SageRock is trying to become an eligible participant in the Chase Mission: Small Business Grant Challenge.

They are giving out 10 $250,000 grants to businesses around the country.

But in order to be in the running you need 250 votes. That has to be accomplished by Saturday (tomorrow) at noon. As of this moment we have 118 – that’s really inspiring in itself because we just started this campaign yesterday. The support all of our friends have shown us is really amazing.

These kinds of voting contests are always beneficial to the people who have developed a strong online community of friends. It’s much harder for people that are not yet strongly connected in the social media community… or so I have always thought.

Once you get into the Mission: Small Business program as a potential contender the resources they offer you on how to get to 250 votes are pretty minimal. They give you a graphic to use and then say something obscure about how social media is going to be your key to getting 250 votes.

But I think they are offering you a strong clue as to the secret on how to get to 250… “social media is going to be your key to getting 250 votes.”

This program is offered between Chase and LivingSocial. LivingSocial is a site that gives you local deals for businesses in your community.

But I think the secret to success in this campaign is in the name “LivingSocial.”

Getting to 250 votes requires you as a business to be social. It requires that you work together… even with your “competition,” the other people in the running for the grants.

As the votes were coming in I would occasionally get notices from Twitter or Google+ that a business had voted for us and “would I please consider voting for them.”

You see, you can only vote for a company once. But I don’t think there is any limit on the total number of companies that you can vote on. I’m pretty sure you could vote for every company in the program.

These are companies that voted for SageRock:

Acquire Wellness

The Dandy Lion

Rx 4 Fun Travel LLC

Bell’s Quality Clothing and Footwear

Brooklyn Flavors

Coleman Bright Ideas For Your Home

eZanga.com

Thank you all SO much! I have just voted for you all. And to SageRock supporters, please consider voting for them as well.

If you have voted for SageRock THANK YOU!!! Our success in this contest and in all of business is all about you. We would literally be nothing without you.

Maybe you would consider voting for some other companies.

You can search by state and city, as well as by company name.

Just visit: http://www.missionsmallbusiness.com

Login with your Facebook Account. And then have at it.

If a company in your city wins it will be a big benefit for your city. It will probably mean more jobs and more national awareness of your community. But these companies can’t do it without you. They’re success is truly in your hands. It always has been and always will be.

The secret to success is working together. “LivingSocial!”

I believe that if you want to succeed in business (or in life, in general) you need help. You need as much help as possible. You are only going to get that help if you are helpful in return.

The Ayn Rand “self made man” is fiction. Trust me. I’m as self made as they come and I would be nothing without money, time and belief from people I never met ever since I was a kid.

We all need your help. So please consider voting for some more companies if you haven’t already.

Here are some more companies I voted on (since I am on a local kick this morning these are Akron Ohio based companies). I would love a vote back if you have the chance. Just search for “SageRock.”

Oh, and before I put this list together, if you are in this challenge and would like a vote from me and others please put your company name in the comments below. I will gladly vote for you too.

So.. some Akron-based companies I voted for:

Language Learning Associates
LLA leading the way – speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral supports for children in the Akron area
50 votes
150 N. Miller Rd, Bldg 150A
Akron, OH 44333
330.867.2240

fisher performance inc.
25 votes
716 bridge rd
Akron, OH 44312
330-798-5420

Bella Bronze Hair Salon and Tanning Studio
HELP BELLA BRONZE EXPAND WITH A BUSINESS GRANT FROM CHASE/LIVING SOCIAL!!
118 votes
1486 N Portage Path
Akron, OH 44313
330-835-3622

3 Point
Commerce*Culture*Cuisine – The BEST Restaurant in Downtown Akron! We Need Your Vote!
88 votes
45 E. Market St.
Akron, OH 44308
330-535-6410

Minority Business Directory
Mind Your Business! Take control of your online identity with The Minority Business Directory.
153 votes
39 West Market st lower level
Akron, OH 44308
1-877-861-0254

Ms. Julie’s Kitchen and Ms. Julie’s Cafe
Fresh, Local, Organics
132 votes
1809 S. Main St.
Akron, OH 44301
330-819-3834

Rock Candy Holds, LLC
Rock Candy makes amazing climbing holds. Let’s see what they can do with a climbing gym! Vote now for a new climbing gym in Akron Ohio.
357 votes
733 Chester Ave
Akron, OH 44314
330-289-2420

Summit Therapy Group
31 votes
539 White Pond Dr.
Akron, OH 44320
330-836-4673

Purchase Officials Supplies
Everything for Life Inside the Lines
145 votes
300 Opportunty Pkwy. Ste 1
Akron, OH 44307
330-564-1082

Plunder Media
Winning souls for the Kingdom
43 votes
2584 Thurmont Road
Akron, OH 44313
330-414-5062

The Stew Pot Kitchen
Slow Cooked Meals Served Fast
149 votes
23 South Main St
Akron, OH 44308
3303611350

K’s Nail Bar and Spa
42 votes
470 Portage Lakes Drive
Akron, OH 44319
330-645-1772

Geared For Imagination
Driven by Design, Powered by Play.
91 votes
843 N Cleveland-Massillon Rd, Suite UP11B
Akron, OH 44333
888.830.4212

Heaven’s Disciples
Christian Urban Music Record Label
105 votes
1406 Shanabrook Drive
Akron, OH 44313
330-431-7288

Wolf Landscaping
wolf,landscaping,mowing,landscaper,wolf landscaping,garden
17 votes
511 kruger ave
Akron, OH 44319
330-780-3704

M3 Records Pro Flow Radio
“I Can, I Will, Done Deal”
7 votes
376 W. Cedar St Apt A3
Akron, OH 44307
234 738 1848

High Deaf-A-Nition Music Group
High Deaf-A-Nition Music Group
33 votes
1251 knox ave
Akron, OH 44314
3309905881

Curves
9 votes
2383 S. Main St
Akron, OH 44301
330-773-2878

Aaraagroup
Improving 1Home1Family1City@aTime
13 votes
1044A Rocky Brooke Dr
Akron, OH 44313
3302836879

TaRodd White
Ohio’s youngest owned & operated Entertainment Marketing/Promotional services
27 votes
1029 6th Ave
Akron, OH 44306
234-788-3951

VI Outlet
Reppin’ It,TrendSettin’ It,To The World…
50 votes
1048 C Rocky Brook Drive
Akron, OH 44313
(478)-238-3207

H-Efex Media LLC
Saving companies and individuals thousands on marketing and media materials
7 votes
2685 Shoreline Dr. Apt. B7
Akron, OH 44314
330-999-2928

Winkelmann Design & Construction
Building projects one relationship at a time.
30 votes
1433 Rowles Dr.
Akron, OH 44313
330-338-3950

The Isis PR
9 votes
860 5th Avenue
Akron, OH 44306
3306346070

Pickers Gallery
Buy Sell & Trade Antiques, Collectibles, Furniture, Home Decor, Oddities & Rarities! Something for Everyone!
30 votes
1185 Canton Road
Akron, OH 44312
3306128202

Save Your Skin Tans
Spray on Beauty!!
6 votes
1033 Turkeyfoot Lake Rd.
Akron, OH 44319
330-607-9160

The National Institute of Massotherapy
8 votes
3681 Manchester Rd.
Akron, OH 44319
330-867-1996

same
5 votes
175 east market
Akron, OH 44308
330-5351563

RemitRx LLC
the cure for accounts past due
78 votes
P.O. Box 6041
Akron, OH 44312
330-696-2665

Rafah Al-Obaid
5 votes
1161 E. Tallmadge Ave.
Akron, OH 44310
330-630-3335

Integrity Computers Sales & Service
14 votes
3358 Manchester RD
Akron, OH 44319
330-645-9522

EmTech Enterprises
Your IT Solution Provider
29 votes
658 Ardleigh Drive
Akron, OH 44303
330-773-3113

Nervous Dog Coffee Bar
Come. Sit. Stay.
239 votes
1530 West Market Street, Suite C
Akron, OH 44313
330-864-2326

The Market Path
Your Fair Trade Store striving to help alleviate poverty
188 votes
833 West Market Street
Akron, OH 44303
330-258-9003

Love Art House
Connecting Art + Communities Together for Good.
17 votes
848 Kling St
Akron, OH 44311
234-738-4876

Arnold’s Candies Inc
18 votes
931 High Grove Boulevard
Akron, OH 44312
330-733-4022

iRxReminder
Bringing clinical research into the 21st Century
5 votes
680 N Portage Path
Akron, OH 44303
3306066675

Rootstock Clothing
Our purpose is to have our amazing art be the focus of what you wear, and not be another brand’s billboard. Comfortable. Fitting. Casual.
8 votes
1333 Niagara Avenue
Akron, OH 44305
3306345895

CrossFit Akron
Fitness is Earned!
13 votes
65 Westgate Circle
Akron, OH 44313
330-664-9671

mike pruitt honda.com
we always treat you with respect
11 votes
43 pruitt blvd
Akron, OH 44310
330-633-6060

Summit Croissants
Summit Croissants (est. 2005) is a small business looking to expand with a “Croissant Truck” to bring freshly baked croissants to the masses!
109 votes
2291 10th St. SW
Akron, OH 44314
330-714-7975

Faith and Prayer International Outreach Ministries
Doing the most good for the most people by Faith and Prayer.
4 votes
1792 Sunset Ave
Akron, OH 44301
330-459-1197

SageRock
118 votes
15 Broad St.
Akron, OH 44305
(330) 379-9000

Benaiah
2 votes
BOX 2954
Akron, OH 44309
330-777-0068

GlamNatural
Women put over 350 chemicals on their skin daily. Your makeup should not be one of them. GlamNatural is the world’s first BodySafe Color Cosmetic.
4 votes
526 S. Main Street
Akron, OH 44311
1-855-321-8445

Gruich Investments
.Making Our Community A Better To Live.Helping Our Community to go to the Next Level.As A Leader In This Community I want everyone to Succeed..
1 vote
2104 Rock Creek
Akron, OH 44333
330-867-6540

Winged Touch Therapeutic Massage
Specializing in Relaxation and Therapeutic Massage
5 votes
830 Avon St #2-Upper
Akron, OH 44310
3306080234

Tammy Fuchs Genealogist
Genealogist and author of Genealogy books to help a person learn how to trace their Ancestry.
15 votes
311 Lookout Ave.
Akron, OH 44310
3302088771

Zing Anything
Fruit Infused Water Bottles
0 votes
1340 Home Ave. Bldg A
Akron, OH 44310
614-937-8236

… you don’t have to be an Akron (or even Ohio) based company if you want me to vote for you. Just mention your company in the comments below and I promise I will vote for you.