PSA: YOU MATTER!

As a small business owner, it is sometimes easy to oversee the importance of your contribution to society. Every small business owner will tell you that at some point they were dealing with everything from plumbing issues to bookkeeping, while growing digital presence and doing everything in between. In the din of constant work that the entrepreneur must face, it is easy to lose sight of what you are really trying to accomplish, other than everything for everyone else.

You, the underappreciated, the overworked small business owner make up 99.7% of all U.S. employers, according to the research of DMR Stats. That means that you are effectively helping your fellow compatriot put bread on the table, while putting your dreams on the line. According to the very same research, 50% of small businesses were looking to expand and hire in 2016. Once again, showing the fire that burns inside the entrepreneur keeps the masses warm.

A more intangible aspect of the small business culture is the room for innovation. You are not locked into to the confines that your big business competitor suffers from. You are agile, you are fresh and you can pivot to adapt to rapidly changing markets. You are in a unique position where the inspiration for profitable innovation, your clients, have nearly direct access to the decision makers of your business! You can spark change and create new innovations that can change the world! Does this sound like an unwarranted ego boost? Have a look at this article from the Portland Business Journal to see first hand what kind of innovation small businesses are capable of.

To break the cycle of the mundane, keep your eyes and ears open for any opportunities to engage with your community so that when one should arise, you can pounce on it. Make the most of every opportunity you have, because you never know which connection or conversation will lead to the big break your business has been waiting for. For instance, providing goods for the new business that opened across the street could lead to incoming demands from all of the surrounding offices seeking that particular service, if they see it was a hit in that one business and lead to an increase in sales.

I work daily with many entrepreneurs in various markets and their charisma is contagious. That’s why I felt it was necessary to let you, the Small Business owner, know that you are an important part of our society. Don’t let that charisma get overrun by the feeling of mundane tasks or the pressures of putting your dreams into action. These are the dreams that help others wake up. Never forget that.