In a world filled with bailouts, tax cuts, subsidies and government contracts for large companies it might be easy to forget what really drives not only our American economy but also the economies of nations around the globe. The entrepreneur and small business owner account for a majority of economic activity and job creation.

The small business is the point in the economy where jobs are recreated following a recession, and it is that small business owner that sacrifices during the toughest times to keep their little place in the global economy working.

The entrepreneur behind each small business is at the same time crazy and amazing. He or she took a chance one day to sign a loan, hang a sign, and tell the world they had a product or service that was better than their competitor’s.

The entrepreneur wakes up every day knowing that there is no direct deposit for them. If they don’t earn their paycheck, there won’t be anyone there to send them money. The life of an entrepreneur is filled with fear and excitement, irrationality and logic simultaneously in the life called “business ownership.”

The entrepreneur lives with the burden that his or her employees rely on the success and sustainability of the business for their livelihood and financial security. Therefore, each new hire for a small business is a major undertaking while each staff reduction is a failure by that small business owner to live up to their promise to that employee and their family.

Entrepreneurship is alive in America and around the world. Millions of people who have been let down by this economy without jobs, an education that doesn’t result in employment, and a socio-economic ladder that keeps getting kicked from under them have decided to roll up their sleeves and start a business based on either a crazy idea, their best skills, or both.

It is this group of people that should make the news. It is the entrepreneur that keeps this economy going. It is the small business owner who is living their dream while keeping people employed and services or products delivered. They deserve our praise and adoration.

Just as a soldier is the hero of our freedom, the entrepreneur is the hero of our economy. To every small business owner working harder, staying up later, and sacrificing more than everyone else, I salute!

The last bite…

Last week I helped out at the LaPlace Lions Club Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by Fatty’s. The tournament doubled in size thanks to the hard work of the golf committee and the leadership of Fatty’s. Not only did Fatty’s assist with organizing the tournament, but they also served up a huge bowl of jambalaya and white beans for anyone in attendance. The jambalaya was seasoned just right and had a great texture and was covered with a thick layer of home cooked beans! I give Fatty’s jambalaya and white beans 4 out of 5 crumbs!

 

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.