Time, patience, believing will make difference

Jordyn Swalley

Winter is surprisingly nearing a close, which doesn’t seem possible.

And as I think of this, I take a look at the 10 pounds I still wear that I swore would be off by now, and it reminds me of another time I was trying to lose weight.

I had just moved to Kansas and had come to the conclusion that I should start trying to lose weight because my pants seemed to be getting tighter by the day.

So, taking the initiative, I joined a program at the gym and from the information I was given, it seemed to require little exercise or energy. And as I read comments on the brochure like “I lost 10 pounds in 7 days!” and “This program makes you lose weight so fast, it’s like magic,” I jumped with glee.

This was excellent because I thought that if anything could make me lose weight extremely fast without having to do much, it really was like magic.

But after being in this program for a couple months I would still look at the scale in disappointment because my weight hadn’t fallen off as fast as the leaves from a tree during fall.

Yes, I may have been a little busy to go to any of their night body boosting classes or read any of their tips for healthy eating and nutrient intake tips, but come on, I’ve gone to the gym a few times by myself.

That should count for something.

Then one day, I dug a little deeper into this so-called program by asking other participants who had had significant weight loss how in the heck did they do that.

Then they told me the true keys to weight loss in this program were patience, investing your time, believing in the program.

My first thought was, “What the heck? Those people who wrote those comments had lied.”

My second thought was, “I better get off this couch and start actually believing in the program.”

The information they gave me about healthy eating and workout etiquette quickly shed those pesky pounds and the icing on the healthy carrot cake was all of the connections and people I met throughout.

Now let’s bring it back to the modern day and how it relates to me now.

For those who don’t know, I am the director of the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce. I love this job and everything it entails, but one of the downsides is when I hear of a story about a member who isn’t satisfied because they haven’t immediately seen a return on investment since becoming a member.

When I hear this, it immediately takes me back to that time I joined that program to lose weight.

To get the full benefit of being a chamber member, takes exactly what the keys were to lose weight.

Patience, time, and believing.

Patience — to continue to strive and reach your goal with the help of Chamber initiatives, information, and connections.

Time — to read informational tips or to pry you away from your desk to attend Chamber Lunch and Learns or other networking events.

And the belief that the Chamber continues to be a drivig force for our progressive business community by protecting it as much as we can through legislative advocacy and economic event planning.

From the minute you sign up to be a Chamber member, you are investing in the key elements and ther steps to make your business or organization successful.

You are gathering information, keeping up with trends, making connections, and, eventually, gaining customers without even realizing it.

With those key elements, a member’s return on investment is much more than just the dollars that come into their business. It is also the bill that didn’t pass because your Chamber has small businesses in mind, or the visitor who came to watch the Christmas parade and spent their money in our community.

All in all, whether you’re someone trying to conquer the 10 pounds you have yet to lose, or someone who has been involved in the Chamber and have yet to see the return on investment, it isn’t fast magic that will help you succeed in your goals.

It is the patience, time, and belief you put into it.

That is when you will see the results you’ve been looking for.