Windsor Business April 2024 Issue

5 HE SAID/SHE SAID:

The news and views of area executives on pertinent business issues of the day.

12 CORPORATISM:

Jim Blasingame says there are different ways of defining success beyond money and stuff.

WINDSOR’S FOREMOST BUSINESS NEWS PUBLICATION

By Ron Stang

AINSIDE TRACK

2 AT A GLANCE

A look at the state of Canadians’ finances, especially those between ages 18 and 34.

2 CROSSWORD

Take a coffee break from work and challenge yourself with our crossword.

3 ESSEX ECONOMICS

A series of guest columns by business executives on various trends in the region.

6 PRIME PROPERTY

A look at recent commercial property transfers in the city of Windsor.

8 PRIME HOME

A look at recent residential property sales in the city of Windsor.

9 PRIME HOME

A look at recent residential property sales in Essex County and Chatham-Kent.

10 BUILDING PERMITS

A compilation of construction activity in the Windsor and area market.

11 START UPS

Newly incorporated firms launched in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

refreshing concept on breakfasts – literally and figuratively – has opened at the restaurant that fronts the iCheck Inn on Windsor’s Howard Avenue.

The Breakfast Guyz is the brainchild of Shivani and Arun Babbar, who moved to Windsor during the pandemic. Originally from Brampton, both have extensive backgrounds in the restaurant industry; they’re both chefs. He has helped set up many restaurants and she also teaches culinary arts.

Liking Windsor and seeing the business opportunities in a growing city, the two decided to open a restaurant of their own. “Every chef has a dream to open their own restaurant one day,” Shivani said. A little creativity helps too. “I believe it’s like a canvas, where we can paint and exhibit it.”

The couple had been “planning for years, waiting for the right time and oppor-

Continued on page 4

PHOTO BY JOE SYMCHYSHYN SYMCHYSHYN PHOTOGRAPHIC Arun, left, and Shivani Babbar at their new eatery fronting the iCheck Inn on Howard Avenue, The Breakfast Guyz.

JUST THE FACTS:

• The 2024 Consumer Debt Report by the Credit Counselling Society shows Gen Z and Millennials are making tough decisions to address their currently difficult financial circumstances.

• With little relief in sight for the high cost of living, 51 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds reported their total debt, including mortgage debt, increased in the past year. When asked what they did to manage this increase, 85 percent said they fought back with proactive measures within their control.

• It found 20 percent have cut back on medical expenses, 68 percent have cut back on food expenses, 64 percent have cut back on recreation and leisure spending, about 25 percent have cut back on transportation expenses, and 40 percent have moved back in with relatives to reduce housing costs.

• More than 60 percent have taken on a second job/gig, or anticipate they will have to.

1. Lifestyle changes to manage debt increase:

Cut back discretionary spending

Sold personal items to free up funds

Took a second job/side gig

Reached out to a financial advisor

Made changes to living arrangements

Drew from savings/investments

Cut back on savings/investments

Borrowed money from an existing source

Applied for loans/credit from a new source

Used one or more payday loans

Haven’t done anything about it

31

35

36

38

77% made lifestyle changes to deal with debt

71% borrowed or made changes to savings

PAUL MARCH

HELLO I.T. WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM. OUR COMPUTERS HAVE CRASHED AND MY MOUSE HAS ESCAPED.

BUSINESS BOOST

“As millions of Americans purchased bulky radio sets and tuned into new programs, a subtle culture shift began. While people got into the habit of tuning into programs, they gradually tuned out people. Radio and TV became a means of escape that replaced storytelling, providing discussions and debate by proxy. The art of conversation began to fade. Today, only fragments of that lost art survive.

“The world has become so fragmented it appears we no longer recognize the art of conversation as a legitimate and wholesome endeavor. Try to think of the last time you had a conversation in which you exchanged interesting information, examined views and shared authentic feelings.

“While radio and TV merely diverted people’s attention from each other, studies show that new technologies actually inhibit our ability to talk and listen. A recent survey of more than 700 primary schools in England showed the majority of teachers believe young children’s talking and listening skills have declined in the past five years. The major culprits: computers, the Internet, video games, cell phones and apps. One researcher said many families no longer have lively chats, but grunt at each other instead.”

Gerhard Gschwandtner in The Pocket Guide to Selling Greatness, McGraw-Hill.

VOLUME 29, ISSUE 11 •

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nadia H. Shousher

ART DIRECTOR David Cowx

CONTRIBUTORS Jim Blasingame, Dale Dauten, Rodney L. Denis, Paul March, Devan Mighton, J.T. O’Donnell, Ron Stang, Joe Symchyshyn

Windsor Business is published monthly by The Page Publishing Corp. and is distributed through Canada Post to every business address in Windsor and Essex County and Chatham-Kent. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. Copyright The Page Publishing Corp., 2024.

THE PAGE PUBLISHING CORP.

552 PITT STREET WEST, SUITE 101

WINDSOR, ONTARIO N9A 5M2

TEL: (519) 255-9775

info@windsorbusiness.net

• www.windsorbusiness.net

NADIA H. SHOUSHER

Parking woes crippling the core

While I hesitate to complain (this time), I fear I must about this City’s parking predators. These guys love to target those few brave who attempt to do business downtown. I actually think the subcontracted Commissionaires have quotas imposed upon them …

I’m talking about how street parking rates have gone up despite a major decrease in the number of visitors, tourists and workers who go downtown. I guess when a dog is down, the ruling party must kick it to within an inch of its pathetic life. I’m talking about how the parking cops circle the block waiting for meters to get down to the last five minutes, and then slap on the tickets. Try arguing with one of them about the few minutes left on your meter. You’ll just get towed or a threat thereof.

I’m talking about how many of the City’s parking meters are broken, which isn’t obvious until some schmuck puts in his money only to get the “FAIL” message in the window. Try telling anyone, though, and you’ll be subject to a lecture on the glories of using the City of Windsor Parking app. And the rates on it are higher! Would that we could all operate our companies like the City’s parking department: refuse to accept responsibility for broken equipment, charge gratuitous fees at whim, and take no accountability for shoddy operations. That sounds like profit-gouging anarchy to me.

A couple of years ago, I added up all the parking tickets I incurred in one short year; more than $300! And the reasons were nothing important – just meetings, news gathering, interviewing, research and banking. And, yes, a little shopping to support fellow operators, who had also made a conscious decision to support the downtown. What rewards we’ve all reaped since!

An interesting tidbit: we are located on Pitt Street West (a.k.a. The Pitts), a short one-way street with four lanes. One is for street parking (with a permit), while the other three go nowhere; we’re surrounded by oneway streets. Talk about waste, yet the City refuses to at least make the fourth lane meter or permit parking. With so many college and university students now in downtown faculties, there is obviously a need.

And why not make city lots more affordable for long-term tenants? Why not make it easier for people to do business downtown, or is that against this municipality’s seeming objective of punishing the good?

Perhaps this crew prefers to ignore the number one reason suburbanites avoid downtown like the plague: because there’s not enough safe, affordable parking.

I don’t care to hear the excuses these days; I just want to park my car.

Nadia H. Shousher is Editor-in-Chief of Windsor Business, a division of The Page Publishing Corp.

ESSEX ECONOMICS

ANTHONY GIANNOTTI

Are your employment contracts valid?

If you are an employer who sleeps soundly, thinking your lawyer did a great job in drafting the employment contract you are using in your business, a recent Ontario court ruling will serve to wreak havoc on your baby-like slumber.

The recent decision in Dufault vs. The Township of Ignace likely invalidates thousands of previously-enforceable employment contracts. Prior to this decision, it was known to employment lawyers that contracts which were not in line with the provisions of the Employment Standards Act (ESA) would be invalidated. In that case, employees could then avail themselves of benefits of the common law (judge-made law) which is much more generous in granting amounts for pay-in-lieu of notice.

Some employers know the shock of receiving a threatening demand letter from a lawyer on behalf of an employee who was terminated, seeking significant amounts for pay-in-lieu of notice among other things. These amounts could range up to 24 months of pay or more. To prevent the exposure to significant awards, lawyers drafted contracts where the employee agreed to accept the ESA minimum amounts (for example, one week of pay per year of service for Termination Pay, up to a maximum of eight weeks).

With a properly drafted employment contract, the employer could hold up the contract as shield to greater exposure under the common law, by limiting their exposure to the provincial minimums.The court in this case focused on particular sections of the ESA, which it viewed as being negated by three clauses in the employment contract. Thus, it was held the plaintiff was entitled to common law notice. This ruling effectively lifted the employer’s potential exposure from under $5,000 to a whopping $157,000.

One reason among others that the court invalidated the contract was due to the wording, which stated the employer could terminate employee in its “sole discretion” and “at any time.”

This wording has been routinely used to allow an employer to terminate an employee without cause and, providing the contract was properly drafted, to pay only ESA minimum requirements. It is likely this wording is in your contracts!

The takeaway for employers in Ontario is to immediately have their employment contracts reviewed and updated, to make sure they are in accord with this judgment.

Retain competent experienced employment law lawyers to scrutinize your employment contracts now, to avoid the excruciating pain of having your contract invalidated and exponentially increasing your exposure to damages.

WINDSOR’S

New local hotel options popping up

Hotels are breaking out all over Windsor and parts of Essex County, including a new Hyatt Place on Huron Church Road. A 95-room hotel, Hyatt Place has been under construction for some time and is expected to open this fall.

The hotel will match the Holiday Inn and Suites as well as the Hampton Inn and Suites in the immediate neighborhood.

The hotel is being put up by the Mississauga-based Inspiration

Hospitality Group , which owns both hotels and fast food eateries such as Denny’s and Dairy Queen. The hotel joins a new 142-room Marriott TownePlace Suites at County Road 22 and Lesperance Road, to be constructed by Petretta Construction, announced last month. It joins Petretta’s 104room Holiday Inn Express and Suites which opened in Lakeshore in April, 2021.

Gord Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, said

the new hotels “certainly help to open up” the hospitality sector, and the Hyatt will help “relieve some of that pressure on occupancy rates along that corridor.” It also provides a “new flag” or brand for the region. Another new, albeit smaller, boutique hotel, called STRY (“Story”) is scheduled to open in Amherstburg, part of a hospitality complex in converted historic buildings in the town’s older core.

Orr said occupancy rates in the area have been “healthy.” In 2022 the area had 54 percent occupancy, rising to 69 percent last year. In January occupancy was up 11 percent year over year. But, he added, “There are certain periods of time where in this area it is tougher to get a hotel room, certainly sporting groups find that and those who want to visit the area.”

Hampton Inn manager Ken Anderson said he’s “sold out almost every night.” A rep from the Holiday Inn did not respond to a request for comment.

Continued from page 1 tunity,” Shivani said. “And after having all the experience working in all different kinds of setups, we thought it would be a great idea to do this here.”

The Babbars have focused their eatery on breakfast because it’s a menu that “is fresh, always,” and where foods don’t linger between the kitchen and the serving. But they also wanted to create a “worklife balance” for themselves, so they could have the remainder of the day with their family.

Just don’t expect just bacon and eggs. “When you think of a breakfast place you think of eggs, you think of toast, of bacon, meat,” Shivani said. “No vegan or vegetarian options come to mind.” The couple is trying to eliminate that stereotype and provide a breakfast space “not just for meat lovers.”

There are also vegan and vegetarian options.

The resto has an all-day breakfast menu, but lunch is also served, again with a twist. For example, there are more wraps or baguette and Ciabatta sandwiches, with a different take on, for example, a club sandwich. “So you still enjoy and relish the flavors,” Shivani said.

The interior has been totally remodeled with a sprightly and inviting theme. The building has been home to various restaurants over the years, but had been closed for some time.

HE SAID/SHE SAID

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AREA EXECUTIVES:

QUESTION: Do you envision your career being different five or 10 years from now? How so?

“I expect drastic change in some aspects, but not others. We’ve seen the transition from in-person to phone to online ordering, yet seen clients returning in-store to see the new product available. I also see a general app coming that streamlines all the shopping.”

Samantha Edwards, Manager, New Designs Flowers and Gifts.

“I anticipate advancements in technology, materials and techniques in the industry over the next five to 10 years. Examples include innovations in eco-friendly materials, faster installation processes and enhanced durability. These could potentially alter job roles and skill requirements.”

Gavin Blunt, Co-Owner, Nulook Epoxy.

“Beginning as a frontline worker, I’ve seen the changes as we worked to modernize delivery of personal care service. There will always be space to lead our community to compassionate care, recognizing the importance of interdependence.”

Christina Callard, Logistics & Performance Manager, Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario.

“Absolutely! I expect my role to grow as we continue to grow. We plan to expand both our services and our geographical footprint. I see myself taking on more of an executive-level role with a focus on strategic growth. I am excited for what the future has to offer.”

Jack Hubbell, President, Mosquito Guard.

“I’m looking forward to helping out my wonderful clients look, feel and see better, one day at a time, over the next five years. Glasses are like jewelry for your face! Hopefully in 10 years, I’ll be happily retired, too.”

Sue Walker, Optician, Eyewares of Windsor.

Success

Success is neither kind nor polite. Success is earned, as is just and right. Success is not stolen, For theft will often result in a fight!

Success is not vengeful by right. Might I suggest two graves, for neither you nor I will survive to see the next day’s first light. So it is best if you get off your behind, and work honestly with all your might. There is much work to be done before the day turns to night!

Robert Ghione, 2024

Wishing all our customers, family and friends great SUCCESS!

And, as always, thank you for all your support. Rob and Yongli (Susan) Ghione, Proprietors

Wilton’s Mini Mart 21933 Melbourne Rd., Melbourne ON (519) 289-2079

PRIME PROPERTY

THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE WINDSOR AREA:

Address: 1518 University Ave., 277 Curry Ave.

Selling Price: $4.35 million

Vendor: University & Curry Inc.

Purchaser: 1000771900 Ontario

SOLD

Address: 1106 Walker Rd.

Selling Price: $1.5 million

Vendor: White Family Holdings Ltd.

Purchaser: 13625486 Canada Inc.

Selling Price: $1,094,760

Purchaser: 1000278790 Ontario

Address:

Selling

Vendor:

Selling

PRIME PROPERTY

THE FOLLOWING, PROVIDED BY REALTRACK.COM, REPRESENT SOME OF THE TOP COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSFERS IN THE ESSEX & CHATHAM-KENT AREAS:

SOLD

Address: County Rd. 50 W. / Levergood Rd., Essex

Selling Price: $1.775 million

Vendor: Named Individuals

Purchaser: Colchester Bay Inc.

SOLD

Address: 785-785B Puce Rd., Lakeshore

Selling Price: $3.625 million

Vendor: Willowcreek Golf Club Ltd.

Purchaser: 1000812757 Ontario Inc.

SOLD

Address: 285 Sandwich St. S., Amherstburg

Selling Price: $935,000

Vendor: Named Individuals

Purchaser: KD Storage Ltd.

SOLD

Address: 251 Simcoe St.,

Amherstburg

Selling Price: $1.5 million

Vendor: 17222900 Ontario Inc.

Purchaser: 1243470 Ontario Ltd.

SOLD

Address: 635 Talbot Rd. N., Lakeshore

SOLD

Address: 27 Erie St. N.,

Selling Price: $950,000

Vendor: Named Individuals

Purchaser: Thunderstock Stables Inc.

Chatham-Kent

Selling Price: $1,238,900

Vendor: The Royal Canadian

Legion

Purchaser: The Municipality of Chatham-Kent

SOLD

Address: 32-34 Main St. W., Kingsville

Selling Price: $1.05 million

Vendor: 720649 Ontario Ltd.

Purchaser: Kings Capital Inc.

SOLD

Address: 144 & 148 Erie St. N., Leamington

Selling Price: $1.4 million

Vendor: Will Holdings Inc.

Purchaser: Ruthven Greenhouse Construction Ltd.

PRIME HOME SALES

PRIME HOME SALES

THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT SOME RECENT RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SALES IN THE ESSEX COUNTY/CHATHAM-KENT AREA:

SOLD

Where: 135 Boismier Ave., LaSalle

Size: 70’ x 100’

# Bedrooms: 3 + 1

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $3,574

Listed For: $549,900

Sold For: $565,000

SOLD

Where: 645 Lacasse Blvd., Tecumseh

Size: 40’ x 107’

# Bedrooms: 3 + 1

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $2,309

Listed For: $524,900

Sold For: $520,000

SOLD

Where: 12171 Baillargeon Dr., Tecumseh

Property Size: 53’ x irr.

SOLD

Where: 62 Boardwalk Ave., Amherstburg

Property Size: 68’ x irr.

# Bedrooms: 3

# Bathrooms: 1

Taxes: $2,493

Listed For: $349,000

Sold For: $431,000

SOLD

Where: 537 Autumn Ridge Ave., Amherstburg

Property Size: 65’ x 105’

# Bedrooms: 3 + 2

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $3,436

Listed For: $599,000

Sold For: $642,000

# Bedrooms: 3 + 2

# Bathrooms: 2

Taxes: $3,610

Listed For: $609,900

MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT

COMMERCIAL:

• Autoliv Canada Inc. is building an expansion on Autoliv Dr. Value of construction: $287,000.

• Agri-Urban Buildings Inc. is building agricultural residences on King St. W. Value of construction: $750,000.

MUNICIPALITY OF CHATHAM-KENT RESIDENTIAL:

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Rose Beach Line. Value of construction: $300,000.

• Individuals are building an addition to a single-family home on Robinson Rd. Value of construction: $170,000.

• 206 Wellington Inc. is building a multi-unit dwelling on Welling-

ton St. Value of construction: $275,000.

• 2873723 Ontario Inc. is building five townhouse units on Elgin St. Values of construction: $2.8 million each.

• Hadi Custom Homes is building a single-family residence on Cherry Blossom Trail. Value of construction: $350,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Raglan Rd. Value of construction: $1 million.

• Individuals are converting part of a single-family home to a separate residence. Value of construction: $100,000.

• Affinity Elite Homes are building two units of a semi-detached home on Brighton Pl. Values of construction: $249,000 each.

• 2731665 Ontario Inc. is building a single-family residence on

Dufferin Ave. Value of construction: $499,000.

• Mi Cazza Construction Inc. is building a single-family residence on Bloomington Way. Value of construction: $500,000.

• Mi Cazza Construction Inc. is building a single-family residence on Rosewood Cr. Value of construction: $500,000.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily residence on Zone Centre Line. Value of construction: $570,000.

TOWN OF KINGSVILLE COMMERCIAL:

• The Cabinet Mill is renovating commercial building on County Rd. 34 W. Value of construction: $15,000.

• Marcovecchio Construction is constructing the footings and

foundations of an industrial building on Road 3 E. Value of construction: $1 million.

• A contractor is building an industrial building on Albuna Townline. Value of construction: $70,000.

TOWN OF KINGSVILLE RESIDENTIAL:

• Double Diamond Farms is renovating a multi-unit dwelling on Albuna Townline. Value of construction: $115,000.

• Belfour Property Restoration is doing repairs at a residence on Road 4 E. Value of construction: $24,965.

TOWN OF LASALLE COMMERCIAL:

• LaSalle Heritage Plaza Inc. is

doing interior renovations on Sandwich W. Pkway. Value of construction: $6,000.

• Windsor-Essex Catholic School Board is doing renovations to an elementary school on Kenwood Blvd. Value of construction: $1.231 million.

• Maxem Investments Inc. is doing renovations on Morton Industrial Dr. Value of construction: $50,000.

• 2315561 Ontario Inc. is doing renovations to a dance studio on Malden Rd. Value of construction: $125,000.

TOWN OF LASALLE RESIDENTIAL:

• Individuals are building a singledetached dwelling on North Townline Rd. Value of construction: $1.992 million.

• 2312205 Ontario Ltd. is building three single-family homes on Mayfair Ave. Values of construction: two at $754,507 and one at $758,252.

• Individuals are building a singlefamily home on Michigan Ave. Value of construction: $472,766.

• Pisciuneri Construction Ltd. is building three townhouses on Meo Blvd. Values of construction: $640,890, $633,730 and $639,140.

• 5009742 Ontario Ltd. is building three townhouses on Major Blvd. Values of construction: $400,000 each.

• Individuals are building two units of a semi-detached residence on Michigan Ave. Values of construction: $330,430 and $349,240.

• LA Urban Living Inc. is building two units of a semi-detached home on Edgemore Ave. Values of construction: $377,118 each.

• Osman Homes Inc. is building a single-family home on Huron Church Line Rd. Value of construction: $1.354 million.

Windsor pizzeria gets new owners

Adowntown pizzeria is in new hands, but serving up the same twist on time honored Windsor-style pizza just as the former owners did.

Abdul Rahman Mohammed and Tareq Ahmad took over Homeslice Pizza in December, after long-time owners brothers Daryl and Darian Kissner decided to sell.

The brothers had operated the pizzeria for three years on Goyeau Street just south of Tuscarora, and on Erie Street before that.

The former owners had taken a “New York-style approach,” using the traditional local shred-

ded pepperoni concept. “Our pies are cooked much longer than most pizzerias, because when you cook them fast, they just don’t cook right,” they said on the website.

The new owners say the brothers decided to retire because one of them had a young family, and the other simply wanted a change. Mohammed and Ahmad have kept to the same concept, although Ahmad has created a unique sauce. Both owners have extensive experience in local pizzerias, but wanted to go into business for themselves.

Ahmad is the silent partner, though he comes into the shop at various times to make batches of

the sauce.

The shop’s location is just on the edge of downtown, about a block from several Ouellette Avenue bars. And though open to one a.m. on weekends, Mohammed said the business is mostly dependent on call-ins, and extensively uses delivery services like Door Dash, Skip the Dishes and Uber Eats

Their customer base is also hardly just downtown but citywide, Mohammed said.

Ahmad said he hopes to come up with a Calzone in the future. “I’m thinking to make a Panzerroti but calling it something else, because that’s what everybody calls it in Windsor.”

START UPS

THE FOLLOWING WINDSOR, ESSEX COUNTY AND CHATHAM-KENT COMPANIES WERE RECENTLY ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF INCORPORATION UNDER ONTARIO’S BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT:

• 365 Outdoor & Renovation Services Inc.

• Agrinovation Solutions Inc.

• All For The Kids

• Atoe Training And Resource Centre Inc.

• Bait Ahalna Restaurant Inc.

• Baker Tilly CK Wealth Ltd.

• Camtech Associates Inc.

• Capital Beaver Enterprise Inc.

• Colab Healthcare Solutions Inc.

• Creative Custom Fab Inc.

• Crystal Automation Industries

• Dias Constructions Inc.

• Drive Hub Logistics Inc.

• Driveless Logistics Inc.

• E.L.F. (Wallaceburg) Inc.

• Erie Horizon Landscaping Inc.

• Erie Shores Capital Mortgage Investment Corp.

• Farr Creative Inc.

• Firdaus Construction Inc.

• Fissy’s Authentic Texas Barbecue Inc.

• Fxrmer Logistics Inc.

• Gaja Capital Corp.

• G-Class Food Truck Sales Inc.

• Geneatuo Windsor Ltd.

• Giroux Custom Contracting

• Harbour Care Services Ltd.

• Itrade Marketing Agency Ltd.

• Itrade Marketing Agency Ltd.

• JP’s Awning Cleaning Ltd.

• JSL Renovation & Landscaping

• Keystone Evergreen GP Inc.

• Keystone Evergreen Holding

• Kings HC Business Inc.

• LaSalle Guardians Athletics

Continued on page 12

Ways of defining success beyond money and stuff

There are times when being one with your small business is not only a good thing, it’s essential. But extreme commitment weaves a fine seam between business and owner. And, unfortunately, entrepreneurial single-mindedness often results in the opposite of what is intended: a business in jeopardy, run by unhappy humans.

The best way to be a successful AND happy small business owner is to define success in many ways,

including having a life that’s balanced with richness outside of the business.

A small business is more like a patchwork quilt than a security blanket. Some patches represent good things, and some not so good. Some patches are about the business, others are about the owner, and some are hard to tell.

Small business happiness is found by those owners who feel successful regardless of which patch is in front of them.

Having multiple touchstones of success, not just money and stuff, helps keep the rough patches in business and life in proper perspective. If you became a small business owner to find financial success, good for you. As a capitalist, I admire that motivation.

But if you think just being rich will make you happy, get out your umbrella. Because I’m going to have to rain on that parade with these two truths:

1. Wealth only provides options,

not a guarantee of happiness.

2. If you can’t be happy without wealth, you aren’t likely to be happy with it.

Small business success can actually be found in being able to attend a child’s school activity in the middle of the day, as well as in getting a new contract. And you should be as proud of being able to give back to any worthy cause as you are of the reason you can give back: your business’s financial strength.

Now let’s talk about fun.

Reasonable people disagree on where we will spend eternity, but most agree that this is our only trip through this life. And every moment that goes by without some kind of joy is a precious opportunity lost.

You’re no doubt planning for success this year, but have you made any plans to have fun? And I don’t mean your trip to Disney World. Are you having fun on any given day, as you run and grow your business?

If you desire maximum small business success, learn how to run a tight ship while encouraging your people to laugh and find joy in their work.

And one more thing: Be sure to laugh at yourself – and in front of others. Those are usually the best laughs of the day.

Write this on a rock: Define success in more ways than money and stuff. And don’t forget to have fun.

Jim Blasingame is the author of The 3rd Ingredient, the Journey of Analog Ethics into the World of Digital Fear and Greed. Visit jimblasingame.com.