Do you know why people start their own businesses? If you took a poll of the business owners in our market today you will see that a great deal of them started their business as a way to make money for themselves and their families. Many of them started their business as a hobby, that became saleable, which started to make money. I would say that almost all of their business were started as a way to solve people's problems. I think you would agree with me that solving problems is an important aspect of our daily lives!

As small business owners get into the process of starting their business, they begin think about how it can make money. They plan out their marketing and begin to devise ways to get into the minds of their ideal customers. Some pay money to agencies who help them come up with elaborate programs they can deploy in order to find said customers. There are lots of tactics that business owners can incorporate into their business development strategy and, probably, 5 or 10 so-called gurus who are willing to help them spend their money to get it all done. There is a myriad of options for a business owner to lean on but it's all really just minutiae.

As a small business coach, I have worked with many, many, micropreneurs over the years who have done a fantastic job of making mountains out of minutiae. I love the thought process that they go through at the inception of their business, as they relive the passion for their craft, and the possibilities of bringing it to the public. The concept that I try to get them to focus on is the concept of being fundamentally focused.

Fundamentals are the rudimentary components that create a basis of everything in life. The most complex equations in our world today, and the brilliant minds that brought them to life, started with 1+1=2. Beethoven's Fifth Symphony begins with a quarter note, then another and then another until he added in all the fermatas, fortes, mezzo fortes, returns, Codas and trills which make up the entire composition. If not for the fundamentals of Beethoven's training he may not have composed all the wonderful works that he did.

We are blessed to have our daughter and her family living with us temporarily as they are amidst a transition in their lives from law school graduation to full time law practice in New York City. Our first granddaughter is 4 and in the process of learning how to read and write. I've forgotten what it was like to have a little learner in the house and what a joy it is to watch. We have note cards with word sounds posted throughout the house and number blocks strewn here and there. It's like a kindergarten class exploded in our house, and I wouldn't change a thing. Choo-Choo, my nickname for our granddaughter, is in the fundamental stages of learning and success is eminent.

Fundamental processes, like these, are also vital for small business! Our mission at the Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce is to help our local, member businesses, stay in focus. We are here to help you focus on a problem which you can solve for your customers. It could be the perfect outfit for their next job interview or the perfect design element for their new home. The problems that our members help solve for their customers are numerous but they make their impact by solving one problem at a time.

An article in a recent (August 2014) Entrepreneur Magazine recommends, "Don't just start a business, Solve a Problem!" Solving a problem for a customer will keep you in business and could make you a fortune. Think about some of the problems that you have had solved recently: Google made a search better for you. Amazon simplified your online buying and selling. If you are a subscriber, Netflix has solved on-demand streaming of media for you. Since its beginning, Uber has been trying to make on-demand car service better. The list goes on but you get the idea. If you have problems that need to be solved there is a small business out there that can help.

Have you thought about starting a business or know somebody who has? Do you have a small business that needs help growing or getting back on track? Your local chamber of commerce is here for you. Reach out to us and let us know which problem you need help with. Our job is to help you get where you want to go. We offer advice, consultation, coaching, networking, resources, contacts and solutions to help you and your business. Most of the time, our offerings are free or cheap! Call me and let me know how I can help!