This week is National Small Business Week – a celebration for the 28 million small businesses in the U.S. In conjunction with this annual event, Cox Business announced results of its inaugural small business survey – #SBWSurvey – a national research survey among 605 small business owners and managers on business and communication thoughts and behaviors. Results found that email is still the most critical communication tool, social media lags, while Steve Jobs tops the list as entrepreneurial idol.
While it’s no surprise that the late Steve Jobs was picked as the entrepreneurial idol with 21 percent of the vote, the late Ben Franklin came in a close second with 17 percent and Walt Disney came in third at 15 percent. Looks like the world needs a new living role model. The survey also found that most business owners want to pave their own path – almost two/thirds of the respondents are motivated to own or manage their own business in order to be their own boss and build something of their own. Surprisingly, only eight percent of the survey respondents are motivated to manage or own their own business just to make big money.
The survey also revealed an encouraging twist in today’s economy, as 43 percent of the small businesses surveyed have never considered closing shop.
The survey also asked business owners about digital marketing. The digital world often develops at lightning speed. Keeping up with this technology is what author Brian Solis calls, “Digital Darwinism.” Of the small business managers and owners surveyed 37 percent thought they were evolving just fine, while 32 percent said they were attempting but didn’t think they could really keep up.
