Is the personal side of our development hampering SMEs?

 

Life is an experience that everyone goes through at different levels. However, when one zooms out their view, it is recognized that the more things change the more they remain the same. Business is not only comprised of what happens during business hours, but includes what happens on the personal time of the business owner and their team members outside of the said hours. 

At the end of the day, the heartbeat of the business are the individuals who work there. Who provides the information and service so critical to its success. What would be needed to create an atmosphere of support that encourages people to have delightful experiences at work? 

For some, life at home can be hard, and they may not get the appreciation there. 

I remember serving at church, and as we greeted attendees coming to the service, some collapsed and cried when they received a warm greeting from someone who barely knew them and vice versa. 

In his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie states that deep down in individuals is the craving to be appreciated. The use of the word craving conveys the level of seriousness that appreciation can play in the lives of others. 

This is not to be done in a manipulative manner. We often call out people when they do things wrong, but when they do things right, we tend to behave as if that's what they are supposed to do and don't provide the accolades that may serve to reinforce positive behaviour. 

In life, our colleagues/workmates will encounter some form of tragedy. Death, divorce, accidents, and robberies are some negatives that come to mind. Others that impact positively also impact our lives and result in changed behaviours. Marriages, birthdays, and promotions, to name a few, also require some changes that others may need help understanding. 

Why would people who would support you in a particular type of business not do so should you leave to begin your own? Can it be some emotion that you would rather not discuss here? 

You have to be perceptive and discerning when you're in business. Keep learning - both formally and informally. There's not everything you need a certificate for, but learning is to fulfil your curiosity. 

Have fun while working. Your work day can take over 1/3 of your life; ensure it is not miserable. With the personal/career aspects of your life in balance. There is nothing to stop you from accelerating towards your goals. 

What does the future hold? Hope or Hardship?

 

If there's one thing that can be said, 2020 has been a year that made everyone pause and take stock. It wasn't because we were curious nor good planners, but simply we were forced into a state of reckoning. 

There were severe losses, where in many cases it, arguably, needed not happen. Many paid the ultimate price with their lives, and those who are remaining are in awe and wondering, Why?!?

Despite the hardships faced by everyone, the different attitudes of people shone through. People relied on their default values for survival. Not necessarily because they are/were uncaring, but simply because their hand was forced by the circumstances they faced and could not explain. 

Did these situations begin in 2020? A pause for reflection would reveal - NO! They began before this particular year. What happened in 2020 was that the harvest of all that we were sowing came in, and in many cases it was not what anyone would have hoped to have to deal with. 

The value systems of many may have caused their demise because of the choices they made. Some were reckless others were caring, the result however were the heavy costs that impacted - life, the economies, jobs, homes, coping mechanisms like disaster recovery, having to pivot to maintain a livelihood, and the list goes on. 

We saw many politicians and many leaders in their true light. Their behaviors make their followers bold to express their various opinions, even if they seemed far-fetched to other population segments. 

Many prayed and developed relationships with their God that was unprecedented. Why did it have to take a pandemic and other disasters/mishaps for us to make use of what was available to us all along - grace and favor. 

As we stand on the precipice of the unknown future, are we ready for 2021 or are we resigned to 2020 won? As we tend to say here in Barbados, you plan for the best and prepare for the worst. One thing is certain, where we face hope or hardship, we do so knowing that we are resilient as we were made that way. Let's expect that we will come out on the other end of the new year - capital, conquering our environment in which we are the ones who were given dominion from the Genesis of time. 

Wishing you an abundance of blessings in your future. 

Do you know your reputation?

 We are all known for something. However in many instances, it would appear that we ourselves may be unaware of the reputation we carry. It may be due to many of us not paying attention to ourselves and what we portray. 

We often have opinions of others based on our interaction with them. Yet, we don't seem to be always aware of what others think of us, and often in the cases when we do, we are often wrong in our determinations. 

It's time to become conscious of who we are and whose we are. What are the standards we have developed and inculcated over the years of our existence? 

In 2020, we were forced to stop at times and reflect on our lives, our environment and the situations we faced. We reflected on the lives of those who passed away and the impact that it had on us. I wondered, if they were ever heard/were told any of the things we hear of them when the tributes came in. As a friend of mine, long gone from this life said to me when I was growing up; "were they alive to smell the roses". 

Many of us will receive bouquets when we die, but does it mean that we haven't truly lived if we never received a bouquet while we are alive? When we do, how do we take in the moment and crystalize the experience in our psyche?

Do people know us in a lopsided manner? Only by our work, our family lives, our church personas? How many of us can say that we are known totally by anyone where those who know us can truly speak of our character? 

We compartmentalize so much that many of us can be Saints-on-Sunday and Sinners-the-rest-of-the-time. 

Sometimes, we as a people lament that we are not appreciated by others. Yet, have we take the opportunity to appreciate ourselves for just who we are? 

We don't seem to be learning! Just recently there was a gun battle between youth, who aren't even old enough to have experienced life in its fullest; yet they were so willing to take the life of another. In the media, as someone who impacted us significantly in one way or another move on, we only then take the time to appreciate them after they've gone. 

Let's live life on new terms:

• Become a greater supporter of our fellow man;
• Exceed the expectations of others in your service to others;
• Recognize it's not the big things that seem to be in the spotlight that mean the most, but those seemingly insignificantly things that may seem to go unnoticed that make the biggest differences; 
• Love unconditionally; 
• Do things "Just-because". E.g. we sometimes get together for family celebrations, just because, we can. It doesn't have to be commemorating anything other than the freedom of life to commune and share with each other. There's so much that can be learned about each other just by sharing a meal. The generation gap is bridged, family values are shared, we get to value others as we share a kind word/moment. 

Start today to determine and shape the reputation that you want to have. Yes, you'll make mistakes along the way; it's part of the process. Get to know, who you are and whose you are; and live! 

What do we know about our business environment - How can we then plan

Let's address the elephant in the room with what we know:

• There's no vaccine for COVID-19 in the near foreseeable future.
• The ways and methods we used to work in the past are now for the most part obsolete.
• The future will bring waves of disasters of one type or another: Wave 2 of COVID-19; Hurricane Season, as we're facing in a few hours; A historical virus or one that may be brand new that can pose serious world threats if mismanaged as in the case of this one. 
• The need to become self-sufficient as a people since we should realize how few of us can rely on the government machinery to mobilize with needed short turn around times to be really of benefit. Especially since many governments are in a state where they have been mishandled over time. 
• Leadership, going forward, need to be more solution focus and be able to act quickly and decisively in a way that benefits the public served and themselves. It has to be win/win in almost all cases. 

Since we cannot hide for significant amounts of time anymore, it means that we must function with heightened caution in all aspects of our lives. We can never be afforded the opportunity to be caught napping. 

Mentally, we have got to focus on areas of greatest concern and not be misdirected by the areas of the tragedy which causes us to focus on the outcome rather than the cause. 

We have to fortify our minds daily with information that is positive so that we adopt a can-do mindset so that nothing will be looked upon as being impossible. We will need to examine and study new systems of doing things. In some cases, we may even have the responsibility of creating the systems that will emerge. 

Stay tuned as we increase our discussions and share thoughts on our experiences, observations, possible trends and business developments. You may have a thought that I may have overlooked based on your experiences and interactions, I invite you to share so that it can benefit the greater good of mankind. 

Businesses making it work in this decade

Taking this opportunity to wish all readers all the very best for 2020, makes me stop to think about what would it take for those who are in business to really experience the best of 2020. For many in business, there appear to be more questions than answers. which is coupled with an air of uncertainty.

Often, it can feel as if our environment is spinning out of control with events and experiences taking place at a rapid pace. Influential factors appear at a rate that is faster than the solutions required and often before the knowledge we need as business owners even seems to be available.

Many have embarked upon the path of business ownership, being disenchanted for a variety of reasons of what traditional employment was offering. There are lots of claims of violated rights and privileges. However, when you look at those within a business, they treat themselves far worse than the environment out of which they emerged.

Quickly they realized that there is no increased pay when they want it. there is a reluctance to take the vacations they previously believed they were entitled to, and in many instances, they don't even pay themselves at the most basic levels of remuneration. They place this misguided approach on a word they call commitment, which they wrongly define as taking the worst treatment possible to satisfy their current situation for a better future.

Feel good terms like delayed gratification emerge without a real plan of when the delays can be finally realized. Misery also loves company, since these business owners feel that others must also be sacrificial like them and committed to a cause that is not readily defined.

Rather than go on as to why businesses don't work and the challenges they face; let's turn our attention to what is required to really make them work.

• Money follows management. Your management is not required if you are going to be a boss. Rather if you will humble yourselves to become servant leaders you will stand a better chance of success. How are you adding value to the lives of others that your business interacts with both internally and externally?  Are you selecting your team members well? Are you helping them to develop the competence to cope with the rigours of the job at hand? Are you getting their feedback from the trenches and are you well equipped mentally and physically to provide the resources to capitalize on available opportunities?
• Finance raises questions of having enough money to execute your plans, to develop opportunities so that they more from potential to reality. Can you manage your cash flow well? Do you have enough working capital, and do you know what working capital even is? Have you identified where you can get the funding you require and what the requirements would be that need to be in place? 
• Marketing when examined often reveals that many entities are functioning on being top secret. No one knows about them and what is required to interact with these entities. There is no real marketing plan nor approach with many entities just hoping to throw enough mud against the wall and hopes that something sticks. Markets are not well defined, making it all the more difficult to target effectively. 
• Operations are generally undercapitalized making execution all the more difficult. Often business owners run around trying to do everything themselves, even though this does not really help them capitalize on economies of scale. As you enter into or seek to expand your business, there are many things that you will not know. So who do you have on your team? At the very least you will need the following:
• A good attorney - remember the law is vast and all attorneys cannot adequately cover all aspects of the law. You will have needs for attorney's based on a number of criteria - contracts, intellectual property for example
• A good accountant - it is necessary that your financial and managerial accounting information and systems be kept current. If you do not understand the different approaches in accounting then you need to get that advice. Contact us for a more in-depth discussion and possible recommendations based on your area. 
• Human capital - with the changes and demands of dealing with people internally and externally; you will need someone to assist you in navigating this landscape often governed by the Employees Rights Act. It is just as it sounds and you can find the employees have all the rights if you are not compliant. 
• Sound business advisory services are going to help you pull all the moving parts of the business together in a manner that is cohesive and that works together so that there are traction and progress.  
• Statutory compliance is key and knowing your obligations helps with your planning. It also makes it easier for other entities to interact with you. If your business is incorporated then you must practice good governance. 

This short article only provides an overview, and serves as a quick guide to help you keep on target with the growth and development of your business. 

Feel free to ask questions and start a discussion with other readers. It is important to get the best benefits and experiences of others.  Happy New Year to you. Here's wishing you a successful decade in your businesses. 

A functional team is developed, it's not automatic

What are we teaching in our various organizations? Are we empowering the capacity for growth among those with whom we interact? Our personal biases, hangups and other negative fabrications of our minds should have no room in a progressive environment.

This old saying often regurgitated without thought is:
"If you want to do something well, then do it yourself"

This is one of the biggest hindrances to success. If you require help, then take the time to outline exactly what help you need and by when. Acknowledge that hidden agendas have no place in the progression of an organization who is already challenged with the situations that they face in the mainstream reason they came together in the first place.

If you have the necessary structure in place with the correct checks and balances, then the reduction of people pushing adverse agendas is significantly reduced, and you should get on with the business at hand.

What go you started, won't keep you going. You need to be able to scale up, and trust others to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

If you really want to test your leadership ability; volunteer. It's an environment where you ability to rally everyone to support a common cause it key. It is having systems of accountability where people know what they're supposed to do and how their contribution helps in moving the organization towards its goals.

Look at the above video again and engage in some introspection. The serious questions that you ask yourselves may bear some revelation that you may not like the answers, however now you know the answers they can be addressed.

Remember, a functional team is developed, it's not automatic.

The transition from grade to paid

Every year, if you ever get to be near a graduation listening to people speak, there is often the reference to finishing studying and entering/continuing in the world of work. This is often met by the private chuckle of the experienced listener since they know full well; the course of studying is never done.

When you go through the discipline of studying, you must recognize that the courses you study are only a segment of the education. Additional lessons can be derived from learning the techniques of studying since it is going to be required throughout your working life if you are to remain relevant.

There are some things in life to notice when you're out here in the world.

• Those who have the best grades don't necessarily get the best career opportunities. 
• The A students work for the C students and the B students work for the government. 
• I have personally observed this many times over after reading it in the Rich Dad Poor Dad series. Don't be so afraid of being wrong that you lose the opportunity to learn from the experiences. 
• You will have tough times, but it isn't about you. Often times you will be an inspiration to others, but your experiences will enable you to speak from a standpoint of practicality. 
• Though your work is difficult enough, there are some people who will deliberately try to make your days more difficult to frustrate you for reasons you can't comprehend. 

Group work within the educational system is supposed to prepare you for working in teams where you have to interact with many others who may not share your value system. The personality traits that you'll see displayed enable you to realize that you're interacting with children in adult bodies. 

In short, to be paid well, you have to excel at what you do. Don't just show up, but execute on what is going to enable the entity you represent as a whole to benefit. Remember, it's not about you. Studying is a lifelong skill. Learn it to really accelerate in life. 

Barbados' 5 considerations in a dynamic business environment

Barbados is in an environment that it never really experienced before. Yes, we have had tough times, but there are some new elements which have become newsworthy which are entirely new to us, and the scale at which they took place the majority of Barbadians have never witnessed before.

The island, like many other jurisdictions, has placed a heavy emphasis on entrepreneurship. For many, the learning curve will be quite steep, since they would have gotten into business based on a skillset. As we have learned over time, having a particular skill set does not equip you for running a business.

Against this background, the rules for being involved in businesses are changing most rapidly with factors that are outside the range of control for those who are in business. What does this mean?

1. Businesses have to consider more than ever how they can become export ready. 
2. They have to establish and maintain statutory compliance. 
3. All businesses must be aware of their environment at micro and macro levels, noting how the actions of people in key roles can impact them in ways they have no control over.
4. Sources and usage of funds/funding since everything and everyone will be under scrutiny. Know your customers well!
5. Develop and implement strategies for navigating this environment from marketing, finance and investment, operations, and legal standpoints. 

There is a need to demonstrate a higher level of maturity when operating in business. Those in business advisory roles must step up to the plate upgrading their knowledge, skills, and abilities that would enable their entities to cope. 

It's time...

Daily in our lives, we are faced with recurring situations that if we are not careful can cause us to lose sight of our goals, aims, and aspirations. This can happen in our personal and working lives, yet so many people have chosen to remain dissatisfied rather than take action to change their outcomes. To have a conversation with them will seem like they are entrenched in disillusionment without any hope of relief.

Have you ever been tired of being sick and tired? Have you ever felt as if you were in a situation without hope for a better existence?

Well, you have to decide you want something different in your lives and be willing to commit to making those changes.

In short, It's Time:

• To stop procrastinating about going after your dreams. 
• To commit your life to the Almighty as he is a God of order and, right now, you can do with some order in your life. 
• To make solid concrete goals, and commit to realizing them within a specific timeframe.

Do you believe that you can do more with your life? That you can make a bigger difference? That you have huge unrealized dreams within you that, with the right effort, you can realize them within your lifetime. 

It's time:

• To get on purpose, and celebrate life and your achievements with those who are closer to you. 
• To identify the team members who will help you realize the success that you desire. Success is a team sport. 

Don't wait another moment, get to planning your future, especially when you realize the rate at which time is traveling. 

Thoughts on Caribbean Businesses

Whenever things in the economy get tight one of the first things politicians in developing countries do is turn their direction towards entrepreneurship. In many cases, it's hard to tell if this is genuine and the interests are for real.

Job gimmickry often comes to mind for a number of reasons. The key one being that this is a way of justifying job creation through lip service. My thinking goes this way for some of the various reasons I'll now highlight below.

• The processes entrepreneurs face is becoming increasingly bureaucratic since the government wants tax clearance certificates issued at every turn. The attempts at collecting taxes are becoming a nickel and dime process without a holistic approach that can make the entire process more simple. 
• Too many companies in Barbados and perhaps the Caribbean are not structured for growth. The general approach is to incorporate without the incorporation documents supporting the raising of capital via shares instead of debt financing. Consequently, too many businesses are limited by the opinions of the lending officers within banking institutions who may have never run a business and have no appreciation for what is required in the running of one. Most banks then represent their interests with a cookie cutter approach rather than truly examining the business on its own merit. 
• The accountants along with business advisory services and attorneys need to interact more in the advice that they provide companies so that their advice is more inclusive to the strategy that the business wishes to employ that would best serve its sustainability and survival. 
• The leaders of the business are ignorant of areas outside of their immediate scope of work since they do not read enough developmentally. Sure they know the technical information yet that often is not enough to grow to the levels of success that such an educated grouping of leaders should be meeting and exceeding. Hence the performance of Caribbean businesses remains constant for the most part with very little mobility in either direction. Once they are profitable, the incentive to stretch further seems to be non-existent as leaders setting into contentment with their levels of performance. They function completely oblivious to the competition from other world markets. 

This is by no means finished but serves the basis of getting the reader to think that perhaps more needs to be done. We need to get on purpose with business development, not only within our existing markets but seeking to expand into other markets and create opportunities future development. 

We need to develop our own unique model for conducting business and take it global thereby helping them to understand what it means to be doing business within our standards. Perhaps we should redefine what it means to be doing business@islandtime, and help them understand that we do business as a people the world over. 

The 5 negative areas of impact within your business

There are a couple of things that go towards making a business successful; one of them is a constant flow of customers. The thing is, many businesses don't go beyond lip service when it comes to serving customers.

Daily we hear expensive commercials making promises that seldom deliver, and this is evidenced by the number of factors:

1. The staff is poorly trained in handling the product(s) / service(s). 
2. They may not have adequate knowledge about what they are offering for sale
3. The systems have not been adjusted to meet the increased demand in business, hence bottlenecks/shortages result within the operation. 
4. Incidences where the company can renege on its word which can lead to damaged credibility. 
5. An interdepartmental disconnect within the organization can lead to frustrated customers 

By now you get the picture of the myriad of things that can go wrong when interacting with customers without properly planned systems. 

When planning promotions for your workplace it is necessary to pay attention to the support systems that have to facilitate that promotion and its smooth running. All stakeholders need to be involved so that adequate discussion addresses any challenges that can take place; especially from a logistical/financial standpoint. It is key to ensure that all systems support each other adequately; serving the ultimate role of treating your customer well.

Too many organizations leave their staff in a lurch, forcing them to resort to the i.n.o. (I ain't know) situations. that adversely affect the objectives the organization is hoping to realize.

There are resources that can assist you in improving your business. Though not all free they are necessary in order for your business to become sustainable. Though we may not do business together, I can certainly point you in the direction of some that may be available.

Richie B. has been involved in business development for well over 23 years. He believes in a team approach to aiding businesses and can assist you in making contact with the resources necessary for taking your business forward. 

The benefits of treating your customers well

There are a couple things that go towards making business successful; one of them is a constant flow of customers. The thing is, many businesses don't go beyond lip service when it comes to serving customers.

Daily we hear expensive commercials making promises that seldom deliver; and this is evidenced by the number of factors:

• Staff are poorly trained in handling the product(s) / service(s). 
• They may not have adequate knowledge about what they are offering for sale
• The systems have not been adjusted to meet the increased demand in business, hence bottlenecks / shortages result within the operation. 
• Incidences where the company can renege on its word which can lead to damaged credibility. 
• Interdepartmental disconnect can lead to frustrated customers 

By now you get the picture of the myriad of things that can go wrong when interacting with customers without properly planned systems. 

When planning promotions for your workplace it is necessary to pay attention to the support systems that have to facilitate that promotion and its smooth running. All stakeholders need to be involved so that adequate discussion addresses any challenges that can take place; especially from a logistical / financial standpoint. It is key to ensure that all systems support each other adequately; serving the ultimate role of treating your customer well.

UNDER RESEARCHED...

There are lots of people seeking to get into a business. Conversations with many of them will reveal that these people have some pretty good business ideas.

Further discussion can be quite the insight into the fact that there are more ideas available than the research that goes into them. In short, many of the businesses are not where they should be in terms of the research that's necessary. Therefore they are totally unprepared for the hiccups.

In business, you cannot be myopic only planning for the perfect picture that you have visualized that business will happen exactly like that daily. Once you are alive, storms will come through ever so often; sometimes earlier / later. There's just no sure-fire formula.

How do you ensure that your business is shovel ready? In other words, if you were being processed right now to access funding for your business, have you eliminated all of the setbacks that can halt the process? Should you get the funding right now, how fast can you mobilize to implement what you requested the funding for doing?

When business owners are asked to present about their business, and they are cross-examined, it is when many realize that they are not as prepared as they thought. Sole proprietors suffer most with this as they have not built a team which would enable them to benefit from another perspective.

Do you know the following for your business? Here are some questions that will need to be answered regardless of what business you are in:

• How much money do you need to begin your business on the right scale that would enable you to meet your objectives head on? 
• If you have to get investors, what are you willing to offer them / receive from them as a part of the total investment package? 
• Do you know how investment/financing works and recognize the differences among them? 
• Who forms a part of your team and what experiences/influences are they bringing to the table that can enhance your business and enable it to gain traction in the market? 
• Do you have a full complement of professionals that you can access? [accounting, financial, legal, marketing, business advisory services, operations] 
• How will you handle shocking changes in your business' environment? Especially those that weren't considered in your SWOT analysis. 
• Do I, as an entrepreneur, have what it takes to orchestrate this and where can I quickly find help? 

These seven are not the only questions, however, they are key considerations for your business' development. 

Well....do you still think that you have the best business concept, or do you still need to put in some more work? How well do you know your business and the industry within which it will function? Do you know that you will not have all the solutions, and who are you willing to partner with to arrive at the necessary solutions? 

Always keep in mind that not all money is good money. Don't get overconfident in your dealings with the members of the public you serve.

Remember that the research you put in is not a one-time effort as your environment is always changing. Your research needs to keep up to date lest you become extinct. 

Think in terms of possibilities. You were given that idea download for a reason; how best will you exploit it? Looking forward to reading about your lessons learned down the road. Plan to be the winner you set out to be. 

Self Talk for the Self Employed

Self employed people even when they work in businesses that interact with people tend to live rather lonely lives. Yet they loathe to attend functions that would take them away from their work; often with the train of thought that they're just too busy. Sadly, these are even in instances where there is organized mentorship available through technical assistance programs.

So what makes a self employed person behave in this manner, especially when they complain that no one helps them. What is really going on in their minds? What kinds of thoughts do they have; positive / negative? Do they feel as if you're thoroughly prepared? Can they really handle the power of this two letter word - NO!?

How you speak with yourself goes beyond wishful thinking. It sets the tempo and they rhythm that will determine whether you will win / lose. Often the event is not filled with spectators, but with your own self; who will see the results of your attempts - Can you strive or merely survive?

1. Why do seemingly identical situations facing different people have different outcomes? One succeeds, whereas the other sucks salt.
2. Is attitude all it's cracked up to be? Identify which is better - good attitude with action / good attitude without action. 
3. There are times we question, why are we doing this? Would it not have been better to get s job and be paid more money?
4. Why does it feel like we work to pay everyone except ourselves?

By now you should have noticed that I've made a faux pas and changed tenses; why? It's because I too am in small business, I too am self employed. It can be difficult to continue in the third person for something that impacts so directly.

For instance, you can write employment letters for employees to take to various institutions for them to obtain financial benefit of hire purchase or even loans. Yet when you have to do likewise for oneself, even when the business is thriving there's always some excuse / objection to be realized. You know the categories, but they all align themselves to justify why you cannot obtain the assistance you require. The objections are easily categorized under; cash-flow, revenue potential [too great / too small, too fast / too slow], age of business, age of applicant, collateral backing the finance request, and the list goes on.

There are times when it seems like we're not celebrated for our efforts, despite all that we do. It also seems that our work must go unrewarded, and profit is a sin. Most small businesses are uncomfortable with the word profit, often leaving their hard earned value at the negotiation table for their products / services. I don't do this anymore, as I have had the opportunity to contemplate the value that I bring to any situation. I also function by the premise that not all money's good money. It has saved me from entering ridiculous deals.

What do you say to yourself? I want to ensure that I am worthy of providing the best solutions that are practical, leading the client and our own business into mutually beneficial territory in terms of revenues, earnings, profits, and opportunity. This has to be done while maintaining privacy, wholesome relationships, health and wellness, and a true sense of purpose. One thing is certain - Success is not an overnight process.

Know that you have what it takes to succeed in a big way. Know that success is what you want it to be for you, and not the world's definition of it for you. When you speak with yourselves, speak in the can do, the I can, the willingly doing it.

Take time to work on your business rather than be constantly working in it. Remember when polishing anything, you have to step back to see the shine. Self employment is not easy. There are lots of uncertainties, but know that there is help along the way. People who are willing to also celebrate your success in as much as you prepare to embrace it.

"Taxdiculous" Barbados....There has to be an alternative

By now, seventy cents of every dollar must be attributed to taxes. If it isn't it sure feels that way. Ever so often, it feels like we're either hearing of a new tax or having the tax rate increased. Yet the truth of the matter is that there is a smaller workforce to pay the taxes with all the retrenchment. The constant taxing of fewer people must have diminishing returns at some point.

We have the constant bantering of entrepreneurship which if you look through the fluff at the main target, it is only a ploy to say that the employment has increased or put differently unemployment has declined.

The use of micro economic approaches by taxing at the individual level rather than using macro economic strategies and initiatives to arrive at plausible solutions to address our economic situation seems non short of taxdiculous. Yes I coined the word.

Taxation, cannot be the only solution out of our economic situation. The seemingly selfish approach to take without any giving, not handouts, but a fair opportunity at making and being able to thrive from one's efforts at financial upkeep, the financial bullying of "we document and implement" without accountability is stressful.

Can we research and examine creative opportunities for economic empowerment? Surely those versed in economics can offer some solutions, or perhaps it is time to find alchemists to help us identify the plenty of which is said to be in abundance.

The systems of collection seem inefficient, punitive, and in no way user-friendly.  Why hasn't anyone sought to create a user-friendly way of collecting taxes where hospitality is exhibited? There are lots of people who were displaced from the workforce and the learning curve of running your own business is steep.

You no longer deal with just the requirements of your "job", but you are now faced with handling all elements associated with running a business. Elements that you were previously sheltered from within the organizational structure you functioned within. Many of you never even wanted to run a business, now you are here due to necessity of survival. Your comfort levels have shifted, leaving your equilibrium upset.

Government, create avenues where people can learn and earn . If taxes are reduced and the blanket widened, more taxes can be collected and everyone realizes their objectives without the overburdening of a few, dwindling, often middle classed people.

It is time for us to stop being taxdiculous and create a new model of economic thriving and dominance for small economies that are functional and not burdensome. With the level of human resources we have available at our disposal, I believe it is possible to realize the rebuilding of our economy through leveraging our talents, skills, and abilities.