Normally my blogs are written from 4-6am to be sent out later in the day but being it is a relaxing day I did reading and research during that time instead. Last night I was out at 10pm to see what was up in the community. I drove through Chesterton Indiana and then Valparaiso Indiana. I had a secret agenda to see if small business really believes in the support of their community. What I saw truly shows the heart of what small business is and how much they depend on the local community to help them grow.
At 10pm in both towns a large majority of the small businesses I drove by had their lights on and were preparing for the upcoming Black Friday weekend. Big box stores that are open 24x7 were of course open but the big stores that are corporate owned by large business owners all had their lights out. I guess they are already all ready.
At 6am I went out again and repeated the same process as the night before. I figured being Thanksgiving all the shops but the big box stores and gas stations would be closed. Small businesses were not being prepped and readied as much as the previous night but I saw several that were working on both the inside and outside of their shops. This is true dedication and what makes one truly believe in the spirit of small business.
I went back home, started the dishes, and getting ready for an afternoon with the family. During that time, I thought about the efforts of big business vs small business. There is truly a disconnect with big business in that personal touch. I guess that is one reason small business is so close to our heart. Remember to support small business as they have something that truly matters. They are in business with a passion, love, and a true heart to help their community grow.