Small Business Owners More Pessimistic
April 15, 2008 by ShannonCherry
Filed under Business
Optimism among small business owners is the lowest it has been in 28 years. The Small Business Economic Trends report released by the National Federation of Independent Business said that Small Business Optimism fell 3.3 points, the lowest since the second quarter of 1980.
Much of the problem seems to be the fear of a recession. Only three percent of businesses said they were planning to expand their staff, down from 11 percent in February and only five percent said now is a good time to expand. The average company surveyed in the report had about five employees and grossed $350,000 per year.
The NFIB said that the good news about all this is that the recession fears have impacted expectations more than spending plans, which could leave the possibility for the downturn to be modest.
How are you feeling about your business and its future?
(photo courtesy of Shannon Cherry from BeHeardSolutions.com)
As a South African woman, a born entrepreneur, with my greatest compliment “My girl, you have the resilience of the South Easter on a **** bad day!” In thanking a creditor, with arrear payments backdating nearly 5 months , he continued saying…Business and small business & all the hype, glamour and noise is not what it seems. Read the fine lines and test the validity in whats said.
I decided in Feb 05 to do what makes me happy and vow to not earn a penny, even if it meant losing my car, flat and going back to renting or cycling to work, I needed to be in an environment that feeds my passion and continually inspires me. It’s been my hardest time in my life since. I stood tall, & firm to my commitment. Since the age of 18yrs, having a car, its nearly 16 months with no vehicle-I’ve seen, met & formally applied to 58 options of investment. In Sep 06, with sound business and personal networks, not for one second did I envision having such hardship or difficulty to startup this business concept. It was “local that could grow global” (I too loved that comment). It was a mixture of all I’m really good at, passed the “what makes me happy” list, serviced my surrounding neighbours, family & friends – Fulfilled a deep desire to help a specific channel in the community and ensure ongoing revenue, and too grow, expand and spread the word on the talent and skill our musicians, artists and designers we boast here in Cape Town. Now 16 months later, I’ve decided to put it to rest. I’ve exhausted the patience of landlords & suppliers, no policies, bank account etc. Above all – could not have been a greater lesson in life. It’s taught me it takes a certain kinda madness to see it through, even when there’s no glimpse of hope, it’s given understanding to the depths and lengths my resilience can withstand, and mostly to have a raw, true and hard enduring lesson and gain knowledge that material gain & wealth is not the root to my happiness, although it’s elements, in my situation, that is proof of my 13 years of living on my own in it’s entirety.
In a nutshell, we are snowed under with the search for “PDI’s”, Entrepreneurs, Innovators, The Women, & Fish Paste! in our country, with the payoff line -We are willing to take the risk, and after engaging them personally – they clearly state a 95% of sme applications declined. I am first and not particularly proud to admit my very limited knowledge in both politics & history or economies – though thankfully I still have my Dad as my good old History teacher.
Yes money is important – though do we forget what’s made the success of so many businesses…the love, desire & passion of the person who started it all – even the mere concept.
Too much misleading information, power-trips and contradicting requirements and information. The proof in risking it all to do what makes one happy, resourceful and able to empower, help & teach others is not what it’s all about in reality!!
So I’ve got a recruitment agency sourcing work in the corporate industry to get my head up & out from the 8m below sea level…just so I can breathe.
Our “government affiliates can deem themselves the “Tormenting Team” of society – giving a glimpse & message of change and hope, only to Tread on the Threads that once wove a dreamed life of happiness to success gained.
There’s no justness, to even ensuring our debtors settle bad debt, no truth to a path in making a difference, no understanding from the institutions with deteriorating credibility, and no real support and guidance to grow to strengths to help others.
This, is my feeling of Pessimism…even though I am the Eternal Optimist without consolation!
Captiveminds with Immaculate Concepts