A small business represents someone’s achieved dreams. What was your dream as a kid? Did you want to be a ballerina or a doctor? Some want to make the best pizza around. Some people want to run their own event planning company right from their living room. When you walk into these businesses and exchange money for their goods or services, you are living in their dreams and validating their life’s work.
The owner of the local yoga studio I attend is obsessed with yoga. She decided she would open her own studio right after her first class. To do this, she’s trained all over the world, seeking the wisest masters. Slow and steady, she built up an impressive list of qualifications and certifications. In the middle of all this, a terrible car crash left her with broken hips, ribs and sternum. The recovery was long and painful. She had no idea if she could ever move like she used to, but she never gave up. Now, she ranks extremely high in the international yoga community with a prestigious RYT 500 registration and the renowned Yoga Anatomy Principles Certification. After meeting these criteria and overcoming hurdles, she finally opened her own school in 2016. West Chester, as a community, now benefits from her dedication to her craft and our town is richer for it.
West Chester is full of other examples; a quick stroll down Gay Street confirms this. Think of all the culture and character this brings to our town. Going to a local coffee shop has a joy to it that’s almost palpable. The owners of these local places pour their lives into their coffee. We the community get a space to congregate, to study, to unwind and to socialize. I recommend speaking to the owners of local businesses. They’ll be ecstatic to talk about their story and how they explore their craft with their own distinctive touch. Maybe you could learn a few tips about making your own passion a reality.
Not only do small businesses add to the character of a community but they make a dramatic difference for our economy. The U.S. Small Business Administration reported in their 2016 Small Business Profile that they employ 46.9 percent of Pennsylvania employees; they also account for 89.1 percent of Pennsylvania’s exporters. Those are significant numbers. They make Pennsylvania a big player in the global market while strengthening our own people.
There is an idea that business owners are selfish, caring only for power and money. That’s such a pessimistic way of approaching it. They love one thing and toiled for years learning as much as they can about that one thing. Now, through their business, they can share their expertise with us and build our community. They are proof that dreams do come true through working dutifully, never giving up and making smart choices. It makes sense that these kinds of endeavors should pay off. That’s why we are in university in the first place; so our hard work, perseverance and our smart choices pay off.
John Auer is a third-year student majoring in communication studies. He can be reached at JA862943@wcupa.edu.