As the voice for our nation’s entrepreneurs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) celebrates all small businesses on a daily basis. When our small businesses do well, our communities do, too. Therefore, as part of our annual tradition, I encourage you to join millions of Americans and “shop small” on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 25, to complete your holiday shopping. Or, to start your holiday shopping, as the case may be.

On the heels of Black Friday, shopping small is a concrete way to support small retailers — the same businesses that generate two of every three net new jobs, and deliver essential goods and services to America’s communities 365 days a year. 

Last year, 112 million consumers were “shopping small” on Saturday, spending more than $15.4 billion. Surveys show that 72 percent of consumers said Small Business Saturday inspires them to “shop small” throughout the year and not just for the holidays. In addition, 66 percent of consumers state the main reason they support small businesses is because of their contributions to the local community. 

You can do your part with these five simple steps:

• If you are a small-business owner, make sure you’re prepared for the holiday shopping season by checking out helpful advice at: www.sba.gov/saturday.

• If you’re a customer, commit to making at least one purchase from a locally-owned small-business retailer. Get to know the owner, and make your gift more meaningful by sharing his/her story as part of what you give your loved ones. 

• Enjoy the experience. Travel outside your comfort zone — and away from your computer screen — to discover an out-of-the ordinary shopping district with some trendy local stores. 

• Take part in Small Business Saturday on social media, using the hashtag #ShopSmall to amplify your support. If you find a great small-business retailer with unique products, Tweet or Facebook your find so others can enjoy it too.

• When you open your gifts, start a conversation about which one came from the most distinctive and creative sellers. This can make for great debate over eggnog, or your holiday drink of choice.

I know I’ll be shopping small with my friends and family on Nov. 25. I encourage you to do the same — and remember that “shop small” refers to whom you buy from, and not how much you buy.                           

Bernard Paprocki is district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Syracuse district office. He is responsible for the delivery of SBA’s financial programs and business development services for a 34-county region in upstate New York.

It’s all about using your head

There are plenty of people in the workforce that do “something,” but not so many who do what needs to be done. And this is both a problem and an opportunity.

Success depends on being among the few people that others count on to get the job done right — and that takes thinking. Here are questions that can serve as a guide to thinking your way to success.

“What if this isn’t what my customer needs?” 

What if I’m trying to force it, attempting to make it work — and it isn’t? Most of us tend to push forward as fast as we can to come up with a solution. Kids often compete to be the first in the class to raise their hand when the teacher asks a question. And it’s often the wrong answer, but they do it again the next day. The goal should not be to come up with any answer; it should be to come up with the right one. Slow down; it takes thought.

“What if I put it aside and revisit it tomorrow?” 

You need to write a letter, memo, or article, but the clock is ticking and you can’t get it started. You hate the assignment, your boss, yourself, or all three. You tell yourself to keep a low profile so it won’t happen again.

The goal is not to wrestle the task to the mat or do battle with it; it’s to do your best work. That takes “noodling,” putting it aside and letting your brain work on it for a day or so. It’s amazing what happens when you let your brain work on it.

“What if I asked them for their thoughts and ideas?” 

The heart of marketing and sales is problem-solving. They also demand a “bring it on” attitude to be successful — and that can be a problem because it blocks other views and ideas. Asking what others think is an effective way to test your idea, plan, or confirm the appropriateness of your solution. It gives you something to think about.

“What if I offered several options instead of just one?” 

This may seem dangerous, but it’s as threatening as putting people in a “yes or no” position — and “no” is easier to say than “yes.” Offering several options creates a new dynamic where there’s room for give-and-take. It makes it possible to come to a positive decision. 

“What if I don’t have all the information I need to make the right recommendation?” 

Recently, an older woman, a widow, living in a condo community was seen accompanied by a man on several occasions. After a couple of “sightings,” the rumor spread with brush-fire intensity that she had a boyfriend. A few weeks went by and someone said, “That was her brother who was visiting her from Europe.”

We call them snap-judgments, conclusions made on the fly that get things moving, more often than not, incorrectly. Taking time to figure out what we’re missing separates us from those who are satisfied with just getting by. Coming up with the best recommendation gets noticed. 

“What if I tried something new?” 

It’s easy to get used to doing things a certain way and tune-out anything that forces us to break existing patterns. 

It’s effortless to stick with the same solutions, repeat the same concepts, and fall back on the same products and services. If what we do today is a constant replay of the past, we contribute little or nothing to help meet the challenges affecting our customers, our industry, and the company where we’re employed.

“What if I became a go-to person?” 

“Staying under the radar” helps avoid getting noticed and causes less stress. It’s also a good way to be passed over or be added to the “no longer needed” list. 

Anyone who wants to advance thinks differently. Getting known for innovative ideas, changing the ways of doing things, or specialized expertise attracts attention and gets you noticed for your value. It’s how thinking different is a game changer.

“What if I asked more questions?” 

It’s irritating if someone asks too many questions in a meeting. That can drag things out. Socrates probably encountered that problem with his students. Even so, not asking questions is a huge mistake. Questions clarify issues and uncover valuable information, fill in the gaps, and help avoid making mistakes. Questions indicate that someone is thinking about something other than looking at his smartphone.

“What if I came up with an idea that helped make my company be more competitive?” 

It goes without saying that most of us are willing, even eager, to invest time and thought in figuring out ways to make ourselves look good, get attention, and advance our careers. Few would argue with such a strategy for getting ahead. If we do a better job, then we deserve to advance.

But, for some, that’s not enough. Their thinking is different. While they may work to advance themselves, they are also committed to finding ways to advance their employer. They’re alert for ways to make it more competitive, to give it an extra edge. In the end, ultimate success, depends on both.

If you’re satisfied with what you’re doing, that’s OK. If not, think about asking yourself the questions that let you think your way to success.                         

John Graham of GrahamComm is a marketing and sales strategy consultant and business writer. He is the creator of “Magnet Marketing,” and publishes a free monthly eBulletin, “No Nonsense Marketing & Sales Ideas.” Contact him at jgraham@grahamcomm.com, (617) 774-9759 or johnrgraham.com

In 2011, I had the privilege of being asked by Governor Andrew Cuomo to co-chair the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council (CNYREDC) when the councils were first created to provide strategic direction to our region’s economic-development efforts. 

I am extremely honored to have been given the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and proud of what we have accomplished. However, as with all things, change is both necessary and constructive and it is time for a new leader with new ideas, and a fresh approach. Therefore, at the end of this year I will step down from this appointed position. 

I am encouraged and excited that Randy Wolken, president and CEO of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), has been selected to take on this important role. His knowledge, experience, and perspectives will serve our region and community well as we continue to pursue state investments for key projects. I will continue to serve as a member of the council. Dr. Danielle Laraque-Arena will remain as council co-chair and I have every confidence in her ability to continue the work we’ve started. She is an energetic and thoughtful advocate, deeply engaged with our own organization, who is poised and ready to build on our efforts to bring jobs, investment, and continued revitalization to our region. Alongside the other council members, we remain steadfast and focused on driving impact for this community through planning, research and collaboration. 

I am deeply proud of this region’s track record. Over six rounds, Central New York has received more investment than any other region in the state. All told, including $500 million through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI), the region has been awarded nearly a billion dollars to support more than 475 local projects designed to grow jobs and strengthen companies. This level of investment is truly unprecedented, not just in New York State but across the country. It is a true testament to our vision, and the Governor’s commitment to investing in upstate New York. The strategies and approaches we brought to the table have been adopted and amplified by the state including, Global NY, opportunity agendas, Hot Spots, government modernization and, of course, our ability to lead the advancement of the unmanned aerial systems sector. Most importantly, we will continue to pursue the bold vision we outlined in the URI. 

As we look to the future, CenterState CEO will continue to play a role shaping the projects that drive economic opportunities for our community. As a member of the council I will be in a position to advocate on behalf of our members and projects that we feel align with our region’s assets and strategies. I look forward to continuing the progress we have started and supporting Randy as he takes on this new role for our entire region.           

Robert M. (Rob) Simpson is president and CEO of CenterState CEO, the primary economic-development organization for Central New York. This viewpoint is drawn and edited from the “CEO Focus” email newsletter that the organization sent to members on Oct. 19.