What a Business Can Mean

Rex Rogers has run his barber shop at the same location in old downtown Draper for over 50 years. Yesterday he buried his wife. This morning he was back in the shop and gave me a haircut.

Why was he back in his shop so soon? Because it's his place. Because it's where he can connect with his customers, his friends. Because it beats sitting at home being maudlin. Because after all those years, that shop has as much of her in it as it does of him.

This is what it means to own a small business. Whether you're a farmer or a shopkeeper or a craftsman, you and your business are ultimately reflections of each other. Run your business so that you like the reflection. So that it supports you in ways other than just financially. Like Rex.

We Have a New President

In the interest of full disclosure, I voted for Obama. However you may have voted, you have to acknowledge that this is historic. I remember when Blacks were beaten and killed for trying to vote. Now we've elected a Black president. If that isn't historic, nothing is.