I am wanting to own my own business in the future and I have read many time that community involvement is very important if you want to be successful. Therefore, I am trying to seek information on how to build strong relationships with the community so that I can be successful. If I learn more information about this than I can be one step closer in being successful in the future. Building relationships with the community is very important and not just important for a business, but for your own self as well. Having strong relationships with the community shows what kind of person you are and it is always good to have your name nicely represented out there. If I can find the answers to my question, I know it will help me because I will be prepared for what the future holds.

 

I know already that owning a business is tough and it takes dedication and time. If a person is not willing to give up most of their time for their business, they will probably not be successful. Many people underestimate what it really takes to own a successful business. I know that it is very important to have a strong relationship with the community in order to be successful, but I am not sure how to build those relationships. However, by having those relationships the community can see that you are supportive, so they will make sure they support you. It depends on what the business is, but most of the time a business wants their employee to be active in their community, so that they can represent well.

 

I began researching and looking at many different articles regarding my topic to try to seek the answer to my question. I found different articles with different opinions and I also interviewed my mentor to help receive some answers. Some of the answers I received from my mentor were different from the articles I read because her business is a little different from the ones in the article. She does not have employees, so it is just her running a business. Her answers were very helpful for my research and she supplied so much information for me to think about. Completing the annotated bibliographies helped a lot because I had to search for the article that actually helped in answering my question. I found two articles that talked about how they have built their relationships with their communities. Sometimes it got a little difficult trying to find the information I needed because you have to type in keywords  that could lead to what you are looking for. I ended up finding the answers I was looking for and I also found information that provided more evidence to back up my claim that strong relationships are important to be able to have a successful business. I do not think there was a lot of bias in my research except for one article in which the author was talking about one specific business and how that business was affected.

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I ended up finding information that matched my assumptions. I found an article that was actually written about a small business that counted on their community. It stated that if the business helps out and supports the community, then their image will enhance and increase the likelihood of customers buying from them.  The businesses have a social responsibility which is commitment and support for their communities. By supporting and and committing to the community, the business can grow a strong relationship with them. This is how a business build that relationship. I also discovered from my interview that you have to be honest and consistent in order to build that relationship. My mentor said that she contributed to the community by financially supporting and that is just another way to show that you support the community.

Most of the information that I discovered said that building these relationships is very important, but it is extremely important for small businesses who do not plan on expanding. I will take all of the information that I have learned and apply it to my everyday life as well. Building these relationships can not only help with a business, but also help with my own image.  If I am out helping and working with the community, it reflects who I am and shows that I am a trusting and a responsible person. This can help with job applications and recommendations if I ever need any because I will have made connections with many people.