This week we’ve covered everything from microeconomics, to the personal experiences of small business owners. Along the way, I’ve done my best to shed light on the news that isn’t widely available. 

I found it fascinating that over 99% of businesses in our area are identified as small businesses. Initially I though there would be a 50/50 split economically between large corporate conglomerates and the companies less than 1% of their size. While it’s true that half of the employees in our area work at small businesses, Ohio is the clear winner for sustained growth these past few years. 

I’m sure most people are aware of some of the impacts on businesses from covid, but perhaps you learned something new, or gained a deeper insight on an existing topic. There’s been so many conversations about covid that it’s almost cliche. But what fascinates me is the sense of urgency so many places felt when this all started. The other day I drove around thinking about what life was like this time last year; how uncertain life felt.

Just as cliche of a topic, the importance of community, was something we also discussed. It’s important to understand that there were a lot of businesses that didn’t survive the lockdowns, but those that have, did so because of how supportive patrons have been. 

I told a brief history of our family business, Werkheiser’s Pro Hardware, showing a side of the story I’m not sure many people are aware of. Although there was much emotion in yesterday’s article, I sincerely believe it was worth it. Sharing an uncomfortable story like that gives others something to relate with; a narrative we can all understand. 

The future of small business looks brighter than ever. With signs of economic recovery piling up each day, the economic growth of the next decade will likely impact small business owners more than large corporations. It’s my honest opinion that the S&P 500 is already priced for future growth, which means small businesses have the greatest potential for improvement financially.

Looking forward to next week, we will discuss something currently impacting my life: the divide between university educations and blue-collar work ethics.  We will discuss the conflicts, disconnections, and misunderstandings around the importance of having an education, without losing values.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s publication. Enjoy the weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week.