“Beverlee, it looks like Canada is bouncing back from the pandemic.”
It sure sounded like good news. And John, the Canadian politician who told me this on the phone, wasn’t one to be overly optimistic.
As a small business coach, I’ve gotten to know several people in governments who influence the North American economies. They all want healthier small businesses that create the jobs that drive tax revenue, and when I help entrepreneurs keep their companies profitable and growing, it’s a win-win for everyone.
“That’s excellent to hear, John,” I replied. “What are you basing that on?”
“I saw the numbers myself just this morning. Applications for incorporation were down in March. But April, May, and June are breaking records. And I mean records from even before the pandemic. Businesses are exploding all over the place at a faster rate than we’ve seen in decades.”
“So . . . we’re coming out of the COVID-19 winter?”
“Big time. Business is back!”
I laughed. “Give entrepreneurs a problem and they will build a solution. It seems they’re the ones carrying us through this economic downturn.”
“Yes, I’d have to agree. I’ve seen a few new businesses that teach people about improved health guidelines. Trainers from these companies come into your organization and teach your employees how to social distance in tight spaces, how to maintain good hygiene protocols for your specific environment, things like that. Find a need, and fulfill it with a new business. It’s what our entrepreneurs do best.”
Entrepreneurs really are the backbone of every economy. They can adapt and change faster than big corporations or governments. They see a problem and build a solution.
The 2020 shutdown crushed small businesses across the world—but you and I know there’s no crushing the entrepreneurial spirit. Businesses are coming back now, and they’re leveraging the very issues that shut them down to open new doors to financial opportunity.
The same is true of you as a business owner. Ending or selling a business does not have to mean ending your career as an entrepreneur. The last chapter talked about selling your business. So what comes after you sell? Or what if you don’t want to sell? Maybe you just want to start a second company on the side. Most entrepreneurs start multiple businesses, because that need to create is in their blood.
Or maybe, like 80% of all small businesses, yours couldn’t keep its doors open. Maybe you lost your business in the pandemic, or maybe every business you’ve tried to start has failed.
Life after building a business usually means building more (and better) business. Regardless of how many failed businesses you’ve had, if you’re an entrepreneur at heart, your career is far from over.
The entrepreneurial spirit is unstoppable. Whether you’re rebuilding after a setback, starting fresh with a new idea, or expanding into uncharted territory, the drive to solve problems and create something meaningful is what sets entrepreneurs apart. Your journey as a business owner doesn’t end with a single success—or even with a failure. It’s a continuous cycle of resilience, reinvention, and growth. The pandemic may have tested the limits of small business owners everywhere, but it also proved one thing: entrepreneurs are the backbone of every recovery.
If you’re ready to rebuild smarter, stronger, and with a plan that works, grab a copy of Small Business, Big Opportunity: Systematize Your Small Business, Create Personal Freedom, and Live the Entrepreneurial Dream by Beverlee Rasmussen. It’s packed with insights and strategies to help you not just survive but thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.
