Celebrating the Strength of Small Business Owners

Hooray for May, or as we know it, National Small Business Month!

For 45 years (and counting) it has been our privilege to support small businesses throughout California with SBA 504 funding that helps them grow. This is the “elevator speech” of what we do, but it means so much more to us.

One of the best parts of our work is learning the origin stories of the small businesses that make our communities great. Every project represents real people with a vision and a goal. Have you stopped to wonder what it takes to create a thriving business venture? How do they get started and what keeps them moving onward and upward?

We’ve been thinking about the success factors that our clients have in common – the attributes that move them from dreamers to achievers. In this blog, we want to highlight and celebrate just a few of these important traits.

Passion for the purpose
Small business owners are a rare breed because they are driven by a deeper “why”. Long after the excitement of opening a business wears off and the reality of long hours and uncertainty sets in, their purpose still stands. These entrepreneurs live their value of creating something meaningful, and that motivation fuels their purpose.

Ready to risk for reward
Successful small business owners know the difference between taking a risk and being reckless. When calculated risks work out, the wins can look like increased revenue, new clients, or an expansion of services. If the risk goes sideways? Wise entrepreneurs look for learnings they can apply the next time around…and that is its own reward.

A resilient mindset
Running a business of any size is filled with challenges; cash flow, staffing, competition, market changes. For small ventures, these issues are magnified so resilience is critical. Entrepreneurs who see business ownership as a package deal know how to roll with the good and the not so great. That resilient mindset does more than make the work easier; it becomes a competitive advantage.

Heart for the community
We saved this for last because it is the one attribute that truly sets small business owners apart. They are your neighbors and they act like it. From providing new jobs and keeping tax revenue local, to supporting community-building efforts and going the extra mile in the services they provide, these entrepreneurs operate from a place of pride and they lead with heart.

This short list is based on our very unscientific but very real-world perspective working with thousands of clients over the years. While it’s not an exhaustive list, it spotlights

just a few of the qualities that make these people – and the work they do – so worthy of our support and respect.