Only You Will Write the History Of Your Small Business
“There is properly no history; only biography.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
March is Women’s History Month and that might seen like an odd quote to toss out as we begin to honor the roles women have played throughout history.
However, I think it’s critical that we grasp the truth that is at the heart of what Emerson was saying. What we call history is really the collective actions of what we all do as individuals. The building blocks of history are our biographies.
This is critical to understand because once you do, you realize that you can change history. And while I don’t know who among us will move history in ways that end up being recorded in the text books of future generations, I know that we are all writing the our own personal histories through our biographies.
Further, if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that entrepreneurism and small business projects play an important role in your unfolding history – or at least they are a large part of the heartfelt desires you have for your life.
I believe that it can be inspirational to think of all the hard work you put into establishing your small business, not as any kind of “day-to-day grind,” but as writing history that chronicles your life and the life of your loved ones.
This may be easier to see in hindsight, but if you’ve been around for a few years, you may know some families who owned and operated a business together. If you spend time with these kinds of people, you’ll realize how much of the history of their families mirrors the history of their business venture. It can become the rallying point, the unifying cause that holds a family together and draws them closer to one another.
A business plan, then, is really a roadmap that provides the outline for a major chapter in your life. Don’t see it as some sterile document, but as a tool that, when developed and implemented with care and wisdom, can make your “history” one of challenging goals, rewarding work and ultimately, prosperity.
It’s interesting that many small business owners devote their lives to building their companies so they can have a legacy to hand down to their children, because what is a “legacy” if not a history?
So women (and men this really applies to you as well), go further and deeper into women’s history this March. Get serious about writing your own history. Think about the chapters in that book, and be sure at least one of them is entitled, “How I Worked Hard to Achieve Success in My Small Business.”
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Also, in honor of Women’s History Month, I’ve offering a free ebook, “The Biz Diva Handbook: Words of Wisdom for Women in Business.” I think you’ll enjoy it, along with my weekly newsletter.