'What's on your Mind' a brilliant beginning

Published in the Culpeper Star Exponent
Monday, April 18, 2011



The Small Business Committee of the Chamber of Commerce met on Friday morning with a transformational focus. At the suggestion of Chris Pearson – the Chairman of the Chamber committee, we had an open round table for small business. I say open because we had no agenda other than “What’s on your Mind” as a small business.

There is always a temptation to say that we are going to have a subject matter expert come and talk about an area of apparent interest. However, our local business owners and representatives are “subject matter experts” about what is going on in business in Culpeper. Who would have predicted that the discussion would be “brilliant” on so many levels?

With a cup of (local) coffee, an open ear, and a commitment to myself to say as little as possible, I watched the discussion unfold. Caroline Gortler from Stellar One opened the forum by discussing the improved status of lending options for small business. Good news!! This sparked a discussion lead by Carl Sachs – Director of Economic Development for Culpeper County, about where our challenges / opportunities are for small business in Culpeper in a broader sense, commenting “What are the top 5 ways that we can improve the business environment for small business?”  Great Question!! Beverly Herdman of Wine Trail Homes followed with comments about our opportunities in Culpeper. “We hear it all the time, Culpeper is a great place.” So true!! So far so good….

At this point the meeting broke into new territory. The discussion followed along the lines of how social media and web presence has become the standard by which we are judged as business before we are ever contacted. This would lead one to believe that all of the answers are in social media and online. Not so fast… though it is true for many that an online strategy is essential, it cannot replace the value of something greater… What could that be? I will try to explain.

There is a random element about business and our ability to find solutions. What cannot be replaced by internet communication is something that we are naturally equipped to cultivate. We are in constant solution mode in business,  juggling a variety of issues at any given time. This is true in different stages for everyone.

Now for the obvious revelation…. the brain trust of one individual is not nearly as powerful as the brain trust of many. This is especially true when motivated business people meet to find solutions.  Trading emails and reading posts cannot tell the whole story and therefore cannot provide the same potential for solutions. For example, you may come to an open forum discussion with 9/10’s of the solution still trying to get the pieces to fall into to place. When there are motivated minds focused on the solution – the other 10th may simply fall into place.

Random cognitive solutions from open discussions – Yes! “What’s On Your Mind” – was a brilliant start – I am excited to see where it will lead. Join us!
Go to CulpeperChamber.com for more information. 

Jim Charapich, President/CEO fo the Culepper Chamber of Commerce