“Itsy-Bitsy Spider”
The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again
source Roud Folk Song Index number 11586
It is time again to learn from favorite old nursery rhymes! Isn’t it interesting how so many things can be connected and learned from and just a bit of creativity brings a fresh new approach to something we have become numb to?! Remember this one?
First, let’s notice that the spider, or for the purpose of this article, small business, is small. This can be a good thing or bad thing. Good because it is nimble and can adjust and move faster than other HUGE spiders. Good because there are options and opportunities that can be taken advantage of. Bad, only if the spider allows it to be bad! Many times it’s all just a mind-set and what is allowed to be believed becomes reality, in life and business. We need to have a positive outlook for our business…maybe the spider had a huge dream, but it could have been delayed or dumped when others brought their negativity!
So he has to make a decision, a decision to succeed and get something better for himself. Is the bottom of the water spout “good enough” for his future? No! He decides to begin the journey to climb up and out to a better life.
But what happens next is a common thing in life and business, it rains! He gets washed down to where he began. Does he stay discouraged or does he dry himself off and start right back up again risking the ridicule of others? Just like the seasons of life and business, the sun comes out again! Opportunity knocks! In your business this can be a strategic alliance or a new product line you could begin to carry, don’t stay down and discouraged! Start climbing out again, this time it will work. Persevere!
Is perseverance an important trait for a business owner to have?
“Success in business is often measured in terms of the length of time a business survives. A better measure might be how many small businesses thrive and provide a decent living wage for owners and employees. Estimated failure rates for small businesses vary widely, sometimes going as high as 90% in the first five years of operations.
Perseverance is defined as continuing strength or patience in withstanding difficulty. Meeting challenges is a daily requirement in business. The way business owners meet these challenges is often a sign of how successful the business will be. Many of today’s successful businesses were started by individuals who endured failure, and learned from it before they experienced success. Failure can be defined as a chance to look for a new direction. Successful business owners look for creative ways to overcome any obstacles they face. No amount of perseverance will make a poorly defined business successful. To define the business, the following questions should be addressed as a part of a venture feasibility study or business plan: What makes the product or service unique? Why will customers buy this particular product or service? Is there any way to make the product or service unique? Will this product or service sell at a price high enough to cover all business costs and a provide profit margin?”
source