|
By
Catherine M. Pruissen
Small
business is the backbone of our economy, representing
60 percent of all new jobs.
What's more, a survey conducted by Goldfarb Consultants,
and sponsored by the Canadian Federation of Independent
Business and Scotiabank, shows that small-business
owners are among the most respected people in the
world for their motivation, professionalism and honesty.
Should
that give small child care business owners a warm
and fuzzy feeling inside? You bet it should. Especially
when you consider that independent business owners,
from the dayhome operator down the block to the large
daycare centre proprietor on the corner, are responsible
for a larger portion of care for approximately 13
million U.S. and 2.3 million Canadian children.
And
here's even more bragging rights: The child care industry
is booming and has been targeted as one of the hot
growth sectors of the new millennium, according to
David Wanetick, author of Hot Sector Investing.
Statistics from the National Child Care Association
show there are approximately 100,000 licenses child
care centres in the U.S., with about 5,000 new centres
cropping up each year. Those numbers don't include
the huge private dayhome industry.
What
better contribution can child care operators make
to the community and the economy than the care and
nurturing of our young people. Each and every child
care provider should be immensely proud of what they
do. They are passionate about the children in their
care and about the quality of service they provide.
How many employees in other businesses can say the
same?
On
top of that, child care operators are highly skilled
and excel at a lot more than overseeing the positive
development of children. As small business owners
they counsel parents, cook, clean and prepare new
agendas for upcoming days. They balance books, massage
budgets, and perform recordkeeping duties. They conduct
research, upgrade their training, market their business,
and provide their little clients with immeasurable
service.
Child
care business owners have to be respected as well
for the risk they take being self-employed. The security
of a steady paycheck is nonexistent, yet the stress
of running the business, the pressure to succeed,
and the long hours are ever-present. Not everyone
is willing to follow their dream.
Child
care business owners, stand tall. Don't ever offer
excuses for your business. Your intelligence, your
business acumen, and your contribution to society
are to be commended. So hand out those business cards.
Speak out loud and clear when someone asks you what
you do. Be proud of tending to our nation's young.
Let everyone know that your business is a valuable
and much needed asset to our society.
Resources
It’s
a Small Business World:
Five-Nation Poll Results on Public
Attitudes About Small Business
|
