Saundra Curry

“What would happen if you couldn’t come to work for 30 days?” A few years ago, I asked a business owner that question. He laughed. Then he stopped laughing. The reality was that payroll would stall, client relationships would suffer, decisions would pile up, and employees would spend most of their time waiting for answers. Unfortunately, his situation wasn’t unique. In fact, many business owners wear indispensability like a badge of honor without fully recognizing the hidden cost it creates.

There’s a quiet truth that doesn’t get talked about enough in business circles—especially in ours. Revenue is not wealth—and misunderstanding that is costing more than most business owners realize. Many minority business owners are doing well—on paper. Contracts are coming in. Clients are paying. The numbers look strong. From the outside, it looks like success. But behind the scenes, the story can be very different. The business is making money… but the owner isn’t building wealth.

In February, we celebrate love—love for family, legacy, community, and future. But here’s a form of love that too many minority business owners struggle to practice: loving your business enough to charge what it’s worth. Because one of the major obstacles for minority- and women-owned businesses isn’t talent. It isn’t work ethic. It isn’t even demand.