It's Not About You

Shame On You If You Pull the Ladder Up After You

Earlier this month, while I was on Capitol Hill and at the FDA advocating Indie Beauty Network member positions against the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, I was accompanied by 4 amazing women. Each has at least one successful and profitable business, yet, she took time away from her rice bowl to join me in a fight that will positively impact business owners around the country for years to come.

         

Kayla Fioravanti, Anne-Marie Faiola, Lela Barker and Jamila White are screaming examples of women who are not so wrapped up in their own success stories that they abandon a moral obligation to pave the way for others to enjoy the same opportunities they have.

In one of our meetings, Lela told a Congressional staffer that her business could pay the $12,000 in fees that are contemplated by the draft law. As she put it, "I won't like it, but I can and will write the check if I have to."

Then she said this: "Even though I can pay the fees and keep up with the paperwork, my concern is that there are many others who cannot. I'm here because I do not want to enjoy the fruits of entrepreneurship and then pull the ladder up after me."

Don't Pull The Ladder Up After You

This summarizes all of our efforts. Those of us who traveled to Capitol Hill have been blessed with profitable businesses. We have been blessed with good health and with friends, family members, industry colleagues clients and customers who have supported us along the way.

But we started our businesses in an environment that has a level playing field. And now, just as the Indie Beauty industry begins to take flight, new laws threaten to replace the level playing field with an ocean of paperwork and a mountain of fees that would make it impossible for anyone to follow in our footsteps.

We are not about to let that happen without a battle.

It's Not About Us

You may have watched A Civil Forum on Saturday evening on CNN, featuring Barack Obama and John McCain being "civilly" grilled separately for an hour a piece in a non-debate format by Rick Warren, author of the best selling book The Purpose Driven Life.

Warren's book begins with the words, "It's not about you."

Kayla, Anne-Marie, Lela and Jamila's example reminds all of us that it's not about us. Nothing ever is. While our businesses may be "secure," for the short term, we cannot rest on our laurels with the attitude that, security for our lifetime, 50 years give or take, is good enough. It's not.

Fifty years is a drop in the bucket. After that, what about our children? What about their children? Their spouses? What Indie options they have? Will they be stuck buying from big box cookie-cutter stores? Or will they be able to start their own Indie Businesses, and also patronize their fellow Indie Business owners? Those future opportunities, if they are to be had, must be secured now.

We cannot let the chips fall where they may, get on with our businesses and leave the consequences to be sorted out by future generations.

American's Economic Future Depends On Preserving The Ladders We Now Climb

Our country is at a critical time in its history. We are in debt to foreign countries like China and numerous Middle Eastern nations. America's biggest and most successful companies are being purchased by overseas companies, a recent example being the purchase last month of Anheuser-Busch by Belgian Company InBev (pdf).

American companies are laying off workers at a rapid clip. These workers are finding new jobs at foreign owned companies that have US operations. A case in point: Haier Group, a multinational manufacturer of consumer appliances that was founded in China in 1984. One of Haier's main manufacturing arms is staffed by workers in a Camden, South Carolina plant. These workers were once employed by US-owned textile manufacturing companies.

Even American companies that can keep people on the payroll are offering increasingly fewer benefits. Pay increases, when they do come, are not keeping pace with inflation, the increasing cost of food and gas and the ridiculously staggering cost of an undergraduate college education.

Some say America is losing its edge. That may be. But if we don't ensure that mothers, fathers, sons and daughters are able to own and manage Indie Businesses in years to come, America will lose much more than an edge. It will lose the very foundation of its Constitution: the unalienable right that each family members has to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Indie Business Revolution

I believe this nation is in the midst of what I call the Indie Business Revolution. People are rising up in the face of numerous governmental and big business failures to take care of themselves and each other. We are reaching across state boundaries and traditional distinctions of all kinds to uplift and motivate one another to new heights as individuals, families and business leaders.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships

I am honored and humbled to be working with women like Kayla, Anne-Marie, Lela and Jamila who are determined to do everything within their power to ensure the continuance of a level playing field in our industry, and across all industries, for generations to come. These women understand that their success must also pave the way for others to be successful.

They feel a sense of urgency. They know they must act now. Before it's too late.

This is not about them. It's about fashioning an economic landscape where everyone has a chance to enjoy the benefits of business ownership, and is able to use their business to provide for their needs and also for the needs of those who will one day stand on their shoulders.

It's about building a ladder and then leaving it in place so that others may climb it behind them.

What about you?

Have you signed our Petition to fight the FDA Globalization Act of 2008? Over 2,600 people have. Why not you? Have you written a letter to your Congressional representative? To a media representative in your area? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on how you are making a difference so future generations can be economically independent.

And don't forget to leave a link so we can visit your site to find out more.

For more inspiring stories and updates like this one, subscribe to Indie Business Blog today.

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Comments

[maggie, the soap bartender, a wild soap bar]

i've signed the pledge, i've got a button on my website, i've posted several times in my blog with links back to the petition, and i've written my congresspeople. i wish i could have traveled to washington! i could pay the fees too, but that doesn't mean i'm going to sit back and take it.

[business opportunity]

It seems free enterprise is only available to those who are willing to see it and say that it is there. People ask me what do you have to do to start a business. This question is the key.. In free enterprise, you don't need permission. Free enterprise is no longer taught in schools, including government universities. I've had a few people who worked for us while working on finishing their degrees.. It's all bunk, regulations, rules, theories, stuff that makes no difference in the real world. A person needs to be adaptable today and be ready to surmount obstacles from state and fedral governments and local agencies.

[Daniela Maldonado]

Bravo. What you ladies did and are doing just keeps resounding as remarkable. I'm one of those hoping that these were unintended consequences of the act, and I guess some light will only be shed on that by future changes or amendments. I personally love the idea of sliding scale on fees - it's not the best of all possible outcomes, but certainly one that seems possible and leaves the ladder there for others to climb.

[Kayla Fioravanti]

When Lela said, "I don't want to pull the ladder up behind me" in those meetings it gave me chills. She so perfectly voiced our mission in that phrase. I am so glad you wrote a post around it.

[Anne-Marie]

This is a great post. One thing I especially like and admire about the soapmaking community is its desire to help others. The forums are filled with soapmakers who patiently help the newcomers and freely share information.

It was an honor to go to Washington DC with you and the rest of the amazing power women. =)

[dM]

Kayla, I got chills too. Been repeating it to myself ever since. It's the title of a chapter in a good book. Thanks Lela.

[Rachel Markel]

I would like to express my gratitude to an amazing group of women who took time from their busy schedules and families to visit decision makers in DC. I am an educator,environmentalist and entrepreneur and have assisted many small businesses along the way. I am doing my part to spread the word in Miami and throughout South Florida. As a supplier of all natural ingredients, I share everyones pain!

Be well,
Rachel Markel
http:ingredientmanager.eoilcolab.com

[Jo]

Ladies, thank you so much for all you are doing
and taking time from your busy schedules to go to D.C. I am in the process of getting my business up and running and barely making a profit, so this ACT will probably put me out of business. I will continue to write letters and ask my customers to write also.

[Elena Alexseeva]

Thank you so much for taking an action against the bureaucrats. They just can't keep their hands away from our pockets.

[Donna Maria]

It's people like you commenting here and the others who encourage us that keep this effort moving forward. We cannot do this alone. Thank you so much for your continued determination to keep pressing onward. It's great to have you on the team.