The Face of Small Business

Last week I had the great pleasure of attending the 2022 Canterbury-Bankstown Local Business Awards. I was also shocked and honoured to learn that Yellow Brick Road Earlwood had been named Outstanding Professional Services Business. While this is amazing recognition for the whole team, I wanted to take some time to reflect on some other highlights from the evening.

The first thing I noticed was just how many businesses in this year’s awards were run by young people. It used to be the ‘norm’ that our kids would finish high school and head straight to university, before seeking a job in an established business. These days, however, the career path is very different. Young people are embracing their passions and turning them into successful businesses, some of them before they reach age 25.

It takes tremendous bravery to open your own business. It can be lonely and frustrating and there are times when you don’t make enough to pay yourself a wage. However, seeing the joy on the faces of the young winners at the Local Business Awards shows just how fulfilling owning your own business can be.

Another trend I noticed on the night was the number of young women who were in attendance. Not just as members of teams, but as business owners representing the ‘face’ of our community. When I started my business (over 10 years ago), so many people told me I would struggle because I was a woman. It’s true that at the time there weren’t that many women working in finance, but that wasn’t the only reason my gender was considered an issue. There was still a stigma that women couldn’t succeed as business owners because they needed to take time away to have children. Some even thought women weren’t tough enough to go through the ups and downs of small business ownership.

Fast forward to today and the businesses that are succeeding are being led by women who don’t believe in that kind of negative talk. They have been through two of the toughest years we’ve ever seen and have come out the other side even more resilient and motivated. They are employing other women, and building amazing teams that are providing great service to their customers.

Their enthusiasm and joy was on show for everyone to see at the awards presentation and I wanted to take the time to highlight these impressive women. With role models like this, the future of small business is in good hands.