Small business’ “green jacket” of success
Recently, pro golfer Bubba (Gerry, Jr.) Watson, won his first major tournament – the 2012 Masters Championship at Augusta National in Georgia – only a few days after he and his wife adopted their first child.
During the presentation of the legendary Masters “green jacket” after the tournament, CBS sports host Jim Nantz, asked Bubba about the heady combination of becoming a new dad and winning the Masters. Answering with the refreshingly unscripted authenticity that is pure Bubba, he said, “I never got this far in my dreams.”
Bubba’s honesty about the giant leap from his dreams to his new reality made me think about small business owners starting and growing their “baby.”
Every small business begins as a dream. The dream of controlling our own destiny, being our own boss, finding financial success, and of course, doing what we love – construction, web development, tires, landscaping, mobile apps, cooking, insurance, shoe strings, (your baby here).
A golfer’s dream of qualifying for the PGA tour must be accompanied by years of diligent preparation and arduous practice, perhaps to merely survive in this elite arena, let alone become a star. Being a pro golfer is difficult and comes with no guarantees.
Like a PGA pro, as a small business owner’s dream comes to pass the imagined quickly gives way to survival realities: being undercapitalized, cash flow challenges, our new bosses – employees (didn’t see that coming, did you?), and serving the people essential to fulfilling the dream of every business owner, those pesky customers.
And the reality of starting and growing a small business is a lot like becoming a parent: Bringing a baby or a business into the world is much easier than raising either one successfully. Before you know it, a growing business becomes like a teenager in two ways:
- It always has its hand out for money; and
- You will always love it, but you won’t always like it.
Then one day, almost unexpectedly, as critical mass is achieved from hard work and dedication to your dream, you’ll find yourself achieving the legendary small business green jacket – financial success and self-determination. Conceived by a dream, made from the fabric of excellence by diligent hands, custom tailored to fit your professional and personal countenance, and acquired against all odds.
Being a pro small business owner is hard, and it comes with no guarantees.
Write this on a rock... How far have you gotten in your dreams?
Jim Blasingame is creator and host of the Small Business Advocate Show. Copyright 2012, author retains ownership. All Rights Reserved.
