Alaska Native Chamber

Alaska Native Chamber wants to hear from our members and partners about how recent DOGE budget cuts are affecting Alaska Native communities, businesses, and organizations. Your stories and insights are essential to accurately capturing and highlighting the full impact on the national stage. Please share your experiences or concerns with us so we can help amplify the collective voice of the Alaska Native business community. Reach out directly to [email protected]. All responses shared with the media will remain anonymous unless you specify otherwise. Stronger Together—let's elevate the voice of Alaska Native businesses!

The most powerful leadership tool costs $0. (And you already have it.) Kindness. Most people think success comes from being tough. From pushing harder. From demanding more. But here's what the research shows: Teams led with kindness are... ? 70% more engaged ? 40% more resilient ? 21% more productive?? ? 4x more likely to stay Because kindness isn't weak. It's a strength multiplier. It transforms average teams into exceptional ones. Think about it: When someone shows you kindness at work, you feel seen. Valued. Ready to give your best. That's why great leaders practice these daily: ? They ask real questions, not just "how are you?" ? They defend people who aren't in the room ? They celebrate others' wins like their own ? They respect boundaries and off-hours ? They lead with empathy, not authority ? They offer help before being asked ? They include the quiet voices ? They share knowledge freely ? They give credit generously The truth? Leadership isn't about power. It's about impact. And nothing impacts people more than genuine kindness. Make kindness your competitive advantage. Your team will thank you. Your results will show it. Your legacy will prove it. Want to transform your workplace? Start with kindness. The rest will follow. P.S. How do you show kindness at work? ?? Repost if this resonates with you. ?? Follow Justin Wright for more on leadership. Want PDFs of this and my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: https://lnkd.in/ehPh7tVp

I used to avoid difficult conversations. (You know the ones.) That talk with the team member who's missing deadlines. The discussion about expectations with your boss. The feedback that needs to be given but feels too hard. I thought I was keeping the peace by staying silent. But what if silence is actually the problem? I learned this the hard way with my project manager. His work quality was slipping. The team noticed. I said nothing for months. When I finally had the conversation: "I've been waiting for you to bring this up," he said. "I know I'm struggling. I thought you didn't care." That's when it hit me hard: My silence wasn't kindness. It was abandonment disguised as peace-keeping. What I thought protected our relationship was actually destroying it. Every time you choose courage over comfort, you build something precious: ? A culture where honesty thrives ? Relationships built on real trust ? Solutions that actually solve problems Yes, difficult conversations are... difficult. But the space on the other side? That's where real progress happens. Where respect grows. Where problems get solved. Where teams become extraordinary. The conversation you're avoiding right now? It might be the most important one you need to have. Your team is waiting for you to lead. Not around the hard stuff. But through it. ?? Agree? Repost to share with your network. ?? Follow Justin Wright for more on leadership. Want my 80 best cheat sheets? Get them here for free: BrillianceBrief.com?

We wish this year's 33 Iditarod mushers good luck! Since 2008, the Iditarod Ceremonial start coincides with Susan Butcher Day. At age 20, Susan moved to rural Alaska with four dogs, dog food, a sack of flour, a slab of bacon, and a jar of peanut butter. She built her kennel by working summer jobs and living off the land - sometimes feeding her dogs instead of herself - and became the first person to win three consecutive Iditarod championships from 1986-1988. She went on to win the race three more times and was known for her excellent care for and deep bond with her dogs: "The most important thing...is to train my dogs a trust and be trusted relationship." Hear Susan tell more of her story on this podcast: https://loom.ly/J3R-Ndc What a fitting way to kick off March and Women's History Month! Learn about other incredible Alaskan women who have made lasting impacts on our state here: https://loom.ly/Lyk79Lo

If you’re a young entrepreneur, this is for you:

?? Attention Alaska businesses! ?? Did you know the Alaska Business-to-Business Exchange is a powerful platform where you can: ?? List wholesale products and equipment ?? Find products from other Alaska businesses ?? Save on shipping and support our local economy It's FREE to use! Start sourcing and selling products locally today—because when we support each other, we all grow! ?? ?? buyalaska.com/b2b

?? MBDA is rolling out $11 million in grants through three programs designed to elevate MBEs nationwide: ?? MBDA Women’s Entrepreneurship Program: https://lnkd.in/e9fZC-AU ??MBDA Rural Business Center Program: https://lnkd.in/e45yJyJn ?? MBDA Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship: https://lnkd.in/em5azezF From advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs to strengthening rural businesses and enhancing education for long-term success, these grants are built to create lasting impact. Take the first step toward accessing transformative funding that addresses systemic challenges and empowers diverse business owners to thrive - apply today. #WeAreMBDA

?? Alaskans, it’s time to play BINGO—but with a local twist! ?? Think you’ve got what it takes to crush the #BuyAlaska Bingo Board? Every square you check off means you’re not just a savvy shopper—you’re also investing in our local economy, supporting Alaskan entrepreneurs, and keeping our state thriving. ???? This isn’t just a fun game; it’s a reminder of how SIMPLE it is to support small businesses. Coffee? Shop local. Gear? Shop local. Gifts? You already know—shop local. ?? Challenge yourself to complete a row, column, or the entire board, then share your progress and highlight the incredible businesses you’ve supported. Together, we can keep Alaska strong, vibrant, and full of opportunity. Let’s celebrate and uplift Alaska one square at a time! Who’s in? ?? #ShopLocalAlaska #BuyAlaska #SupportSmallBusiness #AlaskaPride #LocalLove907 #907Strong #MadeInAlaska #KeepItLocal #SupportLocalAK #AlaskaSmallBusiness #SupportAlaskanMakers #BingoWithPurpose

Success doesn’t happen by accident - Build your 2025 plan, here's how: Is your strategy built to win? Or just to exist? Most plans fail. Not because of poor execution— But because they weren’t built for success. Here’s how to create a winning plan: 1. Start with a clear vision ? Define your mission and values. ? Imagine the future you want to create. ? Stay focused on long-term goals. 2. Understand where you stand ? Use a SWOT analysis to find strengths and gaps. ? Apply the 80/20 rule—focus on what drives results. 3. Set actionable objectives ? Align your goals with your vision. ? Measure progress with clear metrics. ? Weigh opportunity costs to prioritize the best path. 4. Create a tactical plan ? Break down tasks with a Gantt chart. ? Adjust as needed—don’t cling to sunk costs. 5. Implement the plan ? Track key metrics (KPIs) regularly. ? Use feedback loops to refine your approach. 6. Measure and adapt ? Used a Balanced Scorecard for results. ? Adjust quickly to new challenges. A strategy isn’t just a plan on paper. It’s a guide to decision-making, a system to focus your efforts, and a tool to navigate uncertainty. When done right, it moves you closer to your vision every single day. Success isn’t a guess— It’s a process. Please repost to help others out there! ?? ?? See how I use ChatGPT to master this in minutes: ?? Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gDF7DdFu _____________________ ?? Want a PDF of my top infographics? ?? Go Here: https://lnkd.in/g2xbnwhp

? #MondayMotivation ?