I wasn’t even supposed to go that way. Just one of those detours life throws at you — a turn you take because the light changes or you need a minute to think. And there he was, standing by the curb like a man trying to pawn off a piece of his former life.
He was selling what should have been an asset, but you could see it wasn’t. Not anymore. That thing gleamed under the afternoon sun, a luxury bought at the height of the pandemic — when optimism came in stimulus checks and easy loans, when everyone thought tomorrow would be kinder.
Now it sat there like a noose around his neck. Barely used, barely his.
His asking price? Still up there with the dealers. Except he’s the one paying the interest. He’s got the prime loan and the sleepless nights. And me? I had cash and curiosity, but not enough faith in fairy tales to meet his number.
So I didn’t make an offer. I just looked at him and thought — maybe it’s kinder to let the bank take it back. Pride can only carry you so far before gravity takes over.
And that’s what stuck with me as I drove away.
How many more trinkets can he sell before he runs out of things to list?
How many more “assets” have to turn into anchors before we admit it —
maybe small business isn’t dead, but it’s gasping for air.
And when you’re ready for another hit of inspiration—or caffeine—check out our latest releases at Coffee Bar Roasters. It’s not just coffee; it’s a mindset.So, Is Small Business Dead?
No. Not even close.
It’s bleeding, sure. It’s mutating. It’s scraping by on sleepless nights and digital duct tape. But it’s alive because you are.
Small business has always been less about the balance sheet and more about the human behind it—the one who refuses to give up when the numbers don’t make sense, when the market turns, when the “secure” jobs vanish overnight.
So maybe this is the beginning of something. Maybe all those corporate refugees are about to rebuild the backbone of entrepreneurship.
And maybe, sitting here with your coffee, scrolling this on a Tuesday morning, you already know: the only thing dead is the illusion of safety.
Everything else? It’s just getting started. The Playlist That Keeps You Moving
You and I both know workdays blur together when you’re building something from scratch. So here’s a playlist for the long hauls, pulled from the Coffee Bar Connoisseur vault—ten tracks that help you focus, dream, and grind.
You breathe. You plan. You pivot.
Start with the basics:
Diversify your income. Don’t let one client or platform decide your fate. Sell services, subscriptions, digital products—whatever spreads the risk.
Automate everything repetitive. Free your brain for the hard stuff.
Focus on your niche. Don’t try to serve everyone. Serve someone deeply.
Learn SEO early. It’s cheaper than ads and compounds over time. Again, SEO Strategy Support can help you build that foundation.
Keep a cash buffer. Even if it’s small, it buys you options.
Build community. Connect with other creators, entrepreneurs, and builders. Collaboration beats isolation.
You’ll mess things up. You’ll lose money on bad ideas. You’ll question whether you’re cut out for it.
But you’ll also hit moments when you land a new client, or your product goes viral, or your phone dings with the first sale in weeks—and you’ll remember why you started.
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