Deer Creek Tower - Suites and Services

Even during the best of times, small businesses in America represent the majority of all new U.S. job growth.  In fact according to the Small Business Administration, most net job loss occurs within firms that are greater than 500 employees.

In a recent Fox News Sunday interview, Steve Odland, Chairman and CEO Office Depot, told host Chris Wallace that, “All net job creation happens in small business.”  This is at least in part because many of the largest U.S. corporations have matured.  Prior to last year’s recession, job growth at many major corporations had slowed or evaporated in corporate America.

Over the past year, the slow churn of persons leaving larger companies to become entrepreneurs, or to go to work for smaller organizations, has grown from a steady stream to an avalanche.

The reality is, the ranks of the temporarily unemployed are growing.  These days, temporary unemployment all too often is turning into long-term unemployment or underemployment.

Is our glass half full or half empty?   The reality, I guess, is both.

Just when you begin to bemoan the present employment situation, your thoughts are illuminated by the present spark of American innovation and entrepreneurship.

A recent article in Wired magazine titled, “Go Ahead….Fire Me,” stated that after experiencing layoffs, most able bodied American workers will always be able to take their skills elsewhere.  It is a recession’s way of leveling the playing field.

With stock dividends, the companies with less new growth opportunities and fewer new ideas must purge capital in the form of (theoretically) ever growing dividends.  The companies with greater sources of new business ideas and planned new business growth are capital hungry, and retain their dividends to invest in the new ideas.

With people, it’s the same.   Companies who cannot, or should not afford to retain the best and the brightest, naturally lose them to better, more fulfilling opportunities elsewhere.

See the quote below.  And, while it is dated, I still believe it today.  Yes, a lot has changed it was written.  At that time, unemployment was likely hovering below five percent.  It’s twice that today.

Yet, the best people will still be seen inside the best companies, even if the companies have only a few employees.  It’s the American way.  It’s the American dream.  And, at this point, it’s the American reality.

Thoughts for the Day

“Five years from now, you will look around and realize that the best employees can be found working for the companies who were paying the most attention.”

Dave E. Anderson

Alpha Scouts^™ LLC

July 15, 2005

David Rayl of Executive Suites and Services www.suitesandservices.com has been building businesses since the beginning of his career.  After a few years as a software developer renting space in someone else’s building, David decided to become a landlord.  He learned the lesson early, that being a landlord could become much more profitable than being a tenant.

We estimate that David is now the largest owner/ manager of business incubator space in Johnson County, Kansas.  And that is no small deal, Toto.

Johnson County is the suburban Kansas portion of the Kansas City metro area.  According to a 2008 study by the Corporate Research Board, Johnson County ranks among the top 25 U.S. suburban counties, based upon the percentage of “high impact” businesses within the ranks of local employers.   Johnson County includes towns such as Leawood, Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe to name a few.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_County,_Kansas.

Johnson County is a great place to raise a family and a great place to work.  In fact, Forbes.com ranks Johnson County as the third best place in the U.S. to raise a family. (http://www.forbes.com/2008/06/27/schools-places-family-forbeslife-cz_zg_0630realestate.html)

And, obviously, parents need jobs to support their families. More than 29,000 businesses, ranging from start-ups to well-established companies like Black & Veatch, Quintiles, Fort Dodge Animal Health (now a part of Pfizer), Sprint, Freightquote, Euronet, and Garmin (the worldwide leader of GPS), call Johnson County home.

There are also great budding young companies in Johnson County; for an example, look at www.browniepops.com.  Marcia Penner Johnston, the inventor and owner is a renowned pastry chef, shipping her invention to sweet tooths everywhere.   Brownie Pops are available at the local Dean and Deluca in Leawood and in the William Sonoma catalog. They also make a great treat with a fine cup of Danny O’Neil’s coffee from www.TheRoasterie.com.   The Roasterie is a Kansas City based specialty coffee company selling its brand of brew through fine restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores.

Deer Creek Tower - Suites and Services

David Rayl’s offices are at College and Nall in Overland Park, Briar Drive and 136^th Street in Leawood, and in the new Deer Creek Tower Executive Center www.DeerCreekTower.com at Deer Creek Woods or 133^rd and Riley/69 Highway in Overland Park.

If you’ve out-grown your garage and are looking for some “uptown” digs, give David a call.