According to the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of U.S. employer firms. Of small businesses, 52 percent operate out of the home. That means that more than half of all U.S. employer firms operate out of the home.
 
In addition, America’s small businesses account for 39% of the country’s gross national product, create two out of every three new jobs and produce 2.5 times as many innovations per employee as do large firms.
 
What does that tell you? It tells you that home-based businesses are an important part of the U.S. economy.
 
Therefore, if you are running a home-based business (like I am), you are an integral part of the solution for improving not only your own personal economy, but the economy of anyone you hire and even the country as a whole.
 
That’s a big burden. But you don’t need to think of it that way. Here’s the perspective I’d recommend:
 
Think globally, act locally.
 
You can change the world and you can do it by taking responsibility for your own life and your own business.
 
“We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
 
~ Howard Zinn
 
Every action you take, every decision you make has a ripple effect in your life and the lives of others. However, it is easy to forget that when we get bogged down in what we perceive to be the boring (and sometimes stressful) minutia of everyday life.
 
And creative professionals who have bought into the “starving artist” mentality are the most grievous offenders of this sort of behavior. They think small about themselves, their work and their business. And in so doing rob the world of their unique greatness.
 
If you are a creative entrepreneur who thinks you can’t make more money because what you do is too creative to have value for others, I challenge you to think again. You are awesome and were created to bring that awesome to the world. There are people out there who will pay you money for your unique genius.
 
So start thinking big. Create grand visions for your business. Then take actions to bring that vision to life. You can do it!
 
Now It’s Your Turn:
How have you thought bigger of yourself or your business? If you haven’t already done so, how can you? Do you have advice for others on who they can own their Awesome in their creative business? Please share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions in a comment below.