by Kimberly Hand
Yesterday morning, the temperature in Brookfield was climbing into the upper 90s. The humidity was oppressive. Air quality warnings were in effect because of wildfire smoke.
Around 10:00 a.m., there was a knock at my door.
It was the technician from our pest control company.
By the time he arrived, he was already flushed from the heat. Dressed in a long-sleeved shirt to protect himself from the products he works with every day, he apologized for a scheduling mix-up that wasn’t even his fault, carefully explained everything he would be doing around my home, and made sure I understood every product he was using. It was obvious he cared deeply about doing a good job.
I invited him inside for a few minutes to cool off and offered him some water. As we talked, he shared something that stopped me.
He’s very allergic to bee and wasp stings.
Think about that for a moment.
His job regularly puts him in places where disturbing nests is a real possibility. He told me he keeps multiple EpiPens in his truck. He also has three daughters depending on him. At one point he quietly said, “It’s too late for me to do anything different. I’m 50.”
I couldn’t stop thinking about those words after he drove away.
To me, 50 isn’t too late. Neither is 60. Or 70.
One of the reasons Tracy and I care so deeply about small businesses is because they create possibilities. Sometimes they become a second career. Sometimes they start as a side business. Sometimes they’re the bridge that helps someone leave work that’s become physically demanding, emotionally draining, or simply no longer the right fit.
Not everyone dreams of building a large company. Some people just want a different future. They want work that lets them use their talents in a new way. They want more flexibility, more purpose, more control over their lives, and, perhaps, a better future for their families.
That’s why Small Business Milwaukee exists.
We can’t promise success. We don’t promise entrepreneurship is easy.
But we can provide resources, education, introductions, encouragement, and a community of people who believe it’s never too late to begin exploring what’s next.
Yesterday’s visitor isn’t aware of this, but he reminded me exactly why we do what we do.
Because somewhere out there is another person who feels stuck. And sometimes a small business isn’t just a business. Sometimes it’s hope.