I’ve never built a home, but I have taken fabric and built an intricate design for a handmade quilt. Just as boards must be plumb, be formed at correct angles for joining corners and be nailed into place, a quilt requires the same attention to detail…and so do our businesses. Think of the many facets involved in building your business.

               Inc. suggests eight building blocks to consider in starting or growing your business:

• Get a mentor. This may come naturally, if you have been admiring the work of someone within your field. For me, it has not been easy. Shy by nature and working from my home, I just don’t rub shoulders with people who might help me. The value of a mentor cannot be downplayed, however. Not having one, I turn to my son to bounce ideas and reflect on lacks. He is superlative!
• Be clear. When I watch birds feeding  just outside my window, grime gets in the way. The same is true when your goals are murky or your business plans leaves gaps. A burst of inspiration fades if it isn’t written down, and two months later I often find myself trying to decipher cryptic notes that seemed vital earlier. I am my own worst enemy at times, lol.,
• FOCUS. I serve at summer youth camps for my church, and FOCUS is our theme this summer. Here’s the thing—I seldom wear my glasses, so my focus is often blurry. That can be catastrophic if my livelihood depends upon a task at hand. Be sure you are seeing reality and not your dreams.
• Work with the right people. Sometimes it isn’t about how many people I write for…it’s about the ones who force me to the edge of my abilities and impel my growth. A number can be impressive, but our society loves the trappings of numbers, often at the expense of quality. Don’t fall into that trap!
• Don’t be a loner. No one is truly self-made. Rather, each of us owes our success to others for having seen something of value within us, for offering us a hand up, for giving us help when needed. Try going it alone and discover just how impoverished your business can become!
• Make service a priority. This can be a tough one. I have a sideline I enjoy, but it is heavily service-oriented, and at times I wonder if I make any money from it at all. I wrestled with this for some time, but finally came to the conclusion that it remains a business simply because service has kept it alive.

Read the last one on your own! I’m not qualified to write about it, so I leave it to you, for each of you is an inspiration to me and far better versed in the final topic. The important thing is to remember that these building blocks represent connections between your business and the world at large. Forge strong bonds. Work together, Promote one another. Embody the goals of the Chamber.