For three months now, I have been working at a ridiculously fast and furious pace, refusing to hit the stop button until I reached my goal - to produce a beautiful new web business and 500 pieces of hand knotted jewelry to support it. My mission has been accomplished. It is no longer necessary to force the creative juices to flow into the beads - no requirement to manufacture anything, except perhaps an occasional new thought or idea. Self, I give you permission to just simply stop working at warp speed and relax, if you haven‘t forgotten how to do that.

 

I am a firm believer in treating myself after I have worked extraordinarily hard or accomplished an important personal goal. My gift to me? I am sitting alone on the Atlantic - just me and the moon - both witness to the splendor of the night stars, the pounding waves and the angry wind. Just stillness . . . as I melt into the vastness of the outdoors.

 

I wish you could see what I see. As the waves fight each other to be first to shore, the air glides unseen down the sandy beach, wet and and laden with the tastiness of salt. The ocean, apparently grateful for my witness to its magnificence, lays gifts at my feet - tiny crabs, bits of shell, rocks polished by its comings and goings, deceased jellyfish and foamy water - lots of it, an endless supply. My friend, the moon, must be feeling a bit intimidated tonight, paling in comparison to the more impressive powers that are present. Tucked behind the clouds, it sheepishly grins for a fleeting moment, just long enough to create a marbled sky and recapture my attention. What a treat to reconnect with my natural surroundings after being cooped up for months with beads and silk thread!  

 

Speaking of hard work, what is it that drives us to produce, create, and manufacture? Is it money, power, or recognition? Or is it just simply competition, the drive to be just a little bit better than the average joe? I am a die hard capitalist, not a rich, successful one by America‘s stands, but a true capitalist - a survivor of the school of hard business knocks, one who has never filed bankruptcy and one who has enjoyed the benefits of working for myself.   No boss, no rigid rules or strategic planning requirements. Just hard work and commitment and most importantly, personal freedom. All small businesses live or die based on their owner’s commitment of time and investment of energy.

 

I believe that the desire to produce money enhances our lives and makes America’s economy strong. In my own business endeavor of 25 years, I have worked hard to keep a competitive edginess, striving to maintain a unique business persona and fighting to weather the ups and downs of an ever-evolving economy . The production of money has taken a back seat, though, to surviving economic downturns, striving for perfection in daily operations, and to creating jobs for young women on their journey through college. My business is a haven for women. My customer base is 95% female and my staff is gendered the same. I have to admit I love being surrounded by girl energy. It is loving, sweet, light hearted and gentle and makes for a wonderful family environment.

 

I walked into a girl owned restaurant today off the beach. It had the same sense of genuineness and purpose as mine. The women hugged each other in love as the shift of waitstaff changed. They openly shared their heartaches with each other about grandma dying and the kids being in bed with fever. Their tip jars were lined up on the counter with their names and assorted magic marker drawings. The food from the restaurant reflected their caring, as did the checkout area. The North Carolina specialty, barbeque with vinegar and tomato sauce, was reasonably priced, home cooked, and efficiently presented. There were the ubiquitous donation jars on the checkout counter -one for troops, one for an injured football star, and yet another for a family that had met with adversity. And there were impulse products at the register - Beech gum, salt water taffy, and real crème soda. This little mom and pop restaurant was a perfect picture of capitalism, of the machine that drives the American way of life. Small businesses make the world go round by providing jobs, by generating tax dollars, by offering a product to the consumer, but most importantly, by allowing people to come together as a family to serve others.

 

May capitalism always prevail in America. May there always be men and women who are fiercely independent and willing to take on the risks associated with ownership. LONG LIVE CAPITALISM! I say shame on the Michael Moore’s of the world who bash capitalism out of one side of their collective mouths but languish in the lap of its luxury out of the other!

 

Ultimately, it is competition that will continue to drive American greatness.