5 Reasons to Give Thanks for Your Small Business

What are you grateful for in your small business?

Gratitude: def. The state of being grateful; thankfulness (Merriam-Webster.com)

 You may have noticed the huge amount of references to being thankful, giving thanks, or having an attitude of gratitude seeing how Thanksgiving is 2 days away. There are celebrations throughout the world that focus on giving thanks for the good things or blessings we have in our lives. (To learn more about the history of this holiday in America, read this)

Given the deep global recession and the slow recovery, it can seem like there is not very much to feel thankful for but there is always something.

So, here is my list of what we can give thanks for our small businesses:

1. We are still in business. There have been a lot of businesses who have closed this year. Our talent and luck have brought us this far! Nicely done!

2. We get to do something we love. We all know someone who hates their job. Everyday we are full engaged in work that we feel passionate about and it is something we have created.

3. We meet interesting people on a regular basis. Maybe some of them are interesting for the wrong reasons but there are others who inspire us, challenge us, and believe we bring great value to the table.

4. Our small businesses are a manifestation of the quality and worth of our Big Ideas. Entrepreneurs find it deeply gratifying to make ideas into everyday realities. We are shaping tomorrow’s world with the products and services we offer.

5. We get to control our destinies. A conversation with a small business owner brought this home to me today. She described how deeply satisfying it is to make your own decisions, your own mistakes, and set a course for how you want to be in the world.

What other reasons do you give thanks for your small business?

In the spirit of sharing your bounty, I invite you to check out Tweetsgiving and add what you are grateful for and/or help support the good work of Epic Change November 24-26, 2009.