CC 10 birthday cake. Photo CC by Kristina Alexanderson
Today is the 10th birthday of Small Biz Survival.
My first article was Can you build a growing small business in a declining small town? on January 15, 2006.
Over the past ten years together, we’ve created 2,448 posts. That includes 482 Brag Baskets, 1667 posts by me, and at least 299 contributor posts. (It’s possible a few early ones have my name on them still.) Glenn Muske, Jon Swanson, and Zane Safrit all deserve special recognition for their many contributions. Thank you! Extra special recognition is due to Jeanne Cole and my mom, Glenna Mae Hendricks, who both believed in me at the very beginning, supported this project in many ways and wrote lots of stories.
You’ve added your part to the story, too. Yes, you. Together, you have added 7,467 comments. I thank you for every single one.
Lots of small businesses in small towns have told their stories here. We’ve answered a lot of business questions. We’ve helped who knows how many people be more prosperous in their small town.
Are we stopping any time soon? No. We have a lot more to say, questions to answer, stories to share and encouragement to offer. I hope you have a lot more comments to add.
Thank you.
Today is also Friday. That means Brag Basket. I’d love to hear your good news, especially today. Take a moment to think about how different your business and town are today than they were in 2006. Please, tell us just a little about your progress in the Brag Basket, right here. Just leave a comment. Or if you’re reading this in your email, just hit reply. I’ll post it in the comments for you.
Thank you. I know I said that, but you don’t know how much I mean it. Thank you.
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
Congratulations, Becky! There is no way to know how many people you have helped and how many businesses and lives you have changed. My guess is that it’s massive. Thank you for your brilliant work and contribution to the world.
Thank you, Stephanie. I’ve been overwhelmed by all the well wishes from social media friends, too.
Cecil Carter sent these comment in by email, sharing some thriving Texas towns:
I had a non-profit board meeting this weekend in Frederickburg Texas. Frederickburg’s population is 10,900 folks and over the last 25 years, it has grown at a rate of 1.3% per year, but it has been steady. Somehow they have developed this small town with no natural beauty, no lake, no river, no forest, no caves, into a tourist town. We stayed in a hotel that was full Friday night. We wanted to stay Saturday night….but they had been sold out to a group for a month. All the hotels in town were sold out Saturday night! Friday night we went to dinner, down town about 6:00pm…many of the eating places were already packed and needed a reservation ! AND we could not find a parking spot on main street, we had to go one street over. Also the sidewalks were CROWDED…The basic business district (town) was three (3) blocks long. It was like they must be giving away free beer at each end of the business area.!
Saturday afternoon we drove up the road (HWY 281) and stopped in Lampasas. It was only a third the size with only two motels. The reason we stopped there? There is a small creek that that they put a low dam on, making a place for gently flowing water…they built rock walls and installed park equipment. It is a picturesque place. So with Dinner Saturday night, Breakfast Sunday and the hotel. We probably spent $150. in that town….all because it looked good !
Just some musings about other small towns from your curmudgeon friend, Cecil
It seems like only yesterday. ; ) Congratulations.
I feel the same! Thank you, Rex.