Carol H Tucker Passionate about knowledge management and organizational development, expert in loan servicing, virtual world denizen and community facilitator, and a DISNEY fan
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beladona Memorial Be warned:in this very rich environment where you can immerse yourself so completely, your emotions will become engaged -- and not everyone is cognizant of that. Among the many excellent features of SL, there is no auto-return on hearts, so be wary of where your's wanders...
Everyone agrees that small businesses, as opposed to the big corporations, is what fuels the US economy. Defining what a small business actually IS doesn’t generate quite the same level of agreement. The SBA says one thing – and their definition comes pretty close to saying it depends on the industry and/or location. Lenders say another, and sometimes it depends on the size of the organization – to BOA a small business loan might be around $5M but for a small community bank, a small business loan might be closer to $50K. And sometimes regulators muddy the water with their requirements that do not scale, but that is an entirely different conversation.
The Banc Investment Daily reported an interesting statistic today, saying that Census Bureau research found “… 78% of all US businesses have no paid employees (mostly self-employed operating unincorporated businesses). For small businesses with employees, it is interesting to note the data indicates those with 1to 4 employees (61%); 5 to 9 (18%); 10 to 19 (11%); 20 to 99 (9%) and 100 to 499 (2%).” Chew on that statistic for a bit. According to the Census Bureau, out of every 100 people that are employed, 84 of them work someplace where there is less than 20 people in the business that employs them.
I found that to be a rather startling number. Now look at the huge number of articles and books [not to mention all the consultants and vendors] about knowledge management, productivity, organizational development, motivation, creativity training, new technology, etc etc and so forth. How many of these suggestions that are made, written about, touted as a great idea takes into account that what is keeping the CEO of Boeing awake at night probably has nothing to do with what is worrying the CEO of Acme Home Improvement? If small business is the backbone of the economy, don’t the writers and sellers understand that in a small shop there just aren’t the resources for certain dedicated functions, that everyone wears multiple hats? You seriously think with a sales and support staff of nineteen people, that owner is thinking about creating a Chief Happiness Officer? Or a Social Media Guru? Or a Knowledge Management department? IF small businesses are the true generator of GDP, then why isn’t there more concentration on the little guys with more accommodation to their needs and limitations?
Like the mankini, it would seem that most pitches are for a very small market segment. In business, as in fashion, one size seldom really fits all
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