Tending to business...

I am a micro business owner in a small town in rural Minnesota. Although it is a very tough business environment, especially trying to compete with WalMart and Amazon and online sales, we are keeping busy, and constantly looking for a niche that isn't being filled by anyone else close by. As with any business, the support of our local community will make or break us, and I am glad to say we have a lot of familiar faces walking through the door each week, which helps us keep a steady pace most of the time.

Recently, I realized I am falling behind on some of my tasks, so I am pretty excited to have hired a high school girl to work a few hours a week and help us out. But for me, this hire is not just about the filing that is piling up or paying someone else to do tasks for which I don't have time. I think hiring local kids is a vital part of the non-quantifiable contribution that local businesses make to our small community. It is an opportunity to influence our future by teaching our young people some of the most important life skills they will ever have, and build relationships that remain important long after they graduate and move on with their lives.