Call the shots: This small business owner does what he loves

Patrick LaMear works with reclaimed lumber and produces pieces of furniture that look like they're from another time. He started his small business, Urban Reclamations, because he likes "calling the shots," and because he follows his dad's advice to, "do what you love." "I design out of my heart," LaMear said, "I feel like it's my responsibility to showcase the material and the journey the material was on."

Watch this small business owner succeed at doing what he loves.

We met Patrick LaMear at iCONIC: Seattle, the first stop on the 2016 iCONIC tour. iCONIC is a joint creation of CNBC and Inc., which draws together some of the most enterprising small businesses in the nation.

Small business is the driving force of the American economy. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are 27.9 million small businesses in the nation, compared to 18,500 firms with 500 or more employees. This means that there are millions of small business owners who need the assistance of smart partners who can help navigate the intricacies of operating a company.

T-Mobile is firmly committed to supporting small businesses. That is why, in conjunction with its sponsorship of the iCONIC tour, T-Mobile held a contest offering complimentary wireless and mobile services to a notable venture.

As a small business owner, LaMear is always looking for ways to communicate better with his employees. One of those ways, he believes, is through technology. So he entered the T-Mobile contest in the hope of providing his workers, many of whom don't have extra minutes to spare, the ability to, "get everyone on the same platform, and communicate in real time."

"I think it will really help us a lot," he said.