Thread by @AleanaYoung

Small biz thread:

I own and operate a small (four employee) biz. I am lucky. We can stay open, are staying safe, and are staying solvent.

Lots of my colleagues and friends aren’t. My husband’s business is shut down.

Saying that we’re all in this together is inaccurate.

Some of us are “fine”, some aren’t going to be able to reopen. Some are big, some are smaller. But all are important.

99% (ACTUAL number) of biz in SK are small.

Everyone is going to need some help whether it’s financial, guidance, or mental health.

And EVERYONE is tired.

Everyone.

Complaining about teachers or public servants getting paid is petty and pointless and dangerous.

We’re built on public and private, and every member of the public is doing a damn good job supporting local businesses with their dollars and care.

What is worth doing is looking at who is helping. Who actually cares and who just talks about being supportive of entrepreneurship and business.

I know *I’m* not your average bear, but looking at who is reaching out to small biz and who is absent is striking.

The local BIDs, other small independent business leaders, individual amazing people in orgs like Tourism Sask, and the City are taking it upon themselves to reach out, ask, listen, and share their voices and influence for all of us.

But without being too pointed, there are vacuums of leadership as well. And they’re increasingly obvious.

What’s working is listening and embracing differences.

What is failing is talking to the same familiar faces who always agree with you, and picking winners and losers,

All of this is to say, we’re not all in this together because we’re not going through the same thing.

Being divisive is unhelpful. ACTUALLY engaging with real small businesses is critical. Because this struggle isn’t going to end when we’re all open again.

Entrepreneurs will need access to rent support, interest free or low interest capital, mental health and business coaching, a bit of grace, and an economy that isn’t further crushed by reactionary austerity.

We need each other if we’re going to get to a new normal.

So if you’re still getting your usual pay cheque - thanks for being such ballin’ supporters of your community. Look after your neighbours and our vulnerable.

If you’re in biz, please sleep and be kind to yourself and get fresh air.

And if you’re one of the amazing (mostly women!) in leadership roles reaching out to folks (looking at @Canuckgirl, @DAblo666, @DowntownJudith, @MarkTheBrewer, and lots of others) keep sharing your power.

And if you’re talking about the economy, and making decisions that impact lives and livelihoods, please start seeking voices from outside your bubble.

Listen to the crabby, stressed people.

They’re trying to be productive and help you help us all.

🎤