Iredelllivingaug2014online

IREDELL LIVING • AUGUST 2014 1

ComplimentaryA

ugust 2014

Living the Good Life

Meet Dr. Kush Patel,PHC Urologist

Urology

2 IREDELL LIVING • AUGUST 2014


August 2014

Iredell Living the Good Life


LIVNG

I from the publisher

Myron T. GoughPublisher, Iredell Living

Welcome to the August issue. It is back-to-school during the month of August. The vacation season is ending and those hot, lazy days of summer will soon be a distant memory. However, there is still time to get in one last trip to the beach or mountains, maybe over a long weekend, before school starts. Those of us who are on the highways will need to be extra attentive to watch out for school buses this month.

This is also a great time to recognize and thank the teachers, principals and staff at all the schools in our county for the outstanding job they do in teaching our children. Their work is not always easy, and the hours can be long and difficult, but it is much appreciated. The next time you see your child's teacher, shake their hand and let them know you appreciate the job they do!

Teachers can be wonderful mentors and role models and have a major influence on young minds. I remember fondly some of the teachers I had in the early grades who helped shape my life in a positive way.

Thank you for reading the August issue of Iredell Living Magazine!

Follow us on facebook–IredellLivingMagazinehttp://twitter.com/IredellLiving

W W W . I R E D E L L L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Mailing Address - 1670 E. Broad Street, Suite #195 Statesville, NC 28625 704-873-7307E-mail - [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSKristie Darling • Kirk Ballard • David Bradley

Meredith Collins • James D. WilliamsMitzie Branon • Cheryl Grant

COVER PHOTOGRAPHYShane Greene Photography

COVER STORYPiedmont HealthCare Urology

Editorial stock photography, unless otherwise noted, is from ThinkStock.com

Iredell Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Iredell Living assumes no responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Myron T. GoughPublisher/[email protected](704) 873-7307

Kathy WheelerArt Director/[email protected](828) 238-3224

Bob [email protected](336) 686-7271

Linda B. [email protected](704) 657-0237

Heather [email protected](704) 962-8080

“Uncle” Jim [email protected](980) 722-2861

Iredell

Follow us on facebook–IredellLivingMagazinehttp://twitter.com/IredellLiving



LIVNG

I content

August 2014

23

18

8 • Back To School

10 • Saturday Morning With Sally

12 • Meet Dr. Kush Patel, Piedmont HealthCare Urologist

18 • Budget Blinds The Best In Custom Blinds And Window Coverings

23 • What's Cooking?! Frozen Yogurt Pops And Caramel Cashew Brownies

24 • Keeping Your Home Safe From Burglary

26 • A Word From The Statesville Chamber Chamber Website Helping Local Business

28 • A Word From The Mooresville- South Iredell Chamber Freelancing–Start Your Own Business21

back to school | family | food | local business



With Iredell County Schools starting back this month, it is time to get as many fun events in as possible. However, don't make those events too late in the evening. Students will need time to adjust to their new schedules before school starts.

Preparing for the first day• Start early this month with new bed-

time and wake-up schedules. • If your student is transferring to a new

school, get a map of the school, mark their classes, and take a tour. Let your student lead using the map.

• Ask for a list of supplies. Without the classroom list, you may be buying un-necessary supplies.

• Organize their room, especially their closet. Make it easy to find items. Put t-shirts on one shelf and jeans on another or use shelf dividers between groups of clothing. Purge old clothing and keep their favorites on top!

• Set up some sort of central communica-tion center where students can write down their projects and extracurricular activities. It could be a large calendar or maybe they can share their phone or iPad calendar. Everyone in the fam-ily needs to be informed about what students need and where they need to be. If their age permits, make them responsible for letting you know their schedule.

• Pick a spot close to the door for book bags and items needed for the next day. All items should be placed there before going to bed.

• Save yourself some time and get contact information from teachers at the first of the year. If problems arise, you will have the information to take care of them quickly.

• Spend time with your student prior to their first day to discuss reservations they may have about the coming year. Try to work out solutions and respons-es before they face potential hurdles. Let them know that you are always available to help with any situation they can't handle.

Back to SchoolBy Cheryl Grant

© michaeljung | idealstock | Pimonova | iStock | Thinkstock



I know what they mean by the phrase,

the dog days of summer. August is just

such a time–no big events going on–

but a great time for old friends to call

and rekindle old relationships, such as

when Tommy, Theresa, and Sally came

to visit. Tommy is an old college chum.

Theresa is his wife and Sally their six-

year-old daughter.

They arrived late on Friday evening

and since I live in a modest home, I

offered them the master bedroom for

their stay. In unfamiliar surroundings,

Sally wanted to sleep with her parents,

but I got the distinct impression that

Mom and Dad were in for a sleep-

less night. Since my daughter, Emily,

was away at college, I moved into her

bedroom and they placed Sally in the

guest room.

About 1 a.m. I awoke, startled by a

loud thud. I didn’t think much of it

until it happened a second, then a third

time. As I entered the hallway, I met

Tommy and Theresa. Then a fourth

bang occurred from the guest bedroom.

We slowly pushed the door open, and

there was Sally standing on the bed in

her nightgown in her brand new Hello

Kitty tennis shoes. Tommy said, in his

dad voice, “What’s going on?” It seems

Sally was a little excited about her new,

illuminated tennis shoes. In the dark,

she had slipped on the shoes and was

jumping from the bed to the floor,

delighted when the shoes lit up. Em-

barrassed, Tommy and Theresa carried

Sally back to the master bedroom. As I

nodded off to sleep, they were talking

with Sally about proper sleepover eti-

quette. I heard Sally utter in defense, “I

wasn’t tired. I’m in first grade now. I’m

independent!” I thought I’d ask Tommy

the next day about the psychology of

reasoning with a six-year-old.

On Saturday, the dogs next door began

to bark at about 6 a.m. I heard a thump

and the patter of little feet. I watched

from the bed as my daughter’s bedroom

door slowly inched open. Then, there

was Sally, peering into my room. The

beginning of each new day must be a

magical experience for a child. I miss

not having an agenda; a six-year-old’s

only agenda is to have fun. Seeing

that I was awake, Sally very politely

said, “Good morning, Mr. James. Are

the Barbies up yet?” I replied, “I think

so. Emily tells me they usually get up

about now.” I got a bit of schooling that

morning about the proper way to play

Barbies. Around 7 a.m., Sally had had

enough of my G.I. Joe stories and she

asked if we could make breakfast.

Now, Tommy and Theresa were not

yet awake, and coffee, toast, bacon and

eggs are just not that appealing to a

six-year-old independent first grader.

I remembered back to the days when

Emily would have her friends sleep

over. I would make them rainbow and

mutant pancakes. Rainbow pancakes

have M&Ms mixed into the batter. One

morning I was out of M&Ms. Searching

the cabinets, I discovered green sugar

sprinkles. When mixed into batter,

pancakes acquire an eerie green hue.

Hence, mutant pancakes. Those kids

destroyed their fair share of mutants

growing up.

As I sipped my coffee, I asked Sally if

she wanted hot chocolate. She replied

that her parents normally didn’t let her,

but since she was going into the first

grade and independent, she thought it

would be alright. I had a bit of inspi-

ration. Why not mix the instant hot

chocolate, and its mini marshmallows,

into the pancake batter? Sally thought

this was a capital idea.

As we sat and ate our chocolate pan-

cakes, Tommy and Theresa arrived for

breakfast. Theresa said, “Wow, Sally

I’m so proud of you. You have been

so quiet this morning!” Sally replied,

“Yes, it’s what us first graders do. It’s my

independence day!”

I just hoped there were no fireworks,

like America’s Independence Day, when

all this sugar kicks in.

By James D. Williams

Saturday MorningWith Sally

Photo © SergiyN | iStock | Thinkstock




LIVNG

I

Article by Kristie DarlingPhotos by Shane Greene Photography


Photos: On the cover–Dr. Kush Patel, urologist, with Piedmont HealthCare

Pictured here–With the specialized robotic instrumentation and a unique skill set, Dr. Patel is able to perform complex procedures through small keyhole incisions.

cover story

UrologyMeet Dr. Kush Patel,

PHC Urologist


“I treat my patients as I would my own family,” Dr. Kush Patel told me as we met in his quiet office. “My goal with each person I see is to empower them to participate in their healthcare goals. Using understandable, clear laymen’s terms is critical when I explain conditions and treatment options. I inform my patients what’s going on with their body so they can make a considered, appropriate decision. I’m their guide.” Dr. Patel is a urologist. He is friendly, genuine, and a very good listener. I like that in a doctor.

UROLOGY—WHAT IS THAT?A urologist is a surgeon who specializes in diseases of both the male and female genitourinary tracts. The body parts and organs that a urologist works with are the adrenals, genitals, kidneys, prostate, ureters, and urinary bladder. Urologists initiate and manage the medical and surgical treatments for various patholo-gies associated with these organs. Dr. Patel and his partners in Piedmont HealthCare’s urology clinics are here to recommend and provide a treatment plan suited to your unique needs.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENTS“I tailor treatment options to each individual patient and recom-mend the least invasive tools and procedures possible for their particular situation,” Dr. Patel explained. “Conditions I can treat with minimally invasive robotic, laparoscopic, endoscopic, per-cutaneous, microscopic, and open surgical treatment techniques are cancers of the prostate, kidneys, adrenal glands, bladder and ureters, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged pros-tate), kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, ureteral obstruction, and urinary incontinence.

Dr. Patel’s expertise is also seen in the office where he utilizes the most cutting edge techniques and stays informed and knowl-edgeable of the current medical literature. He adds, “An example of a minimally invasive, in-office procedure is scalpel-less vasec-tomies. By specializing in minimally invasive procedures, I am able to decrease the incision size, blood loss, and pain, as well as increase the desired cosmetic result with minimal scarring. My patients experience a shorter hospital stay, and can typically re-turn to their normal activities and work as quickly as possible.”

Photos, top to bottom:• Dr. Patel utilizes the most advanced, non-invasive and

painless diagnostic modalities to make your care as com-fortable as possible.

• Keeping up-to-date on the latest literature and techniques to improve patient outcomes

• Dr. Patel operates at the surgical console during a robotic procedure. The surgical robot mimics his movements and provides a magnified 3D view of structures.


ROBOTIC SURGERYThrough his mastery of robotic surgery, Dr. Patel is able to perform complex surgeries while still maintaining a mini-mally invasive procedure. For example, he is able to remove large kidney tumors through several small keyhole incisions. All this is accomplished without remov-ing the kidney. Dr. Patel’s expertise in robotic urological surgery is unique in Iredell County. He works alongside a specialized team of experienced nurses and assistants who have completed advanced training in these high-tech procedures.

“I chose urology because I always knew I wanted to work in a surgical field–I work well with my hands and enjoy that type of detailed work–and I was challenged by the advances being made in laparoscopy and robotic surgery. I really love what I do. It’s a privilege to care for people and provide the best treatment options available,” Dr. Patel shared. “At the end of even the longest day, I feel very good about what I’ve

accomplished.” Robotic techniques have been improving every year since they were first introduced in the late 1980s. Piedmont HealthCare is proud to offer the most advanced surgical technologies, state-of-the-art equipment, and up to date medical advancements throughout its multi-specialty groups.

PIEDMONT HEALTHCARE’S UROLOGY TEAMPhysician partners with Dr. Patel at Piedmont HealthCare’s urology clinics are Dr. Tink Johnson and Dr. Michael Schlesinger. Together, they offer com-plete and comprehensive urologic medi-cal care.

Receptionist Amanda Bryson is the staff person you’ll first meet when you call to make an appointment or arrive at Dr. Patel’s clinic. She can manage your doc-tor visits, schedule appointments, and answer many questions you might have. Deborah Sherrill is the clinic’s nurse. She offers a special level of kindhearted care to her patients. Sandra Stafford is

the clinic’s office manager. She works alongside Brittany Liles as assistant office manager. Together the team is dedicated to ensure your care proceeds smoothly, efficiently, and positively. Piedmont HealthCare’s guiding principles of top-quality, consistent care for each patient and their family is a top priority among the entire staff.

The physicians, nurses, technicians, and office staff are all passionate toward providing a comfortable and relaxed setting in which patients are diagnosed and treated. They understand that each patient comes to the clinic with unique questions, conditions, and comfort lev-els. Patient’s questions are encouraged; discretion, patient information, and sensitivity are honored in every way.

COMPASSIONATE CARE, QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS“Patients often feel embarrassed com-ing to see a urologist,” Dr. Patel shared. “It’s a sensitive area, but your physical exam, screening or diagnosis are very

Photos:With the aid of the experienced robotic operating room team, Dr. Patel prepares a patient for robotic surgery. Several dime-sized incisions are made and the robotic instruments are placed into the abdomen.


important for good health and a long life. I want my patients to be comfortable asking questions and know that my job is to listen and educate them. I will provide the patient a range of options that ad-dress the issue at hand and get them to a comfortable outcome.” Dr. Patel told me that his mother taught him compassion and respect. His mantra is this: “If you come in as my patient, you are a part of my family. I won’t push you to do something you don’t understand or don’t want. We become partners in health care–we’re in this to-gether.” The clinic’s patients understand and appreciate that they are his first priority.

Dr. Patel grew up in New York City and moved to Pittsburgh in high school. He finished his undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University in two years. He has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and his medical degree is from Northeast Ohio Medical University. He completed his residency at the prestigious Tulane Uni-versity in New Orleans. With family in North Carolina (his brother is a radiologist in Charlotte), Dr. Patel has made Statesville his home. When he isn’t working, he enjoys biking, hiking, basketball and ten-nis. He joined Piedmont HealthCare earlier this year. “It’s refreshing to see a group of multi-specialty physicians provide such high levels of health care,” he emphasized. “I believe in PHC. It exceeds the services you find in many big cities. For families in our area, having Piedmont HealthCare offices scattered throughout so many locations and neighborhoods is a gift.”

PHC’s physicians work together across all specialties to ensure quality, consistent, individualized care–from your family physician, to your dermatologist, to your cardiologist and, of course, to your urologist. Their team approach ensures the latest in medical advanc-es, as well as convenience and ease in receiving the care you need.

QUALITY OF LIFE“I encourage everyone to see themselves as the director of their own health,” Dr. Patel said. “We are here to guide you through the process and help you make informed, appropriate decisions. Our tools are cutting-edge, and we employ up-to-date techniques that can help make your treatment and recovery as comfortable and posi-tive as possible.” If you have questions or concerns, or have been referred by your primary care physician, please don’t hesitate to call the urology clinic. Dr. Patel, his partners and staff, and the entire Piedmont HealthCare family are here to keep you healthy. As always, at Piedmont HealthCare, you will receive excellent, comprehensive healthcare for your whole family.

Kush Patel, MD

208 Old Mocksville Road

Statesville, NC

704.871.9818

www.piedmonthealthcare.com

Above–Dr. Patel is experienced in many techniques, including robotics, laparoscopy, open endoscopy, microsurgical, and percutaneous approaches to treat a variety of urologic conditions.Below–Dr. Patel's team–Amanda Bryson, reception-ist, and Deborah Sherrill, RN, with Dr. Patel and Amanda

Urology




By Meredith CollinsPhotos by Shane Greene Photography

There are so many decisions involved in building a new home or redecorating an existing space. So many color swatches and measure-ments are needed, not to mention running around from store to store or spending hours researching online.

Budget Blinds takes the guesswork out of the equa-tion by providing full-service, custom window cover-ing solutions. They offer free in-home consultations, bringing the samples, swatches and styles to you so you can see how they might look in your home. From there, they assist with each aspect, from measuring the windows, ordering, inspecting window coverings on delivery, bringing them to your home and install-ing them perfectly. “We let you shop for your home in your home,” Cori Peters, owner of Budget Blinds of Statesville & Hickory, said. “We show samples, rec-ommend solutions, measure windows, and give you a price right in your home. There are many things about window coverings, such as the way the sun-light hits at different times of the day, that you can’t determine when you are standing in a store.”

Budget Blinds has two local franchises serving our area. Scott and Cori Peters opened Budget Blinds of Hickory and Statesville in April 2013, and Heather and David Adcock have operated Budget Blinds of Lake Norman for 15 years. “Our franchises are set up so we aren’t competitive, but we are partners,” Cori said. “I can call other franchises if I need a recom-

The Best in Custom Blinds and Window Coverings

Photos:Left–Heather demonstrates the ease of use and great insulating properties of their honeycomb shade.Above–Heather and Cori display one of the beauti-ful patterns of their roman shades. The wall of blinds behind them is just a small sampling of products they will show you in your home.


mendation for a unique situation. When you are working with Budget Blinds, you don’t just get your local franchise, you get the entire network.”

Budget Blinds prides themselves on customer service. They strive to build long-term relationships with custom-ers who are confident enough in their business to refer to others. Their huge selection and buying power are impor-tant reasons customers choose Budget Blinds. “We are the largest franchise in custom window coverings, and be-cause we are such a large franchise, we get unbeatable buying power that we can pass on to our customers.”

Heather points out that while Budget Blinds primarily offers custom window coverings, they also have a huge line of fabrics including curtains, bed-

ding, and pillows. Their expertise goes beyond residential to businesses and industrial settings, including hospitals, healthcare, restaurants, and more. “We have products that are antimicrobial and fire retardant that many commer-cial institutions need,” Cori said.

All franchises stay involved in their communities, and a recent focus of the entire company is helping veterans re-enter the workforce through a financial assistance program helping vets start their own franchises.

Budget Blinds franchises are focused on helping you find the perfect solu-tions for your home.

Top to bottom–Reviewing Hunter Douglas Silhouettes fabric and color samples.Plantation shutters are a beautiful addition and a good investment for any home.

Scott installs blinds and an arch shutter for a customer.

Budget BlindsLake Norman – 704-948-5178

Statesville & Hickory – 704-872-6611

www.budgetblinds.com





¼ cup cocoa powder1 teaspoon coarse sea salt1¹/³ cups granulated sugar3 eggs1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract²/³ cup cashews, chopped plus additional for garnish15 soft caramel candies

Directions1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare 9-inch x 9-inch pan with parchment paper.2. Melt chocolate and butter in a large saucepan over low heat, stir-ring to combine. Cool slightly.3. Stir together flour, cocoa powder and salt in a small bowl. Add sugar, eggs and vanilla to chocolate mixture. Stir until well combined. Add flour mixture; stir until just incorpo-rated. Stir in cashews. Pour into prepared pan.

4. Bake 24 to 28 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out nearly clean.5. Unwrap caramel candies and roll each one out until it is 1/8 inch in thickness. Cut with medium sized Wilton Leaf Cut-Outs cutter.6. Remove brownies from oven and immediately top with caramel cut outs, arranging in 3 rows of five. Posi-tion a cashew on each caramel. Return to oven for 1 minute. Remove from oven. Cool on cooling grid until just barely warm. Cut into 1-1/2-inch x 3-inch rectangles and serve warm or at room temperature.

Frozen Greek Yogurt Pops with Pistachios and

RaspberriesMakes 8 pops

1 cup plain Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream ¼ cup, plus 4 teaspoons honey, divided 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract ¼ cup raspberries 3 tablespoons chopped pistachios, divided 4 Wilton 8-inch Cookie Sticks, cut in half

Directions1. Whisk together yogurt, cream, 1/4 cup honey and vanilla until smooth.2. Place one whole raspberry in the bot-tom of each Wilton Round Brownie Pops Mold cavity. Cut the remaining raspberries into quarters.3. Spoon 1-1/2 teaspoon yogurt mixture over raspberry in mold cavity; lightly tap mold against work surface to level. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon pistachios over yogurt and then 1/4 teaspoon honey over pistachios. Repeat, layering yogurt, pistachios and honey, as listed above. Add a quartered piece of raspberry; top with remaining yo-gurt mixture and lightly tap to level. Insert sticks about 2/3 into pop; freeze at least 3 hours or overnight.

Sweet and Salty Caramel Cashew Brownies

Makes 15 brownies

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (squares or chips)12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) butter1 cup all-purpose flour

What's Cooking?!Frozen Yogurt Pops and Caramel Cashew Brownies

Recipes and photos courtesy of Wilton.


Recently, an employee at our company

returned home to find his carport

relieved of its most valuable contents.

His car (safely parked in our gated lot)

was spared that day, but gone were his

mower, tiller, weed trimmer, and leaf

blower.

If only he had minded the advice of

seasoned burglars, not to mention a

little common sense, he might still be

enjoying that equipment today. So to

help him, and you, here are a few tips

(with a twist) to help you understand

what the bad guys are looking for.

7 Surefire Ways to Get Burglarized

1 Hide your spare key in a conve-

nient place–under the welcome

mat, under a plant or fake rock–

anywhere near the door is always

best!

2 Leaving for that beach trip?

Remember to Facebook your

friends and family of your adven-

tures while you’re away!

3 Enjoy your peace and quiet.

Exterior lighting, barking dogs,

indoor lights, and radios on tim-

ers–how annoying!

4 Proudly display your new 60-

inch TV in a room where the

whole neighborhood can see it

through your window. And be

sure to remove any blinds or cur-

tains that would keep folks from

getting a good look. Oh, and that

box it came in? Just leave it out

by the trash can until you get

a chance to break it down and

throw it away.

5 Grow your shrubs nice and tall,

particularly around your en-

trances. But don’t plant any of

the prickly varieties. Ouch!

6 Leave valuable tools and equip-

ment where they can be seen and

accessed easily, like in a front-

facing carport.

7 Save your money and forget

about installing a monitored

security system for your home.

Chances are you’ll be safe, right?

All kidding aside, getting your home

broken into is one of the most emo-

tionally violating experiences you can

suffer. A burglary not only robs you of

your material possessions but also your

peace of mind.

Recent statistics from the North Caro-

lina Department of Justice reveal that

August is the most active month for

burglars in Iredell County, and daytime

(while you’re at work or on vacation) is

when they are most likely to strike.

But a monitored security system can

save you the pain and financial loss

($1,700 on average) that a break-in

inflicts. When you factor in the savings

that most insurance companies offer

homeowners with security systems, the

cost is negligible.

According to the FBI, a home without a

security system is 300% more likely to

be broken into. In fact, nine out of ten

convicted burglars said they’d avoid a

home altogether if they knew, or even

suspected, it had a security system!

So where to go for your new system?

Signing up for a monitored home

security system is now easier than ever.

More and more telecoms are offer-

ing security services along with their

phone, Internet and TV packages.

To see if your telecom provider has

such a deal, give their customer service

line a call and find out. What are you

waiting for? ‘Tis the burglary season,

and the next neighborhood break-in

might be your own.

Mitzie Branon is the

CEO of

Yadtel Telecom

headquartered in

Yadkin County.

www.yadtel.com

from BurglaryKeeping Your Home Safe

By Mitzie Branon



A W O R D F R O M

Chamber WebsiteHelping Local

Business

David BradleyPresident and CEOGreater Statesville

Chamber of Commerce

Our job at the Chamber is

pretty simple: do what you

can to improve the economic

climate in the community so that busi-

ness can become more successful. See?

It is easier said than done. So, in the

month of July we are awfully proud that

we added three sections to our website,

www.statesvillechamber.org, that should

accomplish just that–help local business

realize success.

1) Job Board. Could you imagine that

there are at least 500 unfilled jobs in

Statesville? NCWorks.gov is the job

posting website for the North Carolina

Department of Commerce and the

North Carolina Division of Workforce

Solutions. The site is free to employ-

ers who want to post jobs, as well as

to people seeking employment. The

Chamber, along with Mitchell Commu-

nity College and Statesville Regional De-

velopment, hopes to direct users to this

site. Registering as a user is straightfor-

ward, easy, and there is no cost. There

are general descriptions of all jobs with,

for the most part, expected rates of pay.

At the time of this writing there were

over 500 jobs posted in Statesville alone

(within a 10 mile radius). This is a fine

example of a project that has great im-

portance, and there is already a venue

for that project. Our hope is to simply

raise the site’s profile and increase utili-

zation. If you have any questions, please

call Karen Adams at the local Division

of Workforce Solutions office at (704)

878-4241 ext. 208.

2) Establishing a Business. We do a

fine job helping existing businesses find

the right market for their products and

services. Our office, however, frequently

receives calls from people considering

the start of their own business. They

often have many, many questions. Typi-

cally, we refer them to Suzanne Wal-

lace at Mitchell Community College's

Small Business Center. She does a great

job helping ideas come to fruition. We

have used some of her documents for

the first track of this section, “Do you

have the right idea?” The second track

deals more specifically with how you

must work with the city and county to

actually open your doors for business.

We have spent several hours with the

county building inspection office and

members of the planning department

that deal with signage issues. These are

part of a critical checklist needed to get

off on the right foot of your new busi-

ness enterprise. Much appreciation to

the collaborative efforts of Suzanne Wal-

lace at Mitchell’s Small Business Center.

3) Business All-Stars. We all need

mentors. Each of us has skills that we

may or may not embrace. Try as we

might, though, we will not be able to

master all facets of running a successful

business. Many Chamber members have

offered up to one hour of free consulta-

tion in their area of expertise to those

in need of mentoring assistance. Asking

for help is sometimes a very difficult

step. Oftentimes, what we find after

we have moved through that difficult

door is a better, well-lit path to success.

If you would like to be considered as a

Business All-Star, or if you would like to

schedule time with a prospective men-

tor or expert, please call the Chamber

office at 704-873-2892.

These new components on our website,

www.statesvillechamber.org, are de-

signed to build our members’ profitabil-

ity and the overall quality of life in this

wonderful place we call home.




Pho

to b

y C

apta

in G

us

Kirk BallardPresident and CEO

Mooresville - South IredellChamber of Commerce

Freelancing–Start Your Own

Business

A WORD FROM

Freelancing lets you start your

own business based on the

capabilities and skills you

already have. The freelancing industry

enjoyed impressive growth in the past

several years, and in 2013 freelancing

accounted for $990 billion dollars in

revenue. By 2020, it is estimated that

40% of all work in the U.S. will be

done by freelancers.

Freelancing has been around for years

and now includes the areas of writing,

editing, translation, indexing, software

development, website design, adver-

tising, open innovations, informa-

tion technology, and business process

outsourcing. Freelance writers are in

demand because copy is needed for all

websites. Writers may find it easier to

start their own or shared news blogs,

with many blogs growing into highly

trafficked and competitive news sites

capable of hiring dedicated staff and

other talent.

Freelancers do not list one singular

reason for freelancing. The perceived

benefits differ by gender, industry, and

lifestyle. For instance, the 2012 Free-

lance Industry Report reported that

men and women freelance for different

reasons. Female survey respondents,

who account for two out of three free-

lancers, indicated that they prefer the

scheduling freedom and flexibility, and

the ability to work from home. Male

survey respondents reported that they

freelance to follow or pursue personal

passions. The top source of freelanc-

ers for the workforce are university

students and retirees who have great

skill sets to offer and are looking for

additional part-time activity. Students

can build a body of work, gain experi-

ence, and earn money even while they

are enrolled in college preparing for

their career. Work and study can be

tough, but it is also flexible, reward-

ing, and a great way to get your work

out there. Freelancing is also taken up

by workers who have been laid-off and

cannot find full-time employment.

The world of freelancing lacks the red

tape of the corporate world. Compa-

nies who hire freelancers to perform

specific jobs are not so concerned

with qualifications; they simply want

to see what you have done in the past

and judge whether it is the right fit for

their situation.

Today, there are websites that help

match needs to skills. Freelancer.com

is a matchmaking service, like ebay

for jobs, where employees bid on jobs

listed. This website has 4,000 jobs

posted weekly, and over 11 million

people have connected using their site.

If you are good at what you do and

can demonstrate your skill through a

quality portfolio and positive client

testimonials, you have every chance

of success. The challenge is to build a

portfolio without experience. Use your

existing community network of experi-

ences to help build your profile.

In addition to a more flexible work

schedule, freelancers tend to be happy.

The 2012 Freelance Industry Report

also states that 90% of freelancers are

happier now than they were before go-

ing solo, and nearly half felt no impact

from the economic downturn. Perhaps

most telling, 77% of freelancers were

optimistic about their business pros-

pects over the upcoming 12 months.

Are you ready to go free lance or are

you ready to hire a freelancer? Small

business owners can pick up great

talent, and freelancers can grow to

become full-time employees. This is a

winning opportunity for both.




IREDELL LIVING • AUGUST 2014 31IREDELL LIVING • AUGUST 2014 31


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