Everywhere you look, the message for small business owners is the same: bigger is better. Business gurus applaud “scalable” and “replicable” models. Influencers celebrate follower milestones and encourage everyone to join the race for numbers.
It’s as if size is the only yardstick of success.
It’s not.
Sure there are the headline stories of small business owners who have made it big. The thing is, for each one of those there are hundreds, thousands, who did not make it, and not for lack of trying.
Who benefits most when you chase this endless pursuit of “more”? Often, it’s the very people telling you to do it – consultants, gurus, and influencers who profit from your participation in the game. Their goals might not align with yours, and their interests might be served far more than your own.
This pressure to chase size feels a lot like the relentless societal push to be slim, have perfect white teeth, or a full head of hair. It’s as if being content with what you have simply isn’t an option.
But what if the true goal isn’t endless expansion, but happiness? Happiness for you, the business owner; happiness for those who rely on your business for their income; and happiness for your customers.
A profitable small business can often generate more money for its owners than a business relentlessly pursuing scale, especially if that pursuit involves significant financial risk. Think about the emotional toll of taking on a hefty loan to fund growth. Compare that to the peace of mind that comes with a small, debt-free, self-sustaining business. It’s a different kind of wealth, one measured in peace of mind rather than balance sheet zeroes.
In our experience, small businesses are inherently more nimble, innovative, and efficient than their larger counterparts. They’re often more profitable too.We suspect this is because in a small business, everything matters, and nothing goes unnoticed. Inefficiency simply can’t hide. In big businesses, it can easily get lost in the noise.
Today, technology makes it easier than ever for us to achieve more with less in our small businesses, and with less risk.
Another significant benefit of being small is easy differentiation. Your people, their knowledge, and their personal approach to transacting business are your unique selling points. In a big business, this kind of personalisation is often systemised into something average and, ultimately, lost.
If you genuinely value your independence and understand the power of differentiation through personal service, you’re likely to find more happiness and fulfillment running a small to mid-size business than perpetually chasing scale.
So, don’t let anyone dictate your path or your definition of success. Reach your own conclusion about what’s truly right for you and your business.
Here at Tower Systems we serve local small business retailers, independent retailers. We made that decision long ago. It keeps us close to our customers, focussed on their needs and not beholden to one huge customer. Local matters to local communities. As cliche as that sounds, it’s what we believe. We are grateful to serve local small business retailers.
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