02/ 02/ 2007
by Todd Stottlemyer, NFIB President and CEO
It's critical for any membership organization to regularly listen to its members to ensure that the organization is providing a return on investment for its members' dues. So last year we surveyed small-business owners like you throughout the country. We wanted to know what you need to successfully grow your business.
What issues matter most? What kind of products and services would be of value? What information is helpful, and what is not? Like you, we wanted to dig deeper to better understand our market. Like you, we're always looking for new ideas and ways to strengthen our products.
Following this survey, we engaged in a strategic visioning process to determine how we could use this feedback to better serve our members. As a result, we developed a new mission statement: "To promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses." The word "right" is not a word without meaning. In fact, I believe very strongly that one of the core principles of the American Revolution was a belief that an individual had a right to economic freedom and the opportunity to take an idea and turn it into a private enterprise. To me, it really is the power and meaning of NFIB.
Our overall goal is still to be fierce advocates for small- and independent-business owners, but this new mission statement clearly notes the reason why—on behalf of our members. First and foremost we are focused on you. And based on what you told us, your focus is where you live and run your business. You're deeply impacted by the economic climate in your state. And you've made it clear that you expect us to fight hard and win big at both the federal and state level to ensure that you can successfully start, own and operate your business.
We also recognize there is stiff competition for your time and money. So we are building an organization-wide mind-set and culture, where we ask every day what did we do to improve and enhance your experience as a member of NFIB.
Part of the answer is that we are actively and aggressively pursuing the enactment of legislation that provides access to affordable health care, a simpler and fairer tax system, regulatory reform and a civil-justice system that promotes fairness. You have told us these are the issues and challenges that have the greatest impact.
You've also said you want help in reducing the costs of running your business. As a result, we will continue to look for legislative or regulatory solutions to save you time and money, such as permanent increases in expensing deductions and less paperwork. We are also identifying and bringing to you exclusive products and services that not only help you save money, but also help you run your business more effectively and efficiently.
We're even making some organizational changes to help us carry out our promise to members by putting more staff in the states because you've said that's where things hit home. That means a bigger team of people dedicated to working with state lawmakers, electing pro–small-business candidates, keeping you up-to-date on the issues and providing valuable products, tools and information to help you manage the growth of your business.
We know that many issues bubble up from the states, as more and more states try to head off federal solutions with their own legislation. For example, last year Massachusetts passed a bill that requires all residents to obtain health insurance by July 2007, significantly impacting small-business owners in the state with new mandates and other requirements. Tennessee also passed significant health-insurance legislation, and California is expected to do the same. The issue of eminent domain is similar, as close to 40 states put forth their own recommendations in 2006 on how to restrict local governments' power to seize private property in the name of economic development.
As we built our plan for 2007 and beyond, it all started with listening to you. Your thoughts, your concerns, your needs are why we are here. As always, thank you for being an NFIB member, and I look forward to a successful year for all of us!
