01/16/2001
But the numbers show more than that... a vast majority of Americans regard small business as such a positive piece of the American landscape that they feel its current influence on American life is "too little," and that it ought to have more impact on the way things go.
While other socioeconomic groups receive high ratings in other ways, only small business is considered to have "too little" impact on the American way of life. Television and movies? Americans think they have too much influence. Labor Unions? Too much. Federal Government, big business... all have too much influence on the way things are going in America, according to a Gallup Poll conducted in May of 1997. Only small business, out of the eight social/economic sectors, gained majority support for a larger roll in American life.
Gallup Numbers
- Overwhelmingly (85%), Americans view small business as a positive influence on American life--only "science and technology" registers such high approval ratings.
| Positive | Negative | (Neither) | (Dk/Rf) | |
| Television and movies | 26% | 62% | 10% | 2% |
| Small Business | 85 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Science and Technology | 86 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| Labor unions | 48 | 40 | 6 | 6 |
| Federal government | 38 | 46 | 12 | 4 |
| Religious organizations | 71 | 19 | 7 | 3 |
| Big businesses | 50 | 41 | 6 | 3 |
| Colleges and Universities | 81 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
- Small business is the only institution listed which the majority of respondents would like to see have more influence over how things go.
| Too Much | Too Little | About Right | (Dk/Rf) | |
| Television and movies | 77% | 5% | 16% | 2% |
| Small business | 3 | 55 | 39 | 3 |
| Science and technology | 17 | 26 | 55 | 2 |
| Labor unions | 38 | 22 | 33 | 7 |
| Federal government | 59 | 15 | 23 | 3 |
| Religious organizations | 26 | 32 | 39 | 3 |
| Big businesses | 63 | 7 | 27 | 3 |
| Colleges and universities | 12 | 36 | 49 | 3 |
- Much of the admiration is based on qualities they ascribe to small-business owners.
- 87% say they work harder than most people
- 75% say they contribute more to their communities than most.
- To a somewhat lesser extent, the positive view of small business reflects an awareness of their economic contributions.
- 74% recognize small-business as the major provider of that all-important first job.
- 56% are aware that small business is the leading job creator.
- 64% know that small firms are major innovators and inventors.
- Much of the high regard for small business appears founded in the belief that small-business ownership is an integral part of the American dream.
- 70% say it's one of the best ways to "get ahead."
- 75% view it as a way to achieve "more independence and control over their lives."
But most Americans see that part of the dream as fading for the next generation. - 52% expect there to be less chance of starting a successful business in the next 20 years.
- Among those forecasting a more difficult future for small business, the plurality (41%) view competition from big business as the biggest problem.
- A quarter of the pessimists feared "increased government interference" most--about the same number who fingered restricted access to capital is the primary villain.
- Among those (40%) who think it will be easier to start a small business in the future, the plurality view government interference (31%) and access to capital (30%) as the greatest threats.
Leadership and Sameness
Americans crave leadership. And although they follow it hungrily when they see it, seldom do they pick out a group and ask them to lead. But that's what they are doing with small business. It is the only group in the Gallup poll that Americans feel should have more influence over life in this country. Small business stands alone.
However, one of the most amazing things about this survey, statistically, is the similarity with which owners and the public view small business. When the study is sorted out into groups (small-business owners vs. "the rest" of the population), one would expect a divergence in many answers, as small business owners would have a natural bias toward a positive opinion of themselves and how hard they work, etc.. But in this study, small business owners are only marginally more positive than the public.
Small business owners say, in this study, that they believe they have "too little" influence in this country, but they don't believe it as often as college educated people in general.
The reason for the similarity of opinions toward small firms and their owners may simply be that it is difficult to be more positive about small business than the public is! Its members see small business in such a favorable light that more positive ratings from owners would approach the statistical absurd. Another, simpler, explanation is that small business owners and the public think alike on many of these issues because they are the same. Owners come in all shapes and sizes, representing the overall diversity of the American public.
Many people have experienced ownership even if they are not currently operating a business full-time. And, almost everyone knows at least one owner reasonably well. Thus, it is difficult to distinguish small business owners from the public. To paraphrase Pogo: we have seen small business and it is us. How can one think ill of "us?"
