By Barbara Nicastro, The Law Offices of Barbara E. Nicastro 
China is a contrast of modern and ancient, of tradition and innovation, of peacefulness and high energy: a place unlike any other and a country that should be on your list of Top 5 Places to Visit.
My visit to China three years ago was with the Chamber tour. I traveled with over 20 other people, but had no travel companion. I traveled with people I knew and perfect strangers – at least for the first few hours. While I’m no travel agent, I know what works and know a bargain when I see one. The China trip was spectacularly both. 
I’m an organizational freak, so I bow down in admiration to our tour group for how well every detail of our trip was planned. From the time we left until we returned to Arlington, everything was taken care of for us. The transportation was great, the days were packed with activity, the experiences were highly varied, and I got to see how the Chinese live their daily lives.  The tour guides were highly knowledgeable and friendly. All I had to worry about was what to buy as gifts/souvenirs and whether I wanted something extra to drink or eat. 
Was everything perfect? No, but in hindsight, most of the “grousing” was more due to cultural differences than to actual deficiencies in the tour. And the little things that weren’t perfect paled in comparison to the amazing experiences:

• Shanghai at night and shopping on the city streets
• The Forbidden City and gardens
• Tiananmen Square with its eerie memories
• Temples, gardens, artifacts and laughing, frowning, serious, ancient Buddhas
• Master lessons at a tea farm in how to properly make tea
• Chinese apothecaries and healing practices
• Lunch with a Chinese family and our tour through a traditional neighborhood
• Walking through a town market on Saturday morning as town residents did their shopping
• Boat trips on canals, lakes and streams.
• Learning how silk rugs, jade pieces, porcelain and fresh water pearls are created.

Now that you’ve decided to GO to China, here are some recommendations:

1. Start walking as exercise regimen. This tour is not for people who cannot walk well or who have difficulty with mobility. While you could go, you would miss out on a lot.
   
   
2. Make this a true vacation. Divorce yourself from your iPad, your laptop and even your cell phone if you can. Instead, bring a camera.  Besides the “lugging around” factor, your personal memories of actually seeing China rather than photographing it will be what last.
   
   
3. Pack lightly/pack to leave behind. China’s weather is varied.  You will buy more than you think you will. With these two axioms in mind, pack layers and don’t worry about how stylish you look.  I took old clothes, left them behind after they were worn, and had tons of space in my suitcase for those “had to have” purchases.
   
   
4. Read up on the Chinese personality and behavior. It’s different from ours and can be initially confusing until you figure out how to act Chinese.
   
   
5. Don’t take a lot of cash. I managed very well on $300 and a credit card.
   
   
6. Find a credit card that doesn’t charge a fee for international purchases. Capitol One is one, and USAA only charges 1%.  Make sure your credit card company knows you’ll be in China.
   
   
7. Take the “optional” tours since you’ll be left on the bus if you don’t and they are spectacular.
   
   
8. Ask the Chamber to find you a roommate for your hotel stays if you are traveling as a single. You’ll save money and with the schedule for each day, you’ll be doing little more than showering, sleeping and repacking your bags in the hotel.
   
   
9. Negotiate the price of EVERYTHING! The Chinese will sell to you at full price but won’t respect you in the morning. The calculator is the negotiating tool!
   
   
10. Keep your eyes and ears open: there is something fascinating going on almost everywhere!

[Editor's Note: The Chamber is hosting another trip to China this Fall from October 11-19. For more information about the trip, contact Cassie Bate, Member Services Administrator, at 703-525-2400 or [email protected].]
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​By David DeCamp, 2013 Chamber Chair, Managing Director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

Before you begin to talk about or tour specific spaces to relocate or expand your business, consider the big picture. The twenty-six square miles that comprise Arlington offer great fundamental advantages over neighboring jurisdictions. Let’s take a look:
1.     More Employees. Your future workforce wants to live, work, shop and play in an urban place like Arlington. 75% of the “Millennial” twenty-somethings pick where they want to live before they decide what job they want to do. These younger workers and a growing cadre of families and empty-nesters are shunning the traffic of the suburbs in favor of denser, walkable, more interesting neighborhoods in the core. On top of this trend towards urbanization, Arlington’s population almost doubles every workday morning as more than 150,000 employees from Fairfax County, DC, Alexandria and other outlying areas commute to jobs in Arlington.
2.     More Customers. The closer you get to the core, you find customers and disposable income more densely concentrated – and it doesn’t hurt to have the Pentagon in our midst. Arlington’s mixed-use commercial corridors are in the heart of the ten square miles that formed the original Federal District. Businesses benefit locally, nationally and internationally from preferred access because of Arlington’s central, strategic location.  Roads and the transit spokes lead to the core (DC & Arlington). 
3.     Lower Taxes. Check this out: Commercial (office, hotel, industrial & retail) space in DC is taxed at more than $2.00 per $100 in value. Commercial space in Tysons Corner is taxed at $1.49 per $100. Commercial space in Arlington is taxed at $1.15 per $100. The difference goes to your bottom-line.
4.     Better Transportation Options. Besides four major bridges into DC, eleven Metrorail stations, two interstate highways and 86 miles of bike routes, Arlington also has one of the nation’s busiest and best airports – Reagan National – with about 50 departures/arrivals per hour from 6am until 10pm every day of the week. Most importantly, you don’t need a car to get around. More and more daily business errands can be handled easily on foot as Arlington is delightfully walkable.
5.     Better Government. They are not perfect. I could give you my list of things they could do better, but Arlington’s professional County Manager form of government is out-performing the neighboring jurisdictions. Bold decisions, good planning and competence have resulted in Arlington having among the healthiest tax bases in America. 49% of all Arlington tax receipts come from businesses – and the business tax rates are comparable or lower than anywhere else in the region. In Arlington, your business gets the benefits of smart, affordable government in an urban core location.
6.     Space is Available and On Sale.  Base Realignment & Closure (BRAC), the Great Recession and a trend of putting more employees in smaller (more efficient) spaces has combined to result in more the 6 million square feet of available office space in Arlington (a 17% vacancy rate). Now is the time to take advantage of a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to locate or expand in Arlington at very attractive, “buyer’s market” prices and terms.

By Gina Grantham, Customer Service Coordinator, Technology Management, Inc.

Growing up in Arlington County was great, but after high school I wanted out. Like, Move-Half-Way-Around-the-World-to-Australia Out. When college graduation rolled around, however, I realized I had loads of student loans and no actual plan for how I was going to live my epic life as a worldwide traveler. So, I begrudgingly hauled myself back to Arlington.

“Get a job,” my mom said. “Get involved in the community. It’ll be good for you,” she suggested. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I knew my community, I had my friends already, and that was that. Or so I thought.
I hate to admit I am ever wrong, so let’s just say I was not completely right. The past three years starting out as a young professional in Arlington have opened my eyes to all of the great things about Arlington I didn’t realize as a teenager.
I’ll admit starting your career is rough. It takes time. It takes work. It takes going outside your comfort zone at times. But I’ve met some great people, made some amazing friends, and become connected with an Arlington I hardly knew existed during my adolescence. And so, I give you a little cheat sheet…
6 Tips to Jumpstart Your Involvement as a Young Professional in Arlington
Tip 1: Get to know the people in your office.  
Maybe it’s not 100% professional to share your entire life story and be BFFs who call each other every 5 minutes, but you probably have more in common with them than you think, and they can open doors.  If you haven’t already, now is the time to set up your LinkedIn account and make your Facebook profile private. There are boundaries here, people, and you want to maintain a level of professionalism.
Tip 2: Walk through aforementioned doors.  
The awesome part about being a young professional in Arlington is that established business people are chomping at the bit to help you succeed.  It might not always be as obvious as your boss handing you a promotion or a bonus (you can still dream), but trust me, being connected in the community helps you AND them.  Ask them about networking events they would sponsor you to go to, or leadership programs they might know about.
Tip 3: Get involved.
Beyond professional development, you want to get involved in recreation within the community. There are a plethora of nonprofits in Arlington who would love to have volunteers, and loads of recreational sports leagues to join.  Ask your coworkers or friends for suggestions.  This area is densely populated, so chances are there is a group already out there interested in the same things you are (Read: New friends!).  The key to being a successful young professional in this area is to have a strong support system to encourage you along.
Tip 4: Get connected.  
Talk to people. Seems basic, right? So do it. Another great part about Arlington is how many people you can meet who can be a great asset to your professional and personal development.  I’m not saying pitch yourself to every person you encounter, but, in this town, you never know who you’re standing next to on the Metro or bumping elbows with trying to get a drink at the bar. 
Tip 5: Follow through and follow up.  
This step is crucial. It shows your dedication and commitment to wanting to be involved and resonates with the people you’ve already met. This means ask for business cards! They’ll be more likely to remember you when you’ve reached out again after the initial meeting. You never know the network they already have in place that they can introduce you to.
Tip 6: Have fun!!!!!!
Maybe that’s an overuse of punctuation, but if I’ve learned one thing in this town, it’s that people here work hard and play hard.  If overall you aren’t having a good time meeting people and growing, you’re probably doing it wrong.
All in all, decide how involved you want to be in your community and go with it. It's all about opening yourself up to opportunities and, as cliché as it sounds, being yourself.
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By Marcio Silveira, CFP, CFA, Founder of Pavlov Financial Planning
The financial industry typically focuses on financial planning for regular employees. The probability of financial success is very high for employees that pay attention to detail and deadlines, especially when using the help of a qualified professional.
In the case of business owners, however, the challenge is much greater. It is very common for the owner to be so absorbed in running the business that the big picture planning is often overlooked. The benefits of proper planning, however, are very large - both in terms of peace of mind and wealth creation.
The first step is to properly account for business revenues and expenses while avoiding the mix of business and personal activities in the same bank account. Hiring a part-timebookkeeper is a good first action.
Then, for each phase of the business, a financial strategy should be designed and implemented. A small business goes through the following phases: start-up, fast growth, consolidation, and exit. Each of these phases represents a unique set of financial challenges for the owner.
Start-up Phase
In the start-up phase, the owner must decide how to finance the launch. He or she may decide to self-fund with personal savings or take on debt. This has clear implications to the personal finances. It can mean a depletion of long-term assets previously destined for retirement. It can also mean more individual debt that can cause problems in the future. The founder may also invite equity investors into the business, but this can limit the financial upside. A clear assessment of the risk tolerance of the business owner can be very helpful to determine the best financial strategy at the start.
It is common in the start-up phase for business owners to have business plans that are used to attract outside capital. Besides this fundraising business plan, an operating plan can be a great tool for owners. The best-case scenario is to integrate this operating business plan into a personal financial plan. Notice that this integration has nothing to do with commingling of accounts. 
High Growth Phase
In the high growth phase, the business is proving its viability. At this point, some businesses may be able to access credit lines and loans directly, but owner guarantees are common. A critical and honest assessment of the business prospects is paramount at this time. If growth rates are not that high and breaking even is still far away, the business may encounter difficulties in raising debt or equity capital from outsiders. If the owners insist in funding this business by using savings or debt, the consequences can be very negative.
Consolidation Phase
In the consolidation phase, the owner can consistently make a living and rely on the business. Growth tends to be slower, but now the business generates profits and cash flow. At this point,strategic decisions should be made about the use of business income, including retirement and insurance plans.
Specific retirement strategies for small business like a SEP IRA or a SIMPLE IRA should be considered together with the more traditional 401(k) plans. Portfolio investments should be in different industries and geographical locations from the business in order to mitigate the risks. Life and disability insurance can be used to protect the business and the family of the owner. Also, a high deductible health insurance plan with a tax-advantaged Health Savings Accountmay make sense.
Exit Phase
The last phase is the business exit. In order to obtain a good value, adequate preparation is fundamental. Typically, the business is the largest asset of the owner and any succession event has the potential for meaningful tax consequences. Waiting too long to plan or simply assuming that the children will take care of the business can be costly. After the exit is completed, the effective management of the proceeds is critical to the economic independence of the retired business owner. In life after the business, sound personal financial planning is what maintains prosperity and leaves a legacy.

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​By Ron Novak, Vice-Chair of Communications for the Chamber, Executive Vice President of Segue Technologies

The addition of the Arlington Chamber Blog is an essential component in the execution of the Chamber's Strategic Plan. The blog will increase member communication, allow members and non-members to engage each other’s services, and increase business opportunities for Chamber members by positioning their organizations as experts in their industry. Part of the Chamber’s blogging strategy is to allow Chamber members the opportunity to guest blog about topic areas in which they can help to educate and provide value to the readers.
But why should you provide content to the Chamber Blog?
Content marketing is here to stay and has changed the marketing industry entirely over the last five years. A recent report from Fleishman-Hillard found that 89 percent of consumers use Google or other search engines to make purchasing decisions for both products and professional services. This number really shouldn’t surprise you if you consider the way people look for information of any type (they Google it!).  
If your organization hasn’t embraced content marketing yet it is likely that it is missing out on numerous leads and unrealized revenue. In fact, an article recently posted by Kevin McKeown states that:

• Firms getting 40-60% of their leads online grow faster than those generating no online lead

• The greater the proportion of leads generated online, the greater the firm’s profitability

• The #1 technique among the fastest growing and most profitable firms was blogging

So now you know that you need to blog, and would love to help your organization as well as the Chamber. What next? An effective strategy for blogging is to simply address the questions that your potential customers or partners would typically ask you during any point in your sales cycle. Addressing these questions will not only provide transparency into your product or service offerings but will also firmly establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry – which will ultimately increase your business opportunities.
The Chamber is no different in this regard in that we want to enhance our communication of the value of membership, create a forum where our members can share their expertise, and ultimately foster collaborative business relationships with our members. We hope that you will use the blog to help educate as well as promote your brand. This will undoubtedly benefit us all!