By Jack Faris
Getting fired by Donald Trump before a television audience of 20 million people might be painful for those getting the boot, but they should be consoled by the fact that Americans hold a favorable view of those who pursue a career in business, even when they aren’t successful.
Although small-business owners can’t get fired, they sometimes fail. But even in failure, they continue to be viewed as good guys. The public, by an overwhelming majority-nearly 90 percent- consider bankruptcy a good-faith effort that just didn’t pan out, according to a recent public opinion poll, “The Public Reviews Small Business,” conducted by the NFIB Research Foundation.
The poll revealed that the nation enjoys a culture that strongly supports small business and entrepreneurial activity. Those favorable opinions have a significant influence on the ultimate success of small firms.
Getting ahead in this country demands perseverance, sacrifice and a strict focus on one’s goals. Along the way, there are certain to be setbacks and challenges, especially by those who take the path of entrepreneurship.
If you want to get ahead in America, own a small business. Two-thirds of Americans hold that view and it’s even stronger among the nation’s minorities, 81 percent of whom see business ownership as an avenue to opportunity. What’s more, an overwhelming majority of Americans-90 percent-would approve if a daughter or son started a small business.
Sorry, Donald, but the public by a large margin believes that small business exerts an even greater positive influence on the nation than television. Actually, small business ranks well ahead of many major institutions including higher education, federal government and even big business. And here’s a heads-up to politicians in this election year: 67 percent of those surveyed said big business has too much influence on the way things are going in America and 58 percent believe small business has too little sway.
Public support is vital to those who take the entrepreneurial plunge because it influences the number and type of people who attempt to start businesses and how often they will try. Additionally, it shapes the formal and informal rules that govern commerce.
Why does the American public have such a close bond with small business? Because many have “been there, done that.” One-in-four Americans have been self-employed full time at some point in their lives; over half have had a direct association with private business ownership and operation. Many have worked in small firms and many have personal relationships-particularly friendships-with small-business owners.
Most Americans think small-business owners possess desirable personal attributes. Ninety-one percent of those surveyed say these business people work harder than people like themselves, and 82 percent believe that the owners of small firms contribute more to the betterment of the community than they do.
So would-be apprentices, don’t sweat Mr. Trump’s pink slip. Take your entrepreneurial skills and join the growing number of men and women who are starting their own small businesses. Americans will applaud you for it.
–Jack Faris is president of NFIB (the National Federation of Independent Business), the nation’s largest small-business advocacy group. A non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its 600,000 members in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals. More information is available on-line at www.NFIB.com.
