Small Business Baby Steps

After Brad lost his job with a company he had given 19 years of sweat, determination, and a ton of frustration, we took a step back and assessed our future. Brad loves to create with his hands, so maybe there was more than a reason for losing his job behind a desk. I consider myself a very fortunate woman in that my husband can repair, renovate, or create just about anything.  Not once have I taken my car to an autobody shop or mechanic, Brad does all the maintenance for our vehicles.

He's also built our deck, painted walls, wallpapered, put in tile floors and counters, replaced sinks, repaved sidewalks,...you name it, he's done it. The title, "Ultimate Handyman" comes to mind often. But, when he lost his job we decided to take a huge step. Entrepreneurship. Brad has always wanted to start his own business and the business he chose is concrete engraving. The man knows his concrete and with all of his artistic abilities, this seems like the perfect combination. Concrete engraving, staining, and design: Concrete Colorscapes

So, we took a huge breath and stepped off the edge into the small business world. A few months later, the economy bottomed-out and we have been fingernail biting and tightrope budgeting ever since. Starting your own business is scary and stressful on its own without the gloom and doom of our current and future economic status. Today, the National Small Business Association released their 2008 report and I've decided not to share this with Brad, his stress levels are high enough.

It isn't that people aren't interested, they are just a little fearful of letting go of their money. I can't blame them. When the forecast is "will only worsen" and "the sky is falling," you tend to hoard your dollars and tightly. I know we are.

So, we are waiting it out. I keep referring to a quote I wrote down before we decided to take the small business plunge, "The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try." I believe this is a quote from the owner of Mrs. Fields Cookies?

So, we are trying. I remain optimistic, knowing that all great things take time and one day we will look back on this time in our lives with great pride in knowing that we made this attempt, that we fought hard, and most importantly, we believed.