The Daily Meaning

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Travis Shelton Travis Shelton

Don't "Support" Small Businesses

Before I begin, I’d like to remind you I’m deeply invested and exceptionally fond of small businesses. My family’s livelihood is tied to my small business, I’m a part owner of a few other small businesses, and many of my clients are small businesses. So when you read my next sentence, I want you to know I say it with the utmost respect in mind.

Before I begin, I’d like to remind you I’m deeply invested and exceptionally fond of small businesses. My family’s livelihood is tied to my small business, I’m a part owner of a few other small businesses, and many of my clients are small businesses. So when you read my next sentence, I want you to know I say it with the utmost respect in mind.

I don’t believe we should “support” small businesses. The idea of supporting small businesses is talked about a LOT! “We should support X small business.” “Y small business needs our support.” “Z small business wouldn’t have closed had we supported it.” To me, the idea of “support” smells of pity, condescension, obligation, and guilt. There mere idea that a small business can’t survive unless we “support'“ it really turns me off. It lacks dignity, respect, and the merit of existence.

Small businesses don’t deserve our support. What small businesses deserve is the opportunity to serve us well and provide us with value. We shouldn’t go to a small business just because they are a small business. We should give them a shot because they are a business, and let them earn (and re-earn) the right to serve us again.

Instead of giving money to them out of a sense of obligation because they are the little guy, we should direct our business to companies that demonstrate excellence. And many of them are small businesses! There’s so much dignity in that, as opposed to the idea of “supporting” them.

Here’s my simplified way of thinking about it:

  1. Find a business that offers something you may need/want.

  2. Allow them the opportunity to serve you.

  3. If they crush it, allow them the opportunity to serve you again. Repeat.

  4. If they don’t deliver or add value, move on and give a different business the opportunity to serve you. Repeat.

  5. Tell others about your experiences.

There are so many different angles to unpack on this topic (which we will), but I wanted to let this idea sit with you today. I hope it lets you think about small businesses through a slightly different lens. Agree? Disagree? I would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

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