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Invisible_Entrepreneurs
| Invisible Entrepreneurs
Imagine yourself so tiny you're sliding down a nanotube. These
things are the latest tech invention that are so small that only
single molecules can pass through them. Now imagine that you are
the size of a mouse, that's the thing under your right hand
there, hovering just above the "Delete" button - ready to click.
The comparison in size between a single molecule sliding down a
nanotube and the size of the computer mouse is actually vast
beyond comprehension. But there are bigger things like the Apple
sitting near my mouse. It's an IMac and still small by computer
standards. Apple Employed over 175,000 people worldwide in 1999
and they are considered a "small" company because they have
"only" five percent of the personal computer market. Just a tiny
fraction you might say. Nearly nothing. Almost invisible.
But Apple is not quite too tiny to see. They are the size of a
tasty bit of fruit worthy of a snack by investors and, with over
a BILLION Dollars in the bank - in CASH - Appple might be said
to be doing well by most standards. Certainly by my standards. I
am one of those itsy-bitsy single molecules sliding down the
nanotube of business. I am too tiny to see and so are you. In
fact nearly fifty percent of the US economy fits in that
category of too tiny to see. Under 10 employees earning less
than ten million per year. We are invisible.
But how can half of anything be invisible you say? Half of the
economy is too tiny to see? Well, apparently so. Must be the
dark side of the moon. The back half that is not visible to
anyone.
My tiny mind took this invisible path this evening after reading
a paragraph at the end of a CBS Marketwatch news story. A
paranthetical afterthought to REAL news reads:
Loudcloud said it's selling its managed-services business to
EDS for $63.5 million in cash. They raised $350 million in debt
and equity over the years and it now has roughly $100 million
left. What's more, the global recession has made it difficult
for small companies to land big accounts. "Demand shrank," said
Andreessen. "People are looking for big companies (to work
with)." Loudcloud raised $172.5 million and had a market
valuation of $439.5 million, according to Dealogic. Shares of
Loudcloud jumped 22 percent to $1.99.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?B2C715411
Fellow internet junkies will recognize the name of the LoudCloud
CEO, Marc Andreesen as an early architect of the internet and
the developer of the first "browser" to allow surfing the web,
called Mosaic. He's quoted in that story above, lamenting the
fact that his latest project is seen as too "small" with a
valuation of only $439.5 million.
Marc, take a vacation! You've earned it!
Now my real motive in penning this essay is to ask why? Why does
this economy see NONE of us that make up the remaining 50% of
the economy and lament that companies worth nearly a
half-billion dollars are "too small"?
You have literally millions of small business people doing
virtually millions of jobs out here. The Butcher, the Baker, the
Candlestick maker are all out here daily doing what needs to be
done to make the US economy run smoothly and continue to hum
while the big bad boys of ENRON and KMART and PG&E are going
bust even with their billions?
Even the slightly dishonest used car dealer who wheedles a few
hundred more than necessary from the hairdresser that "just
loves that little sports car over there" is better than greedy
corporate CEO's filling their bank accounts before trashing the
companies they run.
Ultimately, Joes Used Cars CEO contributes more to the economy
than does the CEO who sees to it that his own account is flush
before putting his invisible employees on the street to look for
new work.
I'm stunned that when analysts talk about small, that they are
talking about those businesses earning nine- figure incomes!
You've heard of what amounts to that fantasyland dream of
earning six figures, right?
Why is that not enough? And why are those of us out in the real
world making less than that fantasy figure like single molecules
sliding through a nanotube?
We are the invisible entrepreneurs.
Francois de Visscher, a Greenwich, Conn. based financial
consultant and investment banker said, "If you are a $100
million company, a $500 million, or a $1 billion company, you're
not a small business anymore."
Thank you for that Francois, at least I know I'm still a small
business. Thank goodness for that.
About the author:
Search Engine Optimization for the Small Business
http://WebSite101.com/Search_Engine_Positioning/ WebSite101
"Reading List" Weekly Entrepreneur Tip Sheet Weekly Ezine
emphasizing small business on the Internet
http://website101.com/arch/ ---------------------------------
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