• Survey
  • Book Becky to speak
  • The book: Small Town Rules
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

Business isn’t problems, business is change

By Becky McCray

Runoff from Bridal Veil Falls. Photo by Becky McCray.


Being in business is about getting into the flow of things. Photo by Becky McCray.

 

What is being in business all about?

I got my first answer from Paul Hawken, in his book Growing a Business. He said he kept working for the time when he’d get his business running like it should, and there wouldn’t be any problems. He wanted that magic state with the business running smoothly without problems. Then he realized, business will always have problems. Being in business is about solving problems.

That’s a good description, and it helped me appreciate the problems and opportunities that come with running a business. But with many years of experience, I’ve decided being in business is closer to what Olympic gold medalist and whitewater kayaker Joe Jacobi described as transition.

“You’re Always in Transition: Let go of the belief that the momentum will stop. It doesn’t. Just as on a river, life’s current takes on all shapes, sizes, speeds, and gradients. It always keeps moving, which means you are continually in transition.”

Being in business means always being in transition. 

Like a paddler on a river, you are constantly moving and adapting. You can’t sit still, and you can’t expect everything to go smoothly forever. Right now, your business is in transition from one stage to another. How are you preparing for the next stage?

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

June 20, 2016 Filed Under: entrepreneurship

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Comments

  1. Marko Schmitt says

    July 1, 2016 at 6:58 pm

    Business is change – you’re on the right track. For small business people, especially those of us who live in small towns and rural areas, that means being willing to change the way we do business and learn how to engage with customers via the internet. Here in my Taos, NM as I discuss the value of blogging and social media with fellow small business people, they often respond with “I don’t want to spend all that extra time on the computer”. These are the same people who often lament that locals buy too much and too often on Amazon, that the Yellow Pages is a waste of time and money, and that the Chamber isn’t doing enough to promote local business.

    The Internet Economy is an equal access source of new customers and revenue but it means changing the way we do business. In fact it means learning new skills and applying them – kind of baseball. It’s not enough to show up at the field with a new mitt and figure you’ve got the game down. There is a lot more to learn. It takes time to get good. You gotta swing a lot before you can consistently get on base. Same thing with learning how to do business on the web. These are the kinds of changes that may be challenging but in terms of opportunity, its better bet than trying to do the same old thing and hoping for a better result.

    • Becky McCray says

      July 3, 2016 at 10:38 am

      Marko, I love what you’ve added. Your baseball story is right on.

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Shop Local

Buy local buttonReady to set up a shop local campaign in your small town? You'll need a guide who understands how we're different and what really works: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns.

Best of Small Biz Survival

What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2021 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in