Why a Willingness to Take Risks Is Good For Business

A few weeks ago, I reported that results of the WSJ/ Small Business CEO Survey conveyed a level of CEO optimism in the overall economy that is the highest it’s been since we began conducting the survey in 2012.  What’s more, this sentiment has held for four consecutive months. Having surveyed our members for more than a decade, we also know that even when economic uncertainty prevails, our CEOs tend to be more positive about the prospects for their own businesses than about the economy in general.  In year’s past, because small business is such a hefty contributor to the overall economy, this optimism and willingness to take risks has been a stabilizing force.

What we’re seeing now is CEO confidence in both the overall economy and in their own future.  This is driving hiring and investment at levels we have not seen since the dawn of the financial crisis. The good news is that we’re not seeing a spending spree. We’re seeing smart, well-conceived growth and investment strategies aimed at leveraging the benefits of a healthier economy, while remaining agile enough to handle prospective downturns more easily.

In the latest installment of The Pulse of Small Business, I interviewed Brit Barber who owns a swimwear boutique in Corona Del Mar, California. She shared with me some of the ways she’s investing in her company’s future today.  For more on the most recent WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Survey results click here and you can watch my interview with Brit here.

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