The document discusses trends shaping the future context, work, and life of chambers of commerce. It notes shifts in government involvement in the economy, international influence, demographics, and other mega trends providing context. It outlines changes in chamber membership, operations, policy work, communications, and economic development. Finally, it addresses impatience, turnover, and the need for chambers to look past short-term issues and personalize experiences to remain relevant in the future.

1. “I LIVE IN THE FUTURE
& HERE’S HOW IT WORKS”*
Spring 2012
Mick Fleming, President
* Nick Bilton’s new book

2. SEALs New Planning Model

3. Today’s Grand Observations
(and Gross Generalizations)
The Context
The Work
The Life

4. MEGA TRENDS – THE CONTEXT

5. Government In the Economy
 Governments (quasi) as largest
employers, customer, developers
 Selecting winners and losers through
TARP, but also every day
(green, BRAC, disasters…)
The Context

6. International Influence
 Brazilians buying Miami
 Arab spring to European spring
 Japanese retirees
 NFL & NBA Negotiations
 Global ownership & investment
The Context

7. Demographics
 Pyramids and rectangles
 Millennials issues
 Minority-Majority nation 2037
 Boomers aren’t going away
 Cruelty of migrations
 “Anglo” Chamber???
The Context

8. Impact of Recession???
 Intuition about impact may be wrong
 Data indicates remarkable stability
 Your performance better than your community’s
 The work is harder, but you figured it out
The Context

9. “It’s the [next]
economy, stupid”
 Sector transformations
 Talent specialization over “available” workers
 Wild fluctuations in markets & preferences
 Impact of complete mobile connectivity
The Context

10.  IS THERE A
“BUSINESS COMMUNITY”
ANYMORE?

11. MEGA TRENDS – THE WORK

12. Membership
 Renewal rates back to 2008 levels (84%)
 Member count not yet back to pre-recession
 Penetration down
 Dues = 55% of small CCs, but only 24% for bigs
 Average dues unchanged for 4 years
 Gross revenue per member actually up
The Work

15. Other Ops & Finance
 Huge ranges of net income and net assets
 No investment in policy or membership growth
 Boards are huge – especially with ex officios
 Vast majority of chambers are “just” chambers
The Work

19. Policy Field of Play
 Demise of civil discourse – “fundamental
divide”
 Every Issue Viewed Thru COG Lens
 Employer-Employee Relationship
 Corporate Indecision?
The Work

20. Politics & Policy
 Can you afford to play?
 Can you afford not to?
 The safety and power of coalition positions
 Read the book
 Your possible political play (and the price)
The Work

21. FAILURE
FALSE
Communications
THE LONG TAIL
Revolution

22. Communications Revolution
 Mass Personalization
 ‘SEND ALL’ button of questionable value
 Mobile EVERYTHING
 Velvet Rope Model dying???
 Social media – As a profession . . . We suck
The Work

23. How People Learn & Acquire Info
 Need it? Go get it. JIT knowledge
 Risks of the “send all” button
 Can’t assume any “clip” ever goes away
 Influencing the influentials
 Lists disguised as wisdom
 Questioning the value of in-person meetings

24. Community Advancement &
Economic Development
 Three I’s
 Three P’s –
The Work

25. MEGA TRENDS – THE LIFE

26. The Life
 The two biggest fictions in chamber work
The Life

27. The Life
 The two biggest fictions in chamber work
1. The CEO’s to-do list/calendar
2. The staffer’s job description
The Life

28. Impatience At All Levels
 Members impatient for impact
 Boards impatient with pace of progress
 Staffs impatient with lack of opportunities
 Pols impatient with slow chamber consensus
 Sponsors impatient with slow ROI
The Life

29. The Life
 Turnover rate and tenure
. . .the same in large chambers and small
PLATO’S REPUBLIC?
The Life

30. SO WHAT? NOW WHAT?
- LOOK PAST THE NEXT WHATEVER
- NIMBLEOSITY (KAPS)
- YOUNG AT HEART
- PERSONALIZE THE EXPERIENCE

31. The Legacy:
 Wherever there’s a guy . . .

32. I LIVE IN THE FUTURE &
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
Mick Fleming, President
American Chamber of Commerce Executives
mfleming@acce.org 703/998-3553