A Difference 

Over 5 million new businesses were started in 2021. 

Optimism in America continues to impress. 

Knowing that a million of those new businesses will fail in the first year doesn’t matter to the entrepreneur, especially in this country. Failure is a great teacher. We have the Wright Brothers and Thomas Edison as examples of people who failed many times until they became phenomenally successful. Why not us, you and me? We’ll just do more of what works and less of what doesn’t. Chalk it up to experience. We live in a country where can’t is an irresistible dare. 

Let’s stop dreaming and start doing. 

“If you’re not trying, you’re never going to have a chance. Risk greatly, fail big, fall forward. Do not have a fallback position, have a fall forward position. Do not work in a vacuum. Tell your story, your thoughts, and dreams to as many people as you can and do it with a confident heart knowing it is more than just a dream, it’s a dream with a plan. It’s doable. Others do it every day, why not me?” Indeed. 

The excitement of success can be unraveling, too. As in “too good to be true” where an unexpected thrill shadows the reality that in a blink the accomplishment can vanish like a mirage in the desert. Both failure and success have reasons for anxiety. 

A purpose driven business has an advantage over those without an identified purpose. Know the “Why” of going into business. Once that is known the path ahead will be much easier to blaze and follow. 

Research into the predictable sustainability of a business can offer the amount of risk to be considered in choosing employment needs of various industries. According to EAB, the Education Advisory Board, these are forecasted employment needs that will be declining, “According to the report, here are the top 10 declining roles for 2022: 

• Data Entry Clerk 
• Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Clerks 
• Administrative and Executive Secretaries 
• Assembly and Factory Workers 
• Client Information and Customer Service Workers 
• Business Services and Administration Managers 
• Accountants and Auditors 
• Material-Recording and Stock-Keeping Clerks 
• General and Operations Managers 
• Postal Service Clerks
  

Starting a new business that has been historically concentrated in these activities may be more difficult in the future than it has been in the past. Considering the sustainability of your business idea could be an important aspect of your choice of industry to enter. 

“More favorable employment needs are projected for these job opportunities: According the report, here are the top 10 emerging jobs for 2022: 

• Data Analysts and Scientists 
• AI and Machine Learning Specialists 
• General and Operations Managers 
• Software and Applications Developers and Analysts 
• Sales and Marketing Professionals 
• Big Data Specialists 
• Digital Transformation Specialists 
• New Technology Specialists 
• Organizational Development Specialists 
• Information Technology Services

Be aware of the choices you are making in the process of starting your new business. There are reasons to be anxious but also many reasons for excitement in the new adventure. 

---

A Fine Line by Greg Henderson

Greg Henderson is the retired founder of the Southern Oregon Business Journal. A University of Oregon graduate and a six year U.S. Air Force veteran. Contact him at ghenderson703@gmail.com