When it comes to stewardship, here’s the question I keep coming back to:
If not us—small business owners—then who?
Who will take care of employees? Who will support customers? Who will keep communities strong? Who will help point the future in the right direction? Because the truth is—it won’t happen on its own.
Why Small Business Owners?
Large corporations often focus on quarterly earnings. They chase shareholder returns, not stewardship. Governments? They move slowly, weighed down by politics and bureaucracy.
But small business owners? We’re different.
We hire people by name. We shake our customers’ hands. We sponsor little league teams and show up at town hall meetings. We live in the communities we serve.
That proximity makes us uniquely qualified. It makes us accountable. And it gives us both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead with stewardship.
What Stewardship Looks Like
Stewardship doesn’t mean saving the whole world. It means asking: What can I do, right here, right now?
Pay employees fairly and help them grow.
Treat suppliers like partners, not expenses.
Deliver value to customers with honesty and care.
Give back to the community that keeps us alive.
Build businesses that don’t die when the founder retires.
These aren’t extras. They’re the daily choices that change lives, businesses, and communities. And when multiplied across millions of small businesses worldwide, those choices add up to a course correction—not just for our businesses, but for humanity.
A Bigger Vision
Think about it. There are more than 500 million small and mid-sized businesses worldwide. If even one percent leaned into stewardship—that’s 5 million businesses making better decisions for people, communities, and futures.
Imagine the ripple effects. Imagine the trust rebuilt. Imagine the generations that benefit.
The Challenge
So here’s my challenge to you: If not us, then who? And if not now, then when?
Stewardship isn’t somebody else’s job. It’s ours. Not about being perfect—but about being present. Showing up. Leading with purpose. Making one good decision at a time.
That’s how we build businesses that last. That’s how we create legacies that matter.
So I’ll ask again—and I hope you’ll take it personally:
If not us, then who?