National Small Business Week

We are in the midst of National Small Business Week and as a small business that does a lot of work with other small businesses, this is something quite important to us. And even if you don’t realize it, it is probably even a little important to you, for have you ever bought your favorite thing or received your favorite bit of service from Wal-Mart?

This is not a slight against any large business, they just are what they are. Small businesses, however, also are what they are and that hits in a different way. I believe what sets small businesses apart can be summed up in one word – passion.

When a business gets large enough, so much of it becomes about handling the business of the business. It starts to involve so many people, so many stakeholders, all with so many concerns that the vision the business started with tends to no longer get the same attention it did when it began.

That passion still exists in small businesses, though, and is why the things you purchase from one and the service you receive feel different. At the same time, though, that passion does not carry over to the business of the business. So just as it can be the biggest benefit of dealing with a small business, it can also be the thing that keeps it from thriving and growing.

This is because most small businesses start with someone’s love and their wish to bring it to others. It does not start with someone who is really excited about offering, well, anything, just so they can get really deep in the weeds when it comes to bookkeeping, tracking finances, looking at reports, and filing their taxes in the most advantageous ways. And those things can certainly come back to hurt a business, as can not knowing how to market, not knowing how to contact potential customers, etc.

But there are people out there who can do those things, people who began their own businesses because that stuff is what they love to do. And sure, this is a little self-serving since we are one of them, but it is true. And shared passion is a big part of what makes it so wonderful to work with other small businesses.

We are not trying to sell anything specific here and will even admit to not being the right fit for everyone or every small business. But we did want to take this time to mention that big-picture idea and put out a general wish that small businesses do not hold back from getting the help they need to thrive and continue bringing what is wonderful about them into the world.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
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