I’ve been traveling through the east coast of the US for a few weeks interviewing business owners, small business owners specifically. Many that I have been in touch with own businesses related to tourism and food…restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries….Yesterday was no exception and, once again, I saw a pattern. The owners of Keegan’s in Indian Rocks Shore bought out the previous owners three years ago. Yup, just as the economy started it’s slide. When I asked the owner how his business had fared since that time I was not surprised by his response but a lot of people might be. “We’ve tripled our business every year since that time.” Tripled….in a down turn economy, in a state where unemployment sits at 12%, in a major tourist based economic area, in an area where they rely on tourism and tourism is down big time…Wow, how is that possible you ask?
Well I’m going to continue the interview this week so I’ll let you know his own words for the answer but I have a guess or two of my own. He’s offering the people what they want, he’s being flexible and listening to his followers, he’s had enough capital to keep himself going without needing to rely on the banks (they’re not supporting small business much these days) and he’s asking for help from those he can trust….I don’t know for sure but this is a typical method of staying ahead of the game. The biggest, most singular way to remain successful in a downturn economy, or a prosperous economy for that matter, is to do what you love. If you are doing what you love then the days that feel like they’ll never end will be easier…
So, want to triple your income? Buy a restaurant in the beginning stages of a gut wrenching recession in a tourist town where the tourists are leaving in droves….In other words: find your passion and turn it into profit…
