This made me frustrated. Like, tears-in-my-eyes frustrated.

Last week I found myself feeling a kind of frustration I don’t often feel.
That gut-level, tears-in-your-eyes kind of frustration.

Because all week, I was hearing stories from small business owners in my community - and honestly?
They broke my heart.

One exhibitor poured time, money and energy into a local event... only to arrive and discover that no one came.
Why? Because the organiser hadn’t actually marketed it - and worse, blamed the vendors for not promoting it themselves.
(WTF, right?)

Another group of local legends collaborated on a gorgeous campaign - a shining example of small biz working together - but when it came time to amplify it online, a key partner was "on holidays" and their larger platform couldn’t accept a simple collab request.
So the momentum stalled.

And one more?
A business owner, active in the community, was denied a chamber membership because she lives “one town over.”

I don’t even have words for that one.

This stuff makes me sad.
It makes me angry.
And it fires me up.

Because small business owners are already doing the most — wearing every hat, juggling all the things, and still showing up with heart and hustle.

The organisations that are meant to support them?
They should be doing better.

They should be lifting us up - not making things harder.
They should be connectors, champions, facilitators - not gatekeepers.

Small business should be easier. Simpler. And more fun.
It should feel like community.
Like celebration.
Like we’re all in this together - because we are.

So if you’re a small biz owner feeling like the system isn’t built for you...
You’re not imagining it.

But I see you.
I hear you.
And I’ll keep showing up to advocate for better - for a business world that feels a whole lot more human.

Together is the only way forward.
Rebecca x