Story of Business: competing for a future
Facing a slow economy and competition from India and China, Mike’s manufacturing business has struggled to survive. Mike has even personally guaranteed the company’s debt, putting everything he owns on the line.
Despite adversity, Mike has begun to hire new workers and recover. The only way he and the dozens of his employees have managed to stay afloat is by investing in capital that makes them more productive. But uncertainty from Washington and an ever-consuming tax structure is making it increasingly difficult to grow…
Watch Part 3 (see Part 1 & 2 farther down in this post) in our series “The Story of Business,” a joint project of Public Notice and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. Please share on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons above.
More into pictures? Here’s a snapshot of what Mike talks about in the video. Click on the image below for an infographic breakdown of the hurdles to success Mike faces on a daily basis.
Below, check out Part 1, “Moving forward in uncertain times,” a story about a limestone crushing business’s future amidst the possibility of rising costs and ever-changing rules.
Part 2, “When costs compete with passion,” features Barb, owner of a small retail shop, explain that in an already difficult environment for small business, government-augmented uncertainty threatens to raise the cost of her retail business to unbearable levels.
And don’t miss our comedic take on the uncertainty problem, “Wait and See.”
BA
When the wicked rule, the people mourn. Many, many people who have taken vows to serve Satan have murdered, lied, stolen, bribed, extorted and used every conceivable criminal method to gain positions of power, control, authority, leadership and ownership in governments, media, education, religions,corporations and every aspect of life. Their intent to to destroy America’s free enterprise and free economy, to plunder and steal everything that the American people have. These organized criminals, the international bankster gangsters, network worldwide and have put a stranglehold on world economies. The fraudulent and criminal IRS is the collection agency for the Kingdom of Satan. The Federal Reserve is their counterfeiting, money manipulation and scam operation. These international servants of Satan use the IRS “tax” (extortion) money from the American people to finance murders, wars, genocide & government corruption around the world. My sincere desire is that the American people will realize what is going on & refuse to be exploited for evil.
When the wicked rule, the people mourn. Many, many people who have taken vows to serve Satan have murdered, lied, stolen, bribed, extorted and used every conceivable criminal method to gain positions of power, control, authority, leadership and ownership in governments, media, education, religions,corporations and every aspect of life. Their intent to to destroy America’s free enterprise and free economy, to plunder and steal everything that the American people have. These organized criminals, the international bankster gangsters, network worldwide and have put a stranglehold on world economies. The fraudulent and criminal IRS is the collection agency for the Kingdom of Satan. The Federal Reserve is their counterfeiting, money manipulation and scam operation. These international servants of Satan use the IRS “tax” (extortion) money from the American people to finance murders, wars, genocide & government corruption around the world. My sincere desire is that the American people will realize what is going on & refuse to be exploited for evil.
Jennie, You speak truth succinctly, right to the point. It is sad that the Love of Money is the root of all evil and that is what is behind all that you have mentioned. Whether it be left or right, in the end, the small business person, the person who hires the person on the street looking for a job giving him a chance. The one who hires the senior citizen for his or her experience or the kid for his potential to be groomed by the senior citizen. All of this is lost…My hope is in that I trust in God that will say enough is enough. I know had I the power, I certainly would…But, alas I am a just a senior man who learned to type when I was 15. Goodness, that is 50 years. And years ago, I used to teletype for a stockbroker in the middle of Washington, DC. I have seen our nation’s Capital and seen the poverty on Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. Behind it all, is always the Love of Money… and those who are ignorant of those who are taking advantage of them and keep on going in spite of their trials and have hearts of gold. I have met them on the trains, plane, buses, in radio stations, in big cities, in little communities. They will give you the food out of their refrigerators, shirts off their backs, and drive you on their last drop of gas to where you have to go. They will stop the bleeding of a severe injury.
They will hold you as you are dying so you will not be alone. They will notify your family when they get back from combat that they knew your loved one who died. They will stand in front of something to protect you so you don’t get hurt. They will pick a child out of the way while losing their own life. They will stay up all night with their sons or daughters as they are sick. They will share part of sandwich with you. They will pray with you. They will give you their favorite shirt or hat. They will give you a ride to where you need to go and pick you up. They will babysit for you at the last minute. They will share their fire with you, their coffee or tea with you. They will share their bed with you. They will share their bathroom with you. They will take you to an appointment at the VA or doctor’s office. The list goes endlessly. I can only speak of my on experience.
But, if we all reach out to each other, then this country will change and the evil that exist will be overcome.
If we show that there is something else besides Money to be valued, then perhaps, just perhaps, we may pull through this thing.
Jennie, You speak truth succinctly, right to the point. It is sad that the Love of Money is the root of all evil and that is what is behind all that you have mentioned. Whether it be left or right, in the end, the small business person, the person who hires the person on the street looking for a job giving him a chance. The one who hires the senior citizen for his or her experience or the kid for his potential to be groomed by the senior citizen. All of this is lost…My hope is in that I trust in God that will say enough is enough. I know had I the power, I certainly would…But, alas I am a just a senior man who learned to type when I was 15. Goodness, that is 50 years. And years ago, I used to teletype for a stockbroker in the middle of Washington, DC. I have seen our nation’s Capital and seen the poverty on Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota. Behind it all, is always the Love of Money… and those who are ignorant of those who are taking advantage of them and keep on going in spite of their trials and have hearts of gold. I have met them on the trains, plane, buses, in radio stations, in big cities, in little communities. They will give you the food out of their refrigerators, shirts off their backs, and drive you on their last drop of gas to where you have to go. They will stop the bleeding of a severe injury.
They will hold you as you are dying so you will not be alone. They will notify your family when they get back from combat that they knew your loved one who died. They will stand in front of something to protect you so you don’t get hurt. They will pick a child out of the way while losing their own life. They will stay up all night with their sons or daughters as they are sick. They will share part of sandwich with you. They will pray with you. They will give you their favorite shirt or hat. They will give you a ride to where you need to go and pick you up. They will babysit for you at the last minute. They will share their fire with you, their coffee or tea with you. They will share their bed with you. They will share their bathroom with you. They will take you to an appointment at the VA or doctor’s office. The list goes endlessly. I can only speak of my on experience.
But, if we all reach out to each other, then this country will change and the evil that exist will be overcome.
If we show that there is something else besides Money to be valued, then perhaps, just perhaps, we may pull through this thing.
[...] Mike Fredrich of MCM Composites nearly faced a steep tax hike in January — and now will spend the next two [...]
[...] Mike Fredrich of MCM Composites nearly faced a steep tax hike in January — and now will spend the next two [...]