years. Regardless of what the goal is, we enter into a new year with a fresh start and hope that we'll accomplish what we have always wanted to do.

The same can apply to your EO membership. As the FY2007/2008 year comes to a close, what will you resolve to do in the new fiscal year? Perhaps you want to attend your first Global event or get involved in various leadership opportunities. When it comes to your EO membership, you are in the driver's seat. With the new fiscal year upon us, what will you do to take advantage of this fresh start?

Jamie Gerdsen (EO Cincinnati) put it best when he said, “I am getting a lot out of giving back to EO. The organization has changed my perspective and made me think about my business much differently. My business is up 28 percent this year in a downturn. It is interesting … the more involved I get in EO, the more direct success I see in my business.”

What success will you experience when you take the next step in your EO evolution? Find out when you renew your membership today, and continue to reap the many membership benefits available to you. If you don't know where to start, contact us and we'll be happy to help.

With last year's recalls and recent misunderstandings about products manufactured in China, a bunch of EO Hong Kong members—who have been in the manufacturing business for a period of time—hope to educate other EOers on the myths and facts of manufacturing in China and what to look for when sourcing from China. We have received a lot of questions from members in other chapters around the world, so we think it may be valuable to debunk some of the rumours associated with our products.

When Jack Cafferty, a CNN journalist, said, “We continue to import their [Chinese] junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food…,” he was referring to the Chinese government and the Chinese in general.

Forty percent of EO Hong Kong's members are in the manufacturing business, and all of our factories are in China, so we see what goes on firsthand. The good news is that the Chinese government never told us manufacturers to make poor products, and we do not wish to poison our customers.

All of our chapter members were educated in the West, and many of us returned to Hong Kong to start new business ventures or manage family businesses. Our companies are not only professional and innovative, but they are also socially responsible. Our products meet international quality and safety standards. Our management complies with local laws, including labor laws, and we are also environmentally conscious. We run our companies with high ethical standards and much dignity.

The truth is that China is one of the few countries to have export regulations, which require the testing of goods before they are exported. Products, especially toys, have to pass their destination markets' standards before we are allowed to ship them. If the destination market doesn't have a standard, then we have to use the Chinese standard, which, in general, is significantly more stringent than US and European standards.

Broadly speaking, most Chinese manufacturers are very aware of these requirements and conduct regular tests. The biggest threat for us is when goods are returned, which, nowadays, would mean that the Chinese authorities would immediately close our factories.

It is fair to say that the Chinese government tries to ensure that goods exported from China are safe. It is unfortunate, however, that because so much is made in China and there are so many factories, having 100 percent control is unrealistic and improbable.

EO Hong Kong's hope is that our fellow EO members from around the world question what they hear from the media. This organization allows us to build bridges and leverage our network of entrepreneurs. So when things like this turn up in the news, we hope to keep the lines of communications open and the truth always revealed.

What an outstanding year of learning for the Entrepreneurs' Organization! We can attribute much of our success to all of our EO Learning Chairs' hard work and dedication. The fantastic events that they planned during the last year brought about incredible educational and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to EO members around the world.

We had a record number of Learning Award applications this year- not to mention the unprecedented increase of submissions from each region!

EO Global presented this year's Learning Awards—Academy Awards style!—at the Global Leadership Conferences in San Francisco, CA, USA, and Dubai, UAE.

Here are the celebrated winners:

• Best Overall Learning Calendar (more than 60 chapter members): EO St. Louis (Learning Chair Sander Coovert)

• Best Overall Learning Calendar (less than 60 chapter members): EO South Africa (Learning Chair Mark Levy)

• Best Multi-Chapter Event: EO St. Louis, The Gateway to Success 2008 (Learning Chair Sander Coovert)

• Best Collaborative Event Between Chapters:
  EO San Francisco hosting EO Silicon Valley, You've Been Hacked (Learning Chairs Doug Mandell and Brad Oberwager)

• Best Personal Development Event:
  EO Silicon Valley, EO Dream Experience: An Apocalyptic New Year (Learning Chair Randy Zechman)

• Best Business Development Event:
  EO New York, EO Fairfield/Westchester and EO Albany, Verne Harnish's Rockefeller Habits Workshop (Learning Chair Richard Humphrey, President Steve Showalter and Learning Chair Josh Hiebel)

Congratulations to all of the FY2007/2008 Learning Award winners. Take a second walk down the Oscars' red carpet for helping your entrepreneurial peers learn and grow!

As both a father and an entrepreneur, I was proud to hear these words spoken about my daughter, Liv:

"I was sitting in an EO conference in San Francisco, listening to the importance of “Success to Significance,” when I realized that I already know a seven-year-old girl who is fulfilling this exact concept. She is only asking for significance, and nothing more. She is a fellow EO member's daughter, and I was inspired by what she is doing. I felt that her goal and hard work toward significance is a lesson we can all learn from." - Michael Caito, EO Global Chairmen Elect-Elect

Liv does a school service project every year, and this year she decided to “Think Big” as most entrepreneurs do. So she created her own Web site, with the goal to inspire national—and maybe eventually worldwide—change. On it, she writes:

Dear Friends and Family,

I started thinking of what I could do for my community and realized that if I thought big, then maybe I could help beyond my community. So I came up with kidsthinkbig.org. This Web site is designed to inform kids that their actions really can make changes happen. I need to hear kids' stories on what they have done or plan on doing to make a difference.

I will post a heart on the "heart map" (see Web site for details). Together we can watch changes spread throughout the United States. Please send this Web site to nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, coaches, teachers, etc. I am asking to have them send me their “kids think big” stories. My goal is to have one heart in each state by the time I graduate 4th grade. I plan on achieving this goal by speaking to different schools, posting flyers and getting your support to let other people and kids know about my quest. I could really use your support to help me reach my goal by passing my message forward. www.kidsthinkbig.org Pass it on!

Thank you for your help. I look forward to posting your heart!
 
Love,
Liv Mitchell liv@kidsthinkbig.org
 
So far, Liv has completed several public speaking engagements and has received responses from kids in California, Texas, Oregon, New Jersey and (hooray!) Japan. The kids write in to share all of their wonderful stories, such as how they cut off their hair and donated it to Locks of Love. Liv hopes that children from all over the US will follow suit, and I'm hoping that kids from around the world will soon take notice as well.

I believe that this is a great opportunity for EO families to relay this message to their children and come up with ways to make a difference. When kids see their stories posted on Liv's site, it makes them feel like they are part of something important.

Whether we realize it or not, the lessons we learn from each other in EO are filtered down to our closest family members and friends. Liv is certainly an example of that. So perhaps we can all learn from her, and realize that our success in business means nothing if we can't turn it into something significant— something that changes our world for the better. 

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If your children want to share their stories or have done something to inspire change, please encourage them to write to Liv at liv@kidsthinkbig.org.

When people think of Japan, they often think of high-tech gadgets such as cell phones, digital cameras and other types of electronics that “wow” the rest of the world. The cell phone in particular is fascinating to foreigners and is a steadily growing market in Japan today. As a Japanese entrepreneur, I am directly affected by this surge in cellular technology. It is altering the state of communication throughout the country.

The number of people using cell phones in Japan has grown to almost 100 million during the past decade, and more than 80 percent of the population owns these personal mobile gadgets. Writing e-mails and surfing the Internet on cell phones is a common sight in Japan. People who don't even know how to turn on a computer can shop online using their cell phones. In fact, about 37 percent of the Japanese population has made online purchases through mobile phones. And that's only the beginning.

In Japan, cell phone usage has become so diverse that people tend to leave their wallets at home. They can read newspaper articles, download novels, purchase tickets for concerts, go in and out of subways, buy sodas from vending machines, look up accurate train times and keep track of their kids with the phone's built-in GPS systems. Talk about modern technology!

Sometimes I believe that cell phones have outperformed person-to-person communications. Direct communication among friends and family has decreased dramatically during the past decade. Because of the convenience of cell phones, people are text messaging instead of calling or talking to each other face to face. It's frightening to imagine what the communication skills of the Japanese will be like 50 years from now.

I believe that the mobile content and cellular phone markets are good areas in which to expand business and create future opportunities. I run an Internet marketing company, and I'm considering the possibility of integrating the mobile world into my own business. It's an ever-expanding market, and the competition will become more and more aggressive as Japan continues to churn out the latest and greatest in cell phone technology.

I know that when the opportunity calls, I will pick up that phone.

Our chapter recently launched the “Ricardo A. Bayona - COMCEL Award” to recognize the top entrepreneurs of EO Colombia. We named the award in memory of deceased chapter member Ricardo Bayona and for COMCEL, a major mobile phone company in Colombia that serves as our official sponsor.

The award goes to three winners for “Best Entrepreneurial Spirit,” and the top winner in that category is named “Entrepreneur of the Year.” These three awards are determined by how much a member has contributed to social initiatives and the community and how much new business success he or she has achieved during that fiscal year.

To keep the awards non-biased, our chapter brought in an outside jury comprised of three successful entrepreneurs/businesspeople who were non-EO members. All of the nominations were evaluated in May, and we held the awards ceremony on 13 June, at the end of our annual golf tournament.

I'm happy to report that Julián Montejo, Luis Enrique Piedrahita and Nicolas Diez are this year's winners for Best Entrepreneurial Spirit, and that Luis Enrique Piedrahita is our Entrepreneur of the Year! Congratulations!

Julián and Nicholas both received a US$1,000 prize, to be used toward an upcoming EO Global University in FY2008/2009, and Luis received US$2,000 toward a University.

Our chapter has always wanted an awards program like this, so we are proud that this year's chapter board members helped us realize our goal. We hope to inspire other EO chapters to begin their own internal awards program. For us, this awards program has helped us get better acquainted with our chapter members through the nomination process, and it has also provided us with a great opportunity to recognize our members for their accomplishments.

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If you have similar awards programs in your chapter, write us and tell us all about it!

You have the opportunity to attend the 2008 EO University: Boston for free! What's not to love about that? Here's the scoop:

• Chapters who have 15 percent or more of their members attending the 2008 EO University: Boston will receive US$1,500 toward hiring a top speaker, a Forum Moderator training or a Strategy Summit.
• Any member who personally refers five registrants to the University will receive half off his or her registration fee. Individuals who refer 10 registrants will attend Boston for free!
• Of those chapters that hit the 15 percent attendance mark, the chapter with the greatest percentage will win a free breakfast meeting with customer service expert John DiJulius.
• All referred members must be registered and paid in full by 11 July. To receive credit for referring a registrant, the referred member must e-mail us with the name of the member who referred them.

Why should you attend this awesome event? Because the University will provide ample opportunities for you to learn how to grow your business. After listening to our motivational breakout speakers, you'll be able to answer these questions:

• How can I grow my business in slow economic times?
• How can I develop a global sales strategy?
• How will my innovation give me a competitive advantage?
• What do I do when "IT" hits the fan?

You'll also hear keynote speakers who will basically rock your world and leave you wanting more:

George Naddaff - Founder of Boston Market and Serial Entrepreneur
Hear the entrepreneurial story of one of the highest-rated EO/MIT Entrepreneurial Masters' Program (EMP) speakers! George is a serial entrepreneur who founded Boston Market and Sylvan Learning Centers. EO members call his speech "a must-hear for every entrepreneur!"

Jon Luther - CEO of Dunkin' Donuts
Learn how Jon made a name for himself by transforming Dunkin' Donuts from a struggling, 54-year-old company into Starbucks' leading competitor through brand development and customer service. 

Ben Zander - Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and Motivational Speaker
A regular keynote speaker at the World Economic Forum, Ben engages audiences around the world and entices people to expand beyond their customary barriers and accomplish extraordinary results.

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Register today for this exciting and unparalleled University, and we'll see you in Boston!

EO has greatly benefited me and my husband, Peter, for the last several years. It is hard to pick what has been most worthwhile— certainly the exposure to world-class speakers and the frequent opportunities to network and enjoy life with other members are at the top of the list.

But the Forum experience alone has been particularly meaningful for us both.

Peter's segue into owning his own business came on the heels of more than a decade in corporate mergers and acquisitions for Nestlé USA in southern California, USA, and with The Loewen Group in Cincinnati, OH, USA. In 1997, after founding The Malibu Group—a mergers and acquisitions consulting firm in Cincinnati—we were able to meet and connect with other Cincinnati-based entrepreneurs through EO. Peter didn't have a history with the local business community, so networking and building relationships with other EOers was imperative.

Forum has enriched Peter's personal and professional life. Sharing challenges and victories with others who understand the unique world of entrepreneurship is invaluable. The chance to present business dilemmas and opportunities with fellow Forum members has greatly broadened his problem solving and creative abilities. And serving on the EO Cincinnati chapter board has enabled Peter to learn from the experiences and leadership styles of others.

But Forum wasn't just for Peter. (Thank goodness!)

When I first learned about Spousal Forum, I admit I was skeptical. I didn't want to be part of a group whose primary purpose was mutual grousing about how many hours their spouses worked! But I was pleased to be placed in a group with other women who have a variety of careers and are as involved in the growth of their spouses' companies as I am.

I just returned from our third Spousal Forum retreat. We are continually amazed at the unity of our group despite our very different backgrounds, beliefs and interests. A confidential place in which to discuss work challenges as well as child-rearing experiences has been a great blessing for me.

Like other entrepreneurs with a growing business and a family to raise, Peter and I have limited time. But being involved with EO has become a priority for us both. Our involvement in our Forums and attendance at various meetings and activities is an enriching experience that we value enormously.

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Check out this Web page on EOnetwork for more information on Spousal Forums.

In 2005, my youngest daughter was diagnosed with a severe case of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). After six very long months of testing and complications-which included several hospitalizations, spinal taps, MRIs, CT scans, bone scans and countless blood tests-her doctors gave us a treatment plan.

We were elated to have answers, but after some continued research, we began to question the intense regimen that they suggested. That's when I remembered our Healthnetwork Foundation benefit.

I was amazed at what happened next. Within 24 hours of sending out a request for information about JRA, I received several e-mails from Healthnetwork Foundation members who shared similar experiences. They provided me with doctors with whom they had had positive experiences.

Within a week, my family and I had the option to visit several world-class JRA specialists, so we scheduled an appointment with one of them. When we met with the doctor, he gave us a similar diagnosis and treatment plan to the one we had received before, which put our minds at ease.

The Healthnetwork Foundation provided us with a quick response, important connections, relevant experience sharing and solutions that would not have been available to us through any other source.

My hope is that other EO members never have to contact the Healthnetwork Foundation because of a dire emergency situation. But if they find themselves in a similar situation, I can't recommend it enough. It was my saving grace in a time of family crisis and despair.

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Read more information about the Healthnetwork Foundation and the other services available to EO members.

The following announcements about upcoming regional and multi-chapter events are open to all EO members. Go beyond local and tap into the resources available to you outside your home chapter!

Current Listings

Event Title: The Body and Soul Retreat
Host Chapter: EO Indonesia
Description: Escape to Bali and experience a relaxing retreat like no other! More information to come.
Date(s): 26-29 June 2008
Contact Information: E-mail Ming Alihan, President of EO Indonesia, if you are interested in attending. 

Event Title: Southwestern Fishing Tournament
Host Chapter: EO Houston
Description: Hit the bait and tackle store and head south— it’s time for the Southwestern Fishing Tournament! For accommodation information, click here.
Date(s): 12-14 September 2008
Contact Information: E-mail Robert Wagnon or call him at +1.713.542.0724 for more information.