Ladies and gentlemen, I spent an amazing Saturday roaming around Green Bay, Wisconsin, doing research.  I visited a number of small businesses, ate in an upscale restaurant filled with the lunch traffic, and drove by malls and store parking lots filled with cars. 
 
And I talked to people.  My question — always — when I walk into a small business is: “How’s business?”  The message I kept hearing over and over again:  Ignore the idiots in Washington.  Ignore the morons in the media.  We’re working hard and making money!  Are times tough?  Maybe.  But if they are, hang on and give it six months or a year.     
 
What made me laugh is that I know this, but had almost forgotten it.  (Too much MSNBC?)  In the words of one kick-butt Green Bay SBO (Candy Staebel, owner of a  unique “culinary artisans” store, Savore),”A vendor came in last week wringing his hands over the economy.  I just about threw him out.” 
 
Candy’s store vends quality pastas, olive oils, spices and more in a venue that almost makes me believe in Feng Shui.  Like every independently owned business owner I spoke with today, she’s too busy running and building her store and plotting new marketing and product ideas to engage in boo-hoo-the-economy-stinks thinking.
 
If you’re one of those clowns waiting around for a government handout, I can see how you just might feel a bit anxious.  But if you’re a small business owner, just dig in and work and market and … well, just keep doing what you always do.
 
Is there a recession?  Don’t know … don’t care.  If so, it will  probably end in six months or a year or two years, depending on whether or not the government keeps pretending to help or just gets out of our way.  In the meantime, don’t you have a business to run? 
  
So, work hard, make money, and have fun! 
 
John R. Ingrisano
The Freestyle Entrepreneur
john@thefreestyleentrepreneur.com

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