If you want to live in the kind of town
Like the kind of town you like,
You needn’t slip your clothes in a grip
And start on a long, long hike.
You’ll only find what you left behind,
For there’s nothing really new.
You knock yourself when you knock your town –
it isn’t the town it’s you.
Real towns aren’t made by men afraid
Lest somebody get ahead.
If everyone works and no one shirks
You’ll raise a town from the dead.
If, while you make your personal stake,
Your neighbor makes his, too,
Your town will be what you want to see –
It isn’t the town, it’s you.
 
According to online research, this poem was written in 1942 by R. W. Glover. While the verbiage is a bit outdated, the message is still relevant. Here are some points to ponder:

“You’ll only find what you left behind, For there’s nothing really new.”
At times it’s easy to assume “the grass is greener” somewhere else, but is it really?

A gentleman came into the Chamber one day to pick up some resources. During our conversation, he stated that he grew up here, moved away for several decades, and returned upon retirement. He said Alexandria is a shining star compared to other communities of similar size. Because he had lived in other communities, he had actual experiences that supported his statement.

Often when we have complaints, we are lacking the experience of true comparisons to support those complaints. You can’t just spend a weekend in another community and think it’s utopia. To truly experience it, you need to live there.

Do you think our community is lacking in services or amenities? Think prices are too high? Think quality is too low? Think customer service – the roads – the parks – the [insert anything here] are subpar? Compared to what? You may be surprised to find out that other communities have the same struggles, or, if they are stronger in certain areas, they are likely lacking in others.

“You knock yourself when you knock your town – it isn’t the town it’s you.”
If your community is lacking in something, what are you doing to try to make it better? Community is defined as “a group of people living in the same place.” It’s the people that make a community what it is. A “town” can’t make decisions. The people in the town do that. A “town” can’t make changes and improvements. The people in the town do that. So, if there are things you don’t like about your town, do something about it.

“Real towns aren’t made by men afraid, Lest somebody get ahead.”
There tends to be high levels of competitiveness between businesses in a community. But successful business leaders realize that if we don’t work together for the good of our community, we’ll all suffer, you AND your competition. Wouldn’t you rather see you and your competition thrive together?

Fortunately, many of the businesses in this community realize this. That is why we often see competitors standing side-by-side at community events and joining together for community causes. If every business leader in this town focused only on their business and not on the community as a whole, we’d quickly unravel.
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If, while you make your personal stake, Your neighbor makes his, too,
Your town will be what you want to see – It isn’t the town, it’s you.
Got a complaint about your community? Do something about it, or… maybe it’s time to start that “long, long hike” to find your utopia elsewhere.

Michelle and Tyler Bredeson are the owners of Bold North Cellars which is home to Carlos Creek Winery, 22 Northmen Brewing Company, The Grand Hall Weddings & Events, Stoke & Sizzle, and the Grape Stomp Festival. Learn more at BoldNorthCellars.com!

As a small business owner, it's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day operations of your business. You're constantly juggling tasks like managing inventory or staff, paying bills, and dealing with customer service issues. It can be challenging to find time to think about the big picture, let alone act on it. However, it's essential to think bigger if you want your business to grow and thrive. Now’s as good a time as any.
 
How Thinking Bigger Can Help You GrowHere are some reasons why thinking bigger is so important to your small business. Thinking bigger helps you:
 

• Set and achieve goals: If you're only focused on the day-to-day tasks of your business, you may not have a clear vision of where you want your business to be in the next year, five years, or ten years. By thinking bigger, you can set ambitious goals that inspire you and your team. These goals can help you stay focused and motivated, even when the going gets tough.
• Stay ahead of or stand out from the competition: When you're running a small business, it's easy to get stuck in a rut. You may be doing things the same way you've always done them. By thinking bigger, you can stay ahead of the curve and be a leader in your industry. When buyers look at you and what you offer versus what the competition has, you can make an impression if you’re focused on their needs, including what they’ll need in the future. It also gives you the ability to charge more than what others are doing because you’re offering what they don’t.
• Attract top talent: Talented employees want to work for companies that are innovative and forward-thinking. By thinking bigger and setting ambitious goals, you can create a culture that attracts the best and brightest employees.
• Expand your customer base: If you're only focused on serving your existing customers, you may be missing out on opportunities to reach new markets. By thinking bigger, you can identify new customer segments, create new products or services, and expand your reach.
• Get recognized. Thinking big means you’re innovating and trying new things. Not only does this differentiate your business from the competition but also may help you get recognized, win awards, and receive additional publicity for your efforts. If you’re doing something that no one else has done, you may also find that people come to you for your expertise, which may translate to a spin-off business or consulting/expert/keynote opportunities.

 
So, how can you start thinking bigger as a small business owner?
 
5 Ways to Think BiggerTry these suggestions:
 

1. Set aside time for strategic thinking: Schedule a regular time to think about the big picture of your business. This could be a weekly meeting with yourself or a brainstorming session with your team. Don’t expect the ideas to come just because you’re sitting at your desk waiting. Sometimes activity brings on strong ideas. Ever notice how walking, driving in your car, or taking a shower is often when the best ideas come to you? Make time for activities that help you think and be ready to capture your ideas on paper, on your phone, or through an audio recording.
2. Focus on your core values and mission: Think about why you started your business in the first place and what you want to achieve in the long term. This can help guide your strategic thinking and decision-making.
3. Look outside your industry for inspiration: Attend conferences or read books and articles about businesses in other industries. You may find ideas that you can adapt to your own business.
4. Be willing to take risks: Thinking bigger often means taking risks and trying new things. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and take calculated risks that have the potential to pay off big in the long run.
5. Stop settling. One of the many reasons some business owners don’t take risks is because they figure staying with what they know is safer. It absolutely is. Just ask Blockbuster.

 
Thinking bigger is essential for small business owners who want to grow and thrive. Growth requires change and big efforts are more likely to yield big returns.

Christina Metcalf is a writer/ghostwriter who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She loves road trips, hates exclamation points, and wishes there was an AI tool for parenting so it could write a script for her.
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Twitter: @christinagsmith
Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking
LinkedIn: @christinagsmith
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