The Spirit of Small Business

I do have to preface this by saying that I have a small business.

Two, as a matter of fact,very small, at-home businesses.

Nobody will be occupying my front yard in the near future.

I can not be the only one feeling this giant shift in our universe.

The rising up of the people.

The shift in power from big business to business next door.

THIS IS A GOOD THING!

We have learned that big business has one concern...

Big Business.

Correction...Bigger Business.

Although not every one

(many are doing very good things, so I don't take issue with ALL big business).

We have all watched the news these past few years...

we all know what's been going on.

It's pretty ugly...

BUT,

as with almost everything, it has to get ugly,

it has to break down before we can build it back up.

We are venturing into a whole new world.

A world where we stay up to date with our friends on Facebook, we Skype,

we text and we Twitter.

Call it what you want, but we are all communicating.
We are re-connected with long lost friends and relatives.
We are invested in each other's lives...that's not a bad thing!

And everyday people are as interesting as celebrities

(okay, more interesting than celebrities, and yes, I watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians)

Ever wonder why reality shows are so popular? Real people, real lives (sort of)

Never is it more important to our economy, our cities, our neighborhoods

to be supportive of your spirited small business owner.
To support your neighbors and your friends.

Why are they doing what they do? 

Passion.  Love of Service.  Desire to control their own destiny.

Sure, they want to make a good living.

Who doesn't!

But I would venture to guess that these same people work 100 hour work weeks,

comp a dinner for great customers here and there,
make free deliveries because it is good business, discount their products because the economy is bad,

yet they still donate what they can to community interests,

volunteer, and give back as much as they can to the very people who support them.
All at the expense of their bottom line.
They do it because they know it makes them good neighbors.
Some (many) small business owners work from home (like me)
with no brick and mortar...only a computer and a cell phone.
They are just as important to the local economy, just as involved and offering goods and services while cutting out the middle man.  Business in its purest form, man!


Why WOULDN'T we want to support these people?
Yes, there is upheaval on Wall Street, people are angry with the government,
the tax code is all wrong, prices are going up,
but every day people, aligned with their passion,
are opening and operating their own small businesses.
Their success ensures our success as a country.
Their success ensures jobs...one or two at a time, sometimes, but jobs.
Their success means they are invested in the future of our cities and towns.
They are shopping locally too, because they GET IT!

We can all boost each other up the rungs of the ladder...one rung at a time.
We can also support our fellow small businesses....even if they are our competitors.
You wanna know why? Because business for one is business for all.
We are all part of the big picture.
When I worked for a small downtown clothing store, and a new clothing store opened
down the street, my customers asked all the time
"Ooh...are you worried about the competition?"
NO! 
More competition means more choice,
which brings out more shoppers, gets more attention, gets the wheels turning and invites more
business, more traffic...and on and on!
And if there is one thing I have learned it is that
the good we put out will come back to us tenfold...


If you have a chance this holiday season, and you have a choice,
please think of your local small business owner...
(and don't tell me you don't want to leave your house...no excuses.
Most savvy small businesses have their own websites and many offer online shopping!)
We will all be thankful!