What I Learned Observing a Small Business

Back home in my small Illinois town, I frequent a local used bookshop located on the square across from the courthouse. Having been a patron for about four years now, I’ve grown close to both the owner and the shop itself.

I didn’t realize I was, but I learned many valuable lessons about running a business just by naturally observing how the owner ran her bookshop.

Here is what I learned over the years:

Be Passionate About Your Business.

The woman who owns the local bookshop, whose age is north of 70, has been running it for over 30 years. Why so long? Because she is passionate about her business.

She not only loves to read, but enjoys discussing books, authors and putting the right book in a customer’s hand.

There are days when she doesn’t break even profit-wise or only has a few customers stop in. She could give up, but rather, she persists because she knows it’s just a slow business day.

She understands that brighter days are ahead, and because she is passionate about her business, she will continue to stay open so long as customers continue to purchase books from her.

Being passionate about your business is key to owning and operating a successful one. If you’re not passionate about it, why should your customers?

Your Customers Should Be Your Number One Priority.